The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-13
GERMAN NEED

For the first time in history a statement from Germany
may be accepted at its face yalue. The statement is that the
German people are in need of food. There is no doubt about it.
The presumption is that the allied nations will hasten to
remedy the situation after making due provision for their own
needs. Perhaps that is as it should be. But what is to be said
OF a people who fought for falsehood, deception, outrage, an
ambition for world dominion, until they were beaten by starva-
ton? Does a war waged for such a cause warrant a 'hasty
provision Of food, the lack OF which compelled them to end
the conflict?
A scarcity OF food is no new problem in Germany. 1t has
been acute for at least three years. The first to suffer were
the prisoners OF war. The next were the civilian peoples, and
so far as we know the time did not come when the soldiers
were unable to obtain sufficient food to prevent them from
fighting with ordinary vigor.
It should be understood that whatever the United States
and the allied nations do for the Teutonic allies will be ont Of
charity, and not because there is any obligation upon them.
We shall be untrue to the purposes for which this nation
went to war if those who have been responsible for the cruelty
TO prisoners and to the enemy populations OF occupied territory
are not adequately punished.
There was no treatment too harsh or foo crrel ior those
VINO tell INTO German hands. Prisoners were robbed OF their
packages, and even the food that was sent to them by the Red
Oross was contiscated, and the Germans claimed that they had
" Flgnt 10 take all such parcels as the Legitimate booty of war.
lhose packages were sent to persons who were not fed by
me Germans as they were supposed to be, and then they were
robbed OF the generous relief that was provided for them.
1t will be said that the Germans were as hungry as the
prisoners. II they could not feed their prisoners they should
have returned them, and il they could not carry on the war
without stealing then they might have confessed defeat long
ago, for the advocates OF systematic burglary will never triumph.
If our observation OF human nature is worth anything it
leads to the conclusion that the most rampant among the rcvo-
iution1Sts were among the fierceSt, the most cruel and most
barbarous OF those who marched through Belgium,
For many months we have said that it would be a lis
take to diiierentiate between the kaiser and the German people.
II they had not been i'll accord with him he never could have
led them into war. II they had not liked it he never could have
melted them to murder, If they had not rejoccd in it he
never could have encouraged them to pilage Belgium.
There is already a great cry going TIP in Germany against
the former kaiser. They are willing that he shall be punished
Tor their sins. There is no record of his word OF command ever
having been ~disobeyed. All the horror Of this war cannot be
put ON the shoulders OF one man, even though he may be the
arch criminal Of them all.
The kaiser did not officiate at the trial Of Edith CayeM.
lie did not pronounce sentence Upon Capt. Fryatt. lie was not
present when the Highland prisoners were told that they might
40 across No Mans Land to their command, nor did his laughter
ring with the gleeful shouts OF the German soldiers who reioiced
TO see them shot down as the climax 10 a huge Joke.
Germany needs sympathy. but we do not owe it to her. and
what we do for her must not be i'll charity, but in the strict
observance of duty, and not Swayed by sentimentality and
,brotherly love, for we shall lie ii we claim to possess any such
feeling.