CALLED TO COMMAND THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES IN FRANCE
MEANWHILE matters were moving swiftly, the results of which were to
summon General Pershing to other and far higher duties. The attitude of
Germany was steadily becoming too unbearable for any self-respecting
nation to endure. War may be the great evil which it is often called,
and doubtless no words can describe its horrors, but there is one evil
even worse--for a nation to lose its ideals. The time for action by the
United States had come.
In President Wilson's war message after referring to the dastardly deeds
of Germany he wrote, "I was for a little while unable to believe that
such things would be done by any government that had hitherto subscribed
to humane practices of civilized nations," and he refers also to the
wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of noncombatants--men,
women and children--engaged in pursuits "which have always, even in the
darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate."
In spite of the Teutonic claim of a higher "kultur" than other nations
and the loudly expressed desires for the "freedom of the seas,"
Germany's brutal disregard of the rights of neutrals had extended far
beyond the confines of Belgium, which she ruthlessly invaded and
ravaged.
On the sea her former promises were like her treaty with
Belgium--"scraps of paper."
And the President had now behind him not merely the sentiment of his
people, but also specific examples to uphold him. For instance, Admiral
Sampson in the war with Spain, had appeared May 12, 1898, with his fleet
before Santiago, Cuba. There he conducted a reconnaissance in force in
his efforts to locate the Spanish fleet, of which Admiral Cervera was in
command. Sampson, however, did not bombard the city, because, in
accordance with the accepted laws of nations, he would have been
required to give due notice of his intention in order that the sick,
women, children and non-combatants might be removed. And yet everyone
knew that a hard, quick bombardment of Santiago would have given him the
city. He attacked the forts only, and before a gun was fired gave his
ships' captains word that they were to avoid hitting the Spanish
Military Hospital.
Even in the general orders of the German Admiralty staff (Berlin, June
22, 1914) was the following direction, after stating that the passengers
of every armed captured merchant vessel were to be left to go free
"unless it appears they have participated in the resistance": "Before
proceeding to the destruction of the (neutral) vessel (which has been
seized for proper reason), the safety of all persons on board, and, so
far as possible their effects, is to be provided for."
President Wilson, at first unable to believe that Germany was
deliberately violating her word and even after it was impossible to
avoid the conclusion that the campaign of the Teutons was being
conducted, to use their own expression, "ruthlessly," still was doing
his utmost to keep the United States out of the World War. For this he
was bitterly assailed and criticised. However, he patiently held to his
policy announced a year before, that he would "wait until facts become
unmistakable and even susceptible of only one interpretation."
As early as December 24, 1914, Admiral Von Tirpitz in numerous inspired
newspaper articles and interviews, began to explain the possibility of a
very decided change in the German U-boat campaign. This too was before
Germany was really suffering in any marked degree from the tightening
work of the British navy. In spite of his arrogant words, however, the
German admiral directly asks, "What will America say?"
On February 4, 1915, the Germans in a way that was outside all
international law, publicly declared that 'within certain expressed
limits of the sea or war zone, their U-boats would sink vessels without
warning found there without permission, or if they were engaged in
dealings with the enemy.'
Six days later President Wilson warned Germany that she will be held to
"strict accountability" if the rights of American vessels within the
proscribed limits are violated.
It was April 22, 1915, when, through the acknowledged direction of the
German Embassy, advertisements appeared in New York papers warning all
against sailing on vessels planning to pass through the war zone. And
this was done in the face of the President's words and the
correspondence that had been carried on between the two countries.
The _Lusitania_ was sunk May 7, 1915. A thousand lives were lost, many
of them Americans. A roar of anger rose from America and the civilized
world at the brutality of this act, as well as at the dastardly
disregard of the rights of neutral nations. "They were warned," said the
Germans glibly, as if their "warning" was sufficient. For a nation that
had made huge profits in selling munitions at other times to warring
peoples their "warning" would have been ridiculous had it not been
tragic. The commander of the U-boat received a German medal for his
"gallantry" in sinking the _Lusitania_ and sending hundreds of innocent
victims to their watery graves. As if to add insult to injury Germany
proclaimed a holiday for her schools on the occasion.
President Wilson still held to his patient course. He would give Germany
every opportunity to explain the act before he himself acted. May 13,
1915, his first so-called "_Lusitania_ letter" was written. Germany
replied May 28th, declaring that she was justified in sinking the great
vessel. On June 9th, the President sent his "second _Lusitania_ letter,"
and correspondence followed which plainly indicated that Germany was
trying to evade the real issue.
July 31, 1915, saw the "third _Lusitania_ letter," for even then the
President was doing his utmost to avoid war, if avoidance was possible.
On August 19, 1915, the _Arabic_ was torpedoed by a U-boat and still
other Americans lost their lives. The German ambassador to the United
States, Count von Bernstorff, however, apparently thought to stave off
action by pledging (orally) for his country that her submarines would
not sink "liners" without warning.
The ambassador's words were not unlike those previously received, for
instead of the matter being settled, still more unsatisfactory
correspondence followed and other boats also were sent to the bottom of
the sea.
The following February, Germany made certain proposals that had an
appearance of a grudging or compulsory willingness on her part to
provide for the _Lusitania_ victims, but within a few days (March 24,
1916), another passenger steamer, the _Sussex_, was torpedoed, and among
the lost were Americans.
The feeling in Washington was becoming tense and was still more
intensified in April, when Germany sneeringly explained that she was not
positive whether or not she sank the _Sussex_. She did admit, however,
that one of her submarines had been in action near the place where the
_Sussex_ was sent to the bottom.
Eight days later President Wilson threatened Germany that he would
break off diplomatic relations if similar acts recurred. Perhaps because
she was biding her time Germany on May 4th gave a "promise" that no more
ships should be sunk without warning.
In October of that same year (1916) a German submarine appeared off the
New England coast. Her officers put into Newport and it is said were
even graciously received and most courteously treated. Then, in return
for the hospitality thus received, the submarine sank the _Stephano_,
which had a large body of Americans on board returning from a vacation
spent in Newfoundland. Without doubt many would have been lost if
American men-of-war had not been at hand to rescue the victims from the
water. Still, apparently there was not even a thought in the minds of
Germany's rulers, that they had violated any rules of decency, to say
nothing of rules of right.
The patience of the United States was near the breaking point when still
the dastardly deeds did not cease, and few were surprised when at last,
January 31, 1917, Germany discovered that deceit no longer was possible
and that the patience and hope of America could no longer be abused. On
that date the German leaders came out openly and informed the President
that they planned to "begin an unrestricted submarine war." Three days
afterward President Wilson gave the German ambassador to the United
States his passports and recalled the American ambassador (Gerard) from
Berlin.
Such evasion and hypocrisy, such wanton brutality and cruelty as had
been displayed by Germany were without parallel in history--or at least
since the history of civilization began. Naturally a declaration of war
by the United States was the only possible outcome.
The unlawful sinking of American vessels or of other vessels having
Americans on board makes up a list that is striking when it is looked at
as a whole and it is recalled that they had been sunk after Germany had
"ruthlessly" repudiated the pledges she had given.
_Housatonic_, February 3, 1917.
_Lyman M. Law_, February 13, 1917.
_Algonquin_, March 2, 1917.
_Vigilancia_, March 16, 1917.
_City of Memphis_, March 17, 1917.
_Illinois_, March 17, 1917.
_Healdton_, March 21, 1917 (sunk outside the
"prohibited zone" arbitrarily proclaimed by
Germany).
_Aztec_, April 1, 1917.
Perhaps in this list should also be included the sinking of the _William
P. Frye_, January 28, 1915, by the German raider, _Prinz Eitel
Friedrich_. The very acme of impudence seems to have been reached when
this raider, after having unlawfully sunk American vessels, sought
refuge in the American port of Newport News, Virginia. No clearer
testimony has ever been given of the state of mind among the Germans,
unless it is the actions of the German crew of this vessel after they
had been interned.
Preceding the declaration of war by the United States, two hundred and
twenty-six of her citizens had lost their lives by the unlawful acts of
German submarines. Among those who perished in this manner were many
women and children. In nearly every instance there was not even the
form of an excuse that Germany was acting in accord with the laws of
nations. Outside the American vessels the official estimate made at that
time by the Government of the United States was that six hundred and
sixty-eight vessels of neutral nations had been sunk by the piratical
German submarines. It appeared almost as if the rulers of Germany either
were insane or were so bent on their wild dreams of subduing the world
to their will that they deliberately said to themselves, "evil, be thou
our good." They had thrown down the gauntlet to the civilized parts of
the entire world. Even after Brazil, China, Bolivia, Guatemala and other
nations broke off diplomatic relations with Germany and almost all the
civilized nations of the earth had protested against the brutal policy
boldly followed by her, she whiningly complained that the world was
jealous of her greatness and had combined to overthrow the "kultur" she
was so eager to share with all mankind.
In addition to the frightfulness of Germany on the seas (a term she
herself had invented and blatantly advocated), the activity of German
spies and the dangerous "propaganda" she was putting forth in the United
States were even more insulting and quite as threatening to American
lives and property as was her dastardly work with her submarines. Many
of the intrigues were not made known by the Government of the United
States.
When the message of President Wilson was presented, the committee on
Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives went on formal record,
after presenting its resolution declaring a state of war to exist
between the United States and Germany, that within our country at least
twenty-one crimes or "unfriendly" acts had been committed either by the
direction of or connivance with the Imperial German Government. And
nearly every one of these unfriendly acts in itself was a sufficient
basis for war. Included in this list were the following clearly known
facts:
An office had been maintained in the United States to issue fraudulent
passports for German reservists. This work was under the direction of
Captain von Papen, who was a member of the German Embassy.
German spies were sent to England who were supplied with passports from
the United States.
In defiance of our laws steamers had been sent from our ports with
supplies for German sea raiders.
Hindus within the United States had been supplied with money by Germany
to stir up revolutions and revolts in India.
A German agent had been sent from the United States to blow up with
dynamite the international bridge at Vanceboro, Maine.
Germany had provided funds for her agents in the United States to blow
up factories in Canada.
Five distinct conspiracies had been unearthed, in which Germany was the
guiding spirit, to make and place bombs on ships leaving ports of the
United States. Several of those conspiracies were successful and the
murderous bombs were placed even on board vessels of the United States.
She was working to arouse and increase a feeling of bitterness in Mexico
against the United States. In this way it was hoped by Germany that we
would be drawn into war with Mexico, and thereby be prevented from
entering into either the Great War or European affairs.
Providing huge sums of money to be used in bribing newspapers in the
United States to publish articles which should prevent America from
entering the war and arouse a feeling of bitterness against England and
France. Later it was admitted by German agents that a plan had been
formed by which forty leading American newspapers were to be purchased
and used for this purpose. The plan was not wholly successful, but many
papers or certain editors were proved to have been bought with this end
in view and some fully earned their money.
Insult was added to injury. Such colossal brutality was even commended
and upheld by the friends of Germany and defended on the ground that the
"fatherland" had been attacked treacherously and therefore was
entitled, whether or not she was acting in accord with established and
accepted laws, to which she had given her approval, to defend herself in
every possible way.
Perhaps the climax of this outrageous disregard of decency came when
Secretary Lansing exposed March 1, 1917, the infamous "Zimmerman note."
It was written before war had been declared, and, officially at least,
Germany and the United States were friends at the time. Indeed it was
only three days after the appearance of President Wilson before the
Senate with his plan for a league of nations to secure and assure
justice and peace for all nations. This infamous note was even brought
to the United States and was to be carried across the border into
Mexico, a country with which we were not at war and with which the
President was doing his utmost to maintain peace.
It is impossible to give the entire message but the following extracts
will reveal its character:
"Berlin, January 19, 1917.
"On February 1 we intend to begin submarine war
unrestricted. In spite of this it is our intention
to keep neutral the United States of America.
"If this attempt is not successful we propose an
alliance on the following basis with Mexico,--That
we shall make war together and together make
peace. We shall give general financial support and
it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the
lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.
The details are left to you for settlement."
The German Secretary then goes on to instruct the German Minister in
Mexico to open secret negotiations with Carranza just as soon as it is
plain that the proposed U-boat campaign brings the United States into
the war and also to get Carranza to draw Japan into the proposed war
against us.
Just how the Government obtained this note will not be known until an
explanation is given later, but its authorized publication by Secretary
Lansing instantly aroused an intense feeling of anger throughout the
country. For a "friendly" nation to be plotting against a "friend," to
attempt to use that nation even then as a base of operations against
its peace and security, to say nothing of the plan to induce still
another friendly power to attack us, outraged our every sense of decency
and justice. A cry of anger and dismay was heard on every side--except
perhaps from certain pro-Germans who weakly protested that "the letter
was a palpable forgery, too apparent to be read under any other
supposition than that the German Secretary never wrote such a piece of
work."
The dismay of these friends of Germany can only be imagined when
Secretary Zimmerman boldly acknowledged that he had written the letter.
He even defended himself in doing so. As if that were not sufficient, he
proceeded to complain because the United States had intercepted the
letter, for the Mexican President had quickly declared his ignorance of
any such message. It is difficult to say whether the calm assurance of
Zimmerman that he was the writer or his childish whining that the United
States had no right to intercept even such treacherous messages if they
chanced to be written by Germany, produced the greater consternation.
The inability of Germany to comprehend why any nation should object to
anything Germany wanted to do or say was itself beyond the ability of a
civilized people to understand. It was perhaps the most sublime
impudence the world ever has witnessed.