The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-24
EMINENTLY GERMAN

While the Germans were begging for mercy and clustering
over the signing OF the peace pact, Admiral Reuter-, in command
OF the surrendered German warships, ordered II of them, valued
at $5SOOOOOO, sent to the bottom, not only destroying them,
but blocking up a fine harbor belonging to the English.
ms act is er1nlnently German, and it shows their mental
attitude. These ships remained in hiding and never came out
to fight, when, according to the British Admiral Jelico, in his
recent book, they could have defeated the British navy had they
possessed the courage to try. The Hun is at heart a Bolshevist,
and his JOY is to destroy. Like a wounded serpent, he turns
upon and bites himself with unappeasabe rancor when he can
not injure the enemy. The announcement of the feat was made
N lo words, 1t is said. Some brevity; but not comparable to
Caesars message to the senate when he had overcome Pharmacies,
king OF Pontus, "venl, vidi, vici," which stands as a remarkable
example OF brevity although from a man who was looking over
MS shoulder when he wrote ii, we learn he spent three days in
composing the dispatch, and at that there is on record a dispatch
more brief. When a British commander had captured the strong
hold OF Scinde, in the far East, he announced his victory in one
word, "Peccavi," being Latin for II have sinned" Meaning, Of
course, II have Scinde." Long or short, the sinking of these ships
which were left in custody Of the Germans as caretakers was an act
OF wanton barbarism and a flagnious breach Of faith. 1t will
eomphcate matters, also, and add complexities to the work Of
the peace conference, which has enough already.
The commerce Of the world needs ships and there is a famine
Of material for building them. It cannot be had. Neither iron nor
steel nor wood can be had in sufficient quantities for the purpose.
This $3soOoo0M is lost to the world. but primarily to Germany,
which will be quite an item added to what damages she has to
pay for her part in the war. The Germans do not seem to care.
They cling to the hope that, some way or other, they can juggle
out OF paying the indemnities.
As a British naval officer bluntly puts it, the allies displayed
~stupendous folly in trusting the Germans or permitting them to
have access to the ships, knowing them as they do. The loss of
$SSOOOOUW worth OF property in four hours is some destruction,
which involves ingrattude as well as a breach OF faith, and ought
to convince the peace conference that no trust can be reposed in
the Germans, and the guilty admiral has the ~unblushing audacity
to attempt to Justify his conduct on the score that the armistice
gave him the privilege. This ought to open the eyes of the world
TO the true character OF the Huns and hasten the day OF settle
ment.
The only question now is one OF economies. How much can
the Germans pay! 1t matters not how long it will take them
or what suffering they may endure; they should be made to make
amends. What they did to their cowardly navy they would gladly
do to allied property anywhere and in any country. They have
a mania for destruction and would loyfully blow up the parlia-
ment houses in London or the capitol at Washington.
They must be thoroughly drubbed before being brought into
subsection and made amenable to reason and the canons OF
decency, truth and good faith, This will be done il they refuse
to sign the peace articles. There is reason to believe that the
allies are thoroughly tired Of the Hun tactics and that they will
be compelled to toe the mark from now on.