The sun., 1919-01-20
SINK THE GERMAN sHIPsi
Rather Let Them Serve the Purpose
OF Triumphant Civilization.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Suc Now
and again we hear Of persons In differ
ont corners OF the earth who advocate
sinking the German feet, and one Of the
FIRST reasons given was that II tho Allies
and the Government OF the United
States should undertake the partition
trouble would arise. This seems hardly
possible. because IL tho Allies cannot
come to a friendly agreement In regard
to the disposition OF the German feet.
how can they hope to agree In the great
number of far more important problems
which must be settled at the peace con-
ference.
Another reason advanced is that the
Hun fleet cannot be made part OF an
other feet without making expenditures
larger than tho value Of tho ships them
selves.
These reports cannot have been
started after mature consideration.
Conservation has been the keynote to
which we have been trained especially
during the period of tho war, and more
40 during the last two years.
We have been asked to conserve food.
clothes and fuels Of all kinds. In fact
everything which we have been fortu-
nate enough to find in our markets, and
we have cheerfully complied with every
request the different departments OF
our Government have made, In order
that with our savings the allied Gov.
90
protect our soldiers and civilians and
destroy the Hun.
We have been asked to subscribe TO
the various Liberty Loan issues, TO buy
War Stamps. because money was
needed TO carry on the war and how
the American people have answered
these calls Is n thing which has sur
prlsed the world. Germany most OF all
We are now told that fifth loan IL
coming because of need OF funds even
after the peace treaty shall have been
signed.
We are told OF the vast sums which
will be required for the relief Of our
brothers in the stricken countries, for
orphans and widows. for MANNED SOL
diers and civilians.
We have been privileged to subscribe
to the various relief funds. to give our
little mite, SO that the different or
ganixations should have tho necessary
means to carry on the work Of mercy.
which has been the most wonderful ex-
preston Of that civilization which the
Hun vainy tried to destroy.
We have just closed a Red Cross
campaign for funds, and we all know
how well spent is every dollar given to
this most wonderful Of organizations.
We have been taught the value OF
money as never before In the history Of
nations. and now we hear that one OF
the largest navies OF the world. the
greatest prize after our complete VIC
tory which we have exacted from the
enemy. should be taken to the high seas
and was;etully destroyed.
Would this be conservation?
Every friend OF civilization would
have rejoiced to learn that the Teutonlc
navies had been destroyed In an en-
gagemeut. but do not believe that we,
who have done all that We have been
able to do TO alleviate sorrow and dis
tress among war stricken people. will
ind satisfaction In knowing that our
leaders have deliberately destroyed hun
dreds Of millions OF dollars worth OF
shipping which could be turned over to
the benefit OF mankind.
The Teutonic fleets have surrendered
and belong to the vlctors, and have sur
rendered In the same way as Germany
has surrendered thousands OF guns,
airplanes. railroad equipment. &c,
Everything is in our hands to do as
we please. but why destroy one and
keep the other? We have not heard OF
OF other war booty. so why should there
be any In connection with the navy7
We have seen here in our own United
states fines imposed upon merchants
and firms who did not comply with the
rules set down by the Food Admins
tration that have been turned over to
the Red Cross. and we have all approved
II such disposal.
Why not sell these ships TO the small
est nations OF the earth. and turn the
proceeds OF this sale over to an interna-
tional committee OF the Red Cross? or
with that money why not build and en-
dow in the several countries which have
been at war with the Central Powers
large hospitals where tho victims of
German frighttulness can be made again
as we'll as possible at German expense?
And why sink the German fleet and
keep the Austrian and Turkish fleets
adoat?
What better and more Just use could
ia made of the Hun fleets than 10 turn
them into money and spend this money
to rebuild humanity crippled by German
Kultur?
Sink the German feet. and the Beast
Of Berlin will smile because he will
know that the Allies cannot trust one
another.
SINK the German fleet, and the Junker
party will take heart, knowing that
jealousy reigns among the Allies, and
they will do all in their power TO SOW
discord among them.
Sink the German fleet. and our grand
children will learn in history that We
have committed the greatest crime of all
times against conservation We cannot
AFFORD to so down In history as having
wilfully destroyed hundreds OF millions
OF dollars at a time when every dollar
is sorely needed
DR.. Garfield tells us to keep on con-
serving coal Can II be possible that
this further saving Is needed to replace
coal which would be wasted In taking
the German feet to it's burial?
LOUIS BALDAccINI.
LION, January IS.