Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1917 — Persistent Insuits of Germany Drove United States Into War [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Persistent Insuits of Germany Drove United States Into War

By W. G. McADOO.

Secretary of the Treasury

It has been stated repeatedly that America entered this war tb make liberty and democracy secure throughi out the world. , While that is true, it must always be remembered she entered this war primarily because of the persistent insults and aggressions of Germany, the wanton disregard of American rights, the contemptuous violation of international law and the ruthless 1 destruction of property. Before this yar began'every civilized nation accepted and honored the rule that in time of war a

merchant vessel, neutral or belligerent, should not be sunk by an enemy war vessel unless the lives of the passengers and crew were first made safe. Under this law an American citizen had the right to travel upon a British or a French merchant ship with the full knowledge that ship would not be sunk by a German war vessel until the passengers and crew were taken from the ship and their safety assured. Civilized warfare always has respected the lives of noncombatants. If a German regiment should capture a Fren.ch town or city, and while marching through the streets should fire upon a crowd of unarmed and helpless men, women and children, killing a great number, crippling and wounding others, the whole world would gasp with horror; yet this would be far less inhuman than to sink a ship at sea containing noncombafant men, women and children. On land those wounded may be rescued, while many not hit by bullets may actually escape. If you sink an unarmed ship without giving the noncombatants a chance to escape, all must perish. What, therefore, would be a crime of the first order in the killing of noncombatants on land is a crime of colossal and inexcusable proportions when it fs committed upon. the high "seas. Yet Germany has done just this