THE WORLD-WIDE INDICTMENT OF GERMANY FOR THE LUSITANIA ATROCITY
VIEWS OF COLONEL ROOSEVELT, UNITED STATES SENATORS AND OTHER PROMINENT
MEN -- OPINIONS OF THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA --
VIEWS OF PROMINENT CANADIANS.
Not even the invasion of peaceful Belgium, nor any of the other
atrocities charged to the belligerent nations in the great war, stirred
such universal and emphatic condemnation as the destruction of the
Lusitania and over half its _human_ freight of _human_ lives. From all
quarters of the globe the cry of amazement, indignation and outrage
arose.
One of the first to express his feelings was Colonel Theodore Roosevelt,
who said: “This represents not merely piracy, but piracy on a vaster
scale of murder than any old-time pirate ever practiced.
“This is the warfare which destroyed Louvain and Dinant and hundreds of
men, women and children in Belgium carried out to innocent men, women
and children on the ocean and to our own fellow countrymen and
countrywomen who are among the sufferers.
“It seems inconceivable that we should refrain from taking action in
this matter, for we owe it not only to humanity, but to our own national
self-respect.”
Atlee Pomerene, U. S. Senator from Ohio, member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, said: “To Americans the sinking of the Lusitania is the most
deplorable incident of the European war. Every man with the milk of
human kindness in his breast condemns any policy by any nation that
leads to the slaughter without warning of babes, women and
non-combatants.”
Morris Sheppard, U. S. Senator from Texas, said: “The sinking of the
Lusitania is an illustration of the unspeakable horror of modern
warfare, and will be a tremendous argument for general disarmament when
the war closes. Let us handle the present situation with patience and
calmness, trusting the President to take the proper course.”
John W. Griggs, former Governor of New Jersey and at one time
Attorney-General of the United States, expressed himself emphatically on
the Lusitania tragedy. He said: “The time for watchful waiting has
passed. No investigating committee is needed. The facts are known.
Action is demanded. A demand should be made at once without waiting by
the government to get the finding of any investigations or inquests.
Would you hesitate to act if a man slapped you in the face? I do not say
what should be demanded. That is for the government to decide. But an
explanation should be demanded of Germany at once. The German submarine
violated a law that even savages would recognize. I would hold Germany
to account by proclaiming her an outlaw among the nations of the world.
If the German government pleads that it was justified in this
crime--which it will--it is then the duty of the United States to join
with other neutral nations and cut her off from the rest of the world.”
[Illustration: “I’M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU, WILLIAM; I’M JUST TELLING
YOU!”]
Jacob M. Dickinson, Secretary of War under President Taft, issued a
statement in which he said: “It is not likely that Germany will disavow
the purpose to destroy the Lusitania with full knowledge of the fact
that this involved many American lives. In view of the result and the
warning given by our government to Germany, some proper action must be
taken, or the American government will incur the contempt of the world
and the contempt of a vast number of its own people.”
“An act of barbarity without justification,” was the expression of
Frederick R. Coudert, of New York, an authority on international law, in
referring to the torpedoing of the Lusitania. Mr. Coudert said: “I make
that statement on the supposition that lives of citizens of the United
States, a neutral nation, were destroyed by the sinking of the vessel.
There is no justification, however, for ruthlessly sinking a merchant
ship in the open seas when that vessel is not engaged in any manner as a
belligerent vessel, and when the lives of non-combatants depend upon its
safety. It would seem to be time for the government of this country to
determine whether it will sit idly by and accept explanations that
Americans were warned to keep off the steamer, or take a definite stand
upon the rights of our citizens on the seas.”
The opinion of the nation on the sinking of the Lusitania is fairly
represented by the following extracts from the editorial columns of
leading newspapers throughout the United States:
THE EAST
New York Evening Post: “Germany ought not to be left in a moment’s doubt
how the civilized world regards her latest display of ‘frightfulness.’
It is a deed for which a Hun would blush, a Turk be ashamed and a
Barbary pirate apologize. To speak of technicalities and the rules of
war, in the face of such wholesale murder on the high seas, is a waste
of time. The law of nations and the law of God have been alike trampled
upon. The German government must be given to understand that no plea of
military necessity will now avail it before the tribunal on which sits
as judge the humane conscience of the world. As was declared by
Germany’s own representative at The Hague Congress, the late Marschall
von Bieberstein, there are some atrocities which international law does
not need to legislate against, since they fall under the instant and
universal condemnation of mankind.”
[Illustration: NON-COMBATANTS HONORED WITH THEIR FLAGS.
The upper picture shows the body of an American victim of the Lusitania
disaster carried through the streets of Queenstown covered with the
Stars and Stripes. Below, British soldiers laying the Union Jack over
the coffins of victims recovered after the sinking of the Lusitania.
(_C. Int. News Service._)]
[Illustration: ONE AMERICAN FAMILY LOST ON THE LUSITANIA.
Wife and children of Paul Crompton. Not only hundreds of non-combatant
men, but many women and children were intentionally sunk with the
Lusitania.]
New York Tribune: “Failing these things, no American should
misunderstand the meaning of the present crisis; no American should
shrink from the facts that cannot be evaded or avoided. If Germany has
once and for all embarked upon a deliberate campaign of murder directed
against American citizens, there can be but one consequence--the end is
inescapable.”
New York World: “The main thing that concerns the American government
today is not the subordinate question of reparation for the
assassination of American citizens who were traveling on the Lusitania.
It is the broader question of whether Germany can be brought to her
senses and induced to abandon methods of warfare that are a crime
against civilization and an affront to humanity.”
New York Times: “Neither in law nor in custom is there any extenuation
for this act of monstrous inhumanity, no exception, no condition, can be
made to shield it from the full force and condemnation it deserves and
has received. And the warning advertisement published by the German
Embassy here, being notice of an intent to commit a crime, is of no more
avail for exculpation than a Black Hand letter of threat.”
New York Globe: “The duty of this government is sufficiently clear.
In a formal and emphatic manner, not shrinking from explicit
characterization, it should denounce the greatest international outrage
that has occurred since the Boxer savages of China, with the countenance
of a treacherous government, attacked the women and children in the
legations at Pekin.”
Philadelphia Public Ledger: “As it stands the horror is almost
inconceivable. There has been nothing like it before. One of the
consequences of this war ought to be that nothing like it can ever
happen again. Unless civilization is to relapse into barbarism, helpless
non-combatants must not be exposed in such a fashion to the worst
calamities of war.”
Boston Transcript: “The torpedoing of the Lusitania was not battle--it
was massacre. To destroy an enemy ship, an unarmed merchant vessel of
great value and power, is an act of war; to sink her in such a manner as
to send hundreds of her passengers, among them many neutrals, to their
death, is morally murder, and no technical military plea will avail to
procure any other verdict at the bar of civilized public opinion.”
Boston Post: “The sinking of the British liner Lusitania by the torpedo
of a German submarine with terrible loss of life, is the worst crime
against civilization and humanity that the modern world has ever known.
It is a reversion to barbarism that will set the whole world, save
perhaps the little world of its perpetrators, aflame with horror and
indignation.”
Boston Traveler: “With the destruction of this queen of the ocean liners
and the hundreds of lives of non-combatant men, women and children, also
came the ruin of the last vestige of the structure of international law
and humane consideration that through the centuries mankind has been
striving to erect. The very life and honor of the nation depend upon
the manner in which this attack upon its integrity is adjudicated, even
if any adjudication of a civil nature will be deemed sufficient to
permit of a peaceful, to say nothing of a friendly, adjustment.”
Hartford Courant: “It is hard to find in the dictionary the words strong
enough to fit such conduct, and the effect of the destruction of the
ship and the loss of lives will be to turn public sentiment more than
ever against the Germans.”
Providence Journal: “Scores of Americans were murdered yesterday on the
high seas, by order of the German government. Men and women, citizens of
the United States, traveling peaceably on a merchant steamer, have been
sent to their death by the deliberately planned act of Emperor William
and his advisers.”
Providence Evening Tribune: “The torpedoing of the Lusitania, in that it
destroyed innocent American lives, was a capital crime committed by
Germany against the United States. A capital crime is a crime punishable
by death. And in the case of a nation punitive death is usually
administered by the process of war.”
THE WEST
Chicago Herald: “International law contemplates the capture of merchant
vessels. It contemplates their destruction under certain conditions. But
it does not contemplate, provide for or justify destruction of the crews
and passengers of such ships without giving them a chance for safety.”
Minneapolis Journal: “Germany intends to become the outlaw of nations.
Perhaps we are yet to witness savagery carried to its ultimate
perfection.”
Minneapolis Tribune: “The sinking of the Lusitania is outside the rules
of civilized warfare. The President will have the loyal support of the
people of this country in whatever course wise counsel may find it
necessary to pursue.”
Denver Rocky Mountain News: “Mankind will hang its head in shame. It was
not war. It is not England that suffers; it is not the relatives and
friends of the dead that suffer only; the people of Germany will suffer
for the deed of yesterday.”
THE SOUTH
Washington Post: “No warrant whatever, in law or morals, can be found
for the willful destruction of an unarmed vessel, neutral or enemy,
carrying passengers, without giving them an opportunity to leave the
vessel. Germany stands indicted on this charge, and if it is proved the
world will not exonerate that nation for the awful destruction of
innocent life.”
Baltimore American: “Americans must and will resent the invasion of
their rights, and in this there can be no division of American
sentiment.”
Charleston News and Courier: “The destruction of the Lusitania has been
accomplished, it now appears, with the most diabolically cruel
deliberation. If this shall be established as a fact, there can be no
question that the wrath of the American people will flame--and should
flame.”
New Orleans Times-Picayune: “What is Washington going to do about it?
Slaughter of American citizens in contravention of all laws of warfare
has placed the United States in a position that is intolerable. Our
people were wantonly done to death.”
SENTIMENT OF THE CANADIAN PRESS
Even sterner was the tone of the editorial opinion of the Canadian
press. In many cases the actual intervention of the United States in the
war was advocated. The following excerpts are characteristic of the
opinion of the newspapers of Canada:
Toronto Daily News: “This fresh display of Teutonic Kultur raises anew
the question as to how long the Washington government is going to be
scorned and trampled upon by the most unscrupulous and barbarous race of
modern times. What effect will this deliberate destruction of hundreds
of American citizens in cold blood have upon public sentiment throughout
the United States? Can President Wilson forever stand aside while
international law and international moral standards are cast to the
winds by a brutal and infuriated people?”
Toronto Mail and Empire: “The Washington government knows why the
American citizens whose names are on the passenger list of the Lusitania
trusted themselves to the ship despite the warnings of the Kaiser’s
agents and accomplices in New York. Those American men and women
disregarded the warnings, not because they believed the Germans
incapable of torpedoing a passenger vessel, but because they felt that
the neutrality and puissance of their nation would be respected. The
Washington government cannot let these American citizens who relied on
its protection go unavenged.”
Toronto Globe: “But what of the United States. Does President Wilson
propose to let German submarines destroy the lives of American citizens
because they choose to cross the Atlantic in a passenger ship flying the
British flag? Does he still think the mad dog of Europe can be trusted
at large? Is it not almost time to join in hunting down the brute?”
Toronto Daily Star: “The sinking of the Lusitania was not necessary to
prove what was already abundantly demonstrated--that there is no length
of vindictiveness to which Germany will not go. There is no lesson to be
drawn from it except that Germany must be fought to a finish, and that
all the resources of the allied countries must be marshalled for that
purpose. We are engaged in no ordinary war. The very existence of
civilization is at stake. The civilized world is threatened by a nation
that has deliberately gone back to barbarism and given a free rein to
criminal instincts. Denunciation and rebuke are of no avail in such a
case. The conflict is between a powerful criminal and those who desire
to live under the reign of law; and the time has come for every man who
believes in law, in every nation, to fight for the life of
civilization.”
VIEWS OF PROMINENT CANADIANS
That the torpedoing of the Lusitania was not an act of war in the
technical sense committed by Germany as against the United States, was
the view expressed by Mr. McGregor Young, professor of international
law in Toronto University, who said in an interview:
“Certain acts are acts of war in the technical sense--acts, that is to
say, which touch the state qua state. But the torpedoing of the
Lusitania does not come within that category, so far as the United
States is concerned. It is not an act such as is not compatible with
friendly relations between that country and Germany. The Lusitania was a
British ship, and the American passengers on board her were really an
incident, as it were. Whether it would be consistent with the United
States’ self-respect to put up with Germany’s action is another matter.
That is a question as to which a nation must judge for itself.”
Mr. E. F. B. Johnston, K.C., gave his opinion as follows:
“The Lusitania was a vessel owned by a British company, carrying on
business in England. It was not under the control of the United States.
Individual citizens choosing to travel by this boat would do so at their
own risk, and so far as loss is concerned, the United States as a nation
would not perhaps be legally affected. But if citizens of the United
States are not to be protected by their own Government, a wholesale
slaughter might be justified on the ground that the ship was English. It
seems to me to be a question of policy. And, as such, one would say that
it was the duty of the United States to protect, as far as possible,
their own citizens.”
On the Sunday following the destruction of the Lusitania reference to
the disaster was made by countless clergymen throughout Canada. Varying
sentiments were expressed in their sermons, but perhaps the keynote was
sounded by the Rev. W. H. Hincks, D.D., pastor of Trinity Methodist
Church, Toronto, who alluded to the subject as follows:
“Neutral nations headed by the President of the United States seven
months ago entered a united diplomatic protest against the violation of
the branch of The Hague Convention which has to do with the killing of
civilians. The greatest thinkers in Great Britain have taken the view
that the United States can do more good as a neutral by exerting her
influence in the interest of humanity and in accordance with The Hague
Convention than in entering unprepared into the war. Our duty is to pray
for the President of the United States, that, surrounded by the wisest
of his advisers, he may take action with other neutral nations to
prevent the repetition of such a crime.”