The Irish standard., 1918-10-26
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR GER
TAIN WAR INFAMIES

AS we read of the crimes atrocities that have
incident to the world throughout farung lines in
europe and ASIA the thought persiseny recurs to
Will the perpetrators of these outrages finally
for their nefarous outrages? Are the
who directly and personally responsible for them
go unwhlpped of justice? Governments indeed are in
measure chargeabe with these awful unspeakable heart
rending bruaties because remissness in taking
precautions against them because of their failure to
VISIT punishment upon the maefactors when their mis-
deeds have been brought to light
But back OF the responsibility the Governments lies
that of the individuals guilty horrible violations
all human and divine laws. Under the assumed proec
ton OF their governments arising from the war status
mlary and civilian officials of high degree have
advantage of the confusion of the times to give full
vent 10 their dabollcal passions in the wholesale
and wfu of civilian populations the abduction
ana violation OF women and girls and the slaughter of
thousands of innocent children The stories of the Ar
menian girl, Aurora Mardiganan which are now being
given to the wildly picture the world norton
OF what has been happening in the Turkish domnions
rms girl almost miracuousy escaped from savage cap
tors and is now in the United States Her of the
horrors that have been going among
sufficient bring new shock to hearts that ha
already lost of their susceptbtes to that sensation
ny reason OF the stories that have from Belgium
ana france She gives dates, names places in sub.
SANITATION OF her evidence and her faith
IN the God of Christianity notwithstanding all the br.
taes she suffered at the hands Mohammedan cap
tors in their efforts to make renounce her faith and
accept tnelrs Many OF her companions who did
their faith were nevertheless into the harems for
While and afterwards sold slavery to minor officials
and to Turkish farmers
In the testimony of this Armenian girl who is we'll
there is to be found enough evidence of crimes
against the laws OF God and man to convict hundreds
TURKISH pashas and other officials is no lack of
corroboratlve circumstances to support her story
Such outrages these should necessarily be re.
garded as part of the weter and should not he
regarded as finally adjusted in the territorial or financial
penalties that may be exaced from Governments under
which they occurred when the peace adjudications
made. No doubt these Governments, like the Germans
will disavow responsibility for outrages The Boil
shevlkl in Russia have been guilty same kind of
wanton cruelties but the individuals melting them will be
apt to seek shelter under the cloak faco pretense
of government.
Should it not now be made Enthusiastically clear to all
these mscreants that they escape punishment for
their crimes under the pretext condtions Should
IL not be unequvocally announced by Allied govern
nents that the individuals who perpetrae horrible
crimes Will be held personally therefor at
court martial or court specially appointed to dispose of
such cases. No general adjustment war issues will
give entire satisfaction to the unless provision is
made Tor exposing to the world officials and ndyid
uas who have stood horrors as those
described by Miss Mardiganan and melting out to them
just retribution therefor.