The Hun Barbarian to the Hollander: "I gave you my word—did you really expect me to keep it?"
News of the wholesale destruction of Dutch vessels, after the "solicitude" so considerately shown for their safety by the German authorities, has provoked a degree of feeling far surpassing any hitherto aroused, even by the many "unfortunate occurrences" of a similar nature which Holland has previously experienced at German hands.
Reuter, Amsterdam, February 25, 1917.
"I hope, dear Holland, this explanation is all you want."
Holland: "Yes, thank you, it is quite sufficient."
Seven Dutch Steamers which left Falmouth on February 22 were attacked about 5 p.m. of the same day by a German submarine, without their papers being examined. Three of the ships are known to have been sunk, one has been towed into harbor, the other three, says a Lloyd's telegram, "might still be afloat."
If the Dutch reports are correct that these seven vessels perished, this will be deeply regretted, but responsibility for it falls on the ship-owners, who preferred to send out their vessels on February 22 on a promise of relative security instead of waiting until March 17, when absolute security was promised. The report of the submarines has not yet arrived.
We regret the rupture with a nation who, by her history, seemed to be predestined to work together with us, not against us, for common ideals. But since our honest desire for peace has only encountered hostile ridicule on the part of our enemies, there is no more "going back," but only "ahead" possible for us.
Imperial Chancellor, Berlin, February 27, 1917.
President Wilson: "Say! you are using false cards."
William: "Yes, but only as a precaution."
The revelation takes the form of a letter from Herr Zimmermann, the German Foreign Secretary, to Eckardt, the German Minister in Mexico, which was forwarded through Count Bernstorff and dated January 19. The letter announces unrestricted submarine warfare for February first, and instructs Eckardt to negotiate an offensive alliance with General Carranza, who should approach Japan, apparently with the object ultimately of getting her to join in an attack upon the United States.
Times Correspondent, Washington,
March 1, 1917.
THE BERLIN-BAGDAD SNAKE
"Alas! poor dear snake is dead."
Sir Stanley Maude, telegraphing on March 11, announces that the British forces occupied Bagdad early that morning.
The English operations in Mesopotamia have been accompanied by a great success. The British flag floats over Bagdad and in all the bazaars of the East the news will resound that the feringhi have beaten the warriors of the padishah, and captured the city which for long centuries was invested with the garment of story and fairy tale.
British Press Bureau, March 14, 1917.
HELPING HINDENBURG HOME
During the past few days a tract of land between the region of Arras and the Aisne was evacuated by us in accordance with plans. The movements, prepared long beforehand, were carried out without disturbance by the hesitating, pursuing enemy. The rear-guard troops, by their prudent and heroic conduct, screened the evacuation of the positions and the departure of the forces.
German Official Communiqué, March 19, 1917.
Uncle Sam: "So you are going to sink my ships on sight, are you?"
Tirpitz: "I ... I ... don't think!"
President Wilson has authorised the Navy Department to spend £23,000,000 to speed up naval construction and to purchase auxiliary craft. This expenditure was recently authorised by Congress.
Reuter, March 20, 1917.
POISONED WELLS
Whole towns and villages have been pillaged, burned, destroyed; private houses have been stripped of all their furniture, which the enemy has carried off; fruit-trees have been torn up or rendered useless for all future production; springs and wells have been poisoned. The comparatively few inhabitants who were not evacuated to the rear were left with the smallest possible ration of food, while the enemy took possession of the stocks provided by the Neutral Relief Committee and intended for the civil population.
The fact has been established by our military authorities in the recaptured districts (says this instruction) and notably at Péronne, where the branch of the banque de France was pillaged and the strong rooms were found broken open and empty, that a very large number of securities have been stolen by the German troops in their retreat.
French Official Protest, March 24, 1917.
THE OUTCAST
I am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of non-combatant men, women, and children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. Property can be paid for; the lives of peaceful and innocent people cannot be.
The present German warfare against commerce is warfare against mankind. It is a war against all nations.
American ships have been sunk and American lives taken in ways which it has stirred us very deeply to learn of, but the ships and people of other neutral and friendly nations have been sunk and overwhelmed in the waters in the same way.
President Wilson,
Washington, April 2, 1917.
"STILL THEY COME"
According to new reports, our troops during the battle of April 16 between Soissons and Rheims broke up very important German forces. In expectation of our attack the enemy had brought up nineteen divisions.
According to the accounts of prisoners, formal orders had been given to hold out at any cost on the first position, which had been deepened. The losses suffered by the Germans were heavy not only during the battle, but on the preceding days.
The number of unwounded prisoners taken by us between Soissons and Rheims now reaches eleven thousand.
French Communiqué, April 11, 1917.
Tommy: "You'll soon see the Stars and Stripes."
Fritz: "Just seen some."
Our gains reported this morning north of the Vimy Ridge have been secured and our positions strengthened.
During the fighting on the 9-10th inst. we captured prisoners from all infantry regiments of six German divisions—namely, 79th Reserve Division, First Bavarian Reserve Division, 14th Bavarian Division, 11th Division, 17th Reserve Division, and 18th Reserve Division.
British Official, April 12, 1917.
William to Herr Scheidemann: "The Turks believe I am a Mahomedan, try to make the Russian socialists believe I am a Democrat."
A Berlin telegram published by the "Cologne Gazette" states that Herr Scheidemann, leader of the German Socialist Majority Party, has gone with other German Socialists to Stockholm, in order to get into touch with Russian Socialists.
Reuter, April 12, 1917.
