The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-06-10
Germany's Threat Of ReprisaI

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The German governments threat to take reprsal upon
American citizens if the United States does not release
against this government, has been met by hint from
the Secretary of State that Germany should consider
carefully before it begins policy that viii upon
the Germans in the United States. Here is Of the
first manifestations toward of that sayagery of spirit
that has made Germany abhorred by every nation that
has felt her malice The question may confront the
United States, shall America permit Germany with i'm
puny to wreak her hate upon individual Americans in
her power or shall the United States put stop to the
heish work by retaliatng upon German individuals at
the rate of say five to one?
The subject of reprsals was we'll thrashed out before
this began, and cvzaed nations had reached point
where individuals were free from danger of physical
torture Noncombatants were protected from wars
bardment Marine mines could not be sown in the paths
of commerce Prisoners of could not be starved
overworked or forced to do military work Flags of
truce and the Red Cross nvolae and immune to at
tack. Hospitals and hospital Ships ambulances and Red
Cross workers in the field under the protection of
sacred treaties.
Within few weeks after this war began, as rapidly
occasion permitted Germany swept away every immu-
nifty and guaranty which civilization had thrown around
humanity Individuals in the path of German power
have guaranty whatever for the protection of
their life, their property, their honor They sub
ect to be stripped of these by the Germans thoroughly
as if the Germans were red savages and cannbals.
The insane egotsm which drives Germans to fight for
world dominion also deprves them Of their in
spect to reprsals They have reached such absolute
alteration of force that they understand the mental
condition Of nation that does not worship force above
justice mercy. Therefore, when nation fails to make
reprsas upon Germany for murderous air raids the Ger
mans attribute the failure to cowardce and growing
willingness to surrender to German prowess Glowing
of the Of their air raids are published in
German newspapers which describe imaginary panics in
London and Paris and the exodus of the population by the
hundreds thousands The state of mind thus created
induces the Germans to pursue their atrocities with re-
newed vigor and confidence.
The air raids made by the French and British in re-
prsa for raids upon London and Paris have carried the
terror of to the German population and caused them
to see that brute force is not monopozed by Germany
The territory of Germany has not been devastated ex
cep in spots by air raids The more it is devastated the
more the Germans will reduce their exaggerated ideas
concerning the military omnipotence. When German
environments are subject to air raids without notice when
railroad stations train yards public buildings military
headquarters piers docks and river vessels are all sub
jected to hail of fire and combustion the Germans will
gain ceaver idea of the effectiveness of reprsa and an
tihuman atrocities.
The United States cannot be too prompt and too firm
in its notice to Germany that reprsals upon individuals
will meet with terrible rerbution and hereafter
This nation has it in its power to bring Germany to in
slant terms and it will be criminal folly to permit the saw
ages now in control in Germany imagine that thew can
perpetrate atrocities upon Americans and escape ret
button
In the meantime it is most encouraging to learn that
the construction of apanes in the United States reach
ing stage with the necessities Of the case
and beyond the rivalry of the enemy There need be no
deuson on the part of pacss and pro-Germans Those
planes, when finished, go to fight Germany over German
SOIL They go to drop bombs upon German property for
Il destruction of the German army and navy German
railroads and German war materials and war plants
Washington Post
IS POOR ENCOURAGEMENT