by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent
It did not take long for someone to rebut the article of the sixteenth in the Oregon Statesman reporting the address by Dr. Wislicinus to the Salem German society. Writing as “An American German,” the writer takes specific issue with the strong defense of Germany as contrary to the President’s advice to avoid taking sides:
In your issue of the 16th appears a report of an address delivered before the German society by Dr. Wislicinus of Salem. I am surprised at the temper of the address. Our president has advised that the citizen refrain from taking sides by way of controversy pertaining to the great war now going on in Europe. And it is wise advice to give. The reason is apparent to all. The doctor has gone ahead however, and uttered inflammatory sentiments, ill according with a calm and courteous presentation of the case. I am surprised that the Statesman should have admitted the address into its columns and that too without comment or criticism. One might infer that the editor is in accord with the address though this is not probable.
The writer of this while not born in Germany is of German descent, his ancestors were natives of the fatherland. It is to be hoped that few Germans born in this country are in accord with that address so full of the spirit of partisan and of race prejudice. It is most discourteous even to an enemy. We who are Germans, Anglo Saxon, Frank or Slav have little to boast of when we consider the block from which we each were hewn. The modern nations of Europe are decedents of the wild and savage barbarian hordes who swarmed into the old Roman empire and divided it up in the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries. They devastated the country with pillage, fire and sword, even as their successors in blood relationship are doing today. Slight improvement on the savage warfare of the centuries past. The doctor should be careful how he throws stones. You could pull Saxon and Frank out of the same sack of fighting cats.
The doctor stirs one with pity as he refers us to “Michael, the Archangel,” whoever that may be. He does not tell us who his idol is but leaves us to infer. If it is the present emperor he is guilty of the sin of presumption as no human being, be he lord or ruler is “like God” as the name Michael implies. The doctor seems to forget he is not living in Germany under the shadow of this “archangel.” He seems to be about swallowed up with the old superstition of the “divine right of kings.” That does not go in this country. If any body as to the rulership is divine here it is the people. We settled that a long time ago. I am not the doctor’s enemy nor a traitor to the fatherland. No, not at all. We are all of one blood. God is our creator and Jesus Christ is our common savior. Let us stop feeling hateful toward our enemies, and try to cultivate charity and good will. Let us pray that this cruel, frightful war may soon end and the dove of peace may soon come to the homes of all. As I am less German than American, I subscribe myself – An American German.
The Capital Journal’s editorial page is filled with short observations about the war and the state of the world. An editorial with the title “The Right of Search Bobs Up” addresses Great Britain stopping vessels on the high seas to seize people on board, a practice that has modern parallels:
According to the dispatches yesterday the English did a very foolish and dangerous thing. The British cruiser Lancaster held up the Dutch West Indian mail steamer Commewije and took from her 27 alleged German reservists. England can do that with Holland but she should not forget that 102 years ago she got in trouble with our good Uncle Samuel for doing that very thing. She was told then this country would not stand for the right of search, which England claimed, and in the interest of humanity it is hoped she will not have to be taught that lesson over again. If she takes or undertakes to take away any person from a vessel bearing the United States flag, there will be trouble on her hands that will make her present one seem like a picnic. Uncle Sam will starve her to death if he gets mad at her.
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While discussing the atrocities alleged to have been committed by about all sides of the dispute in Europe, is there any greater atrocity mentioned than the war itself?
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Ammunition as well as food is said to be getting higher in price daily. If it would get beyond the reach of all the belligerents, the balance of the world would rejoice.
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It is easy to pray for peace, but there are few who will not also color their plea with a preference as to which side should get the better of the peace terms.
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About the only thing cheap in Europe just now is human life. The warring governments hold the price down on that as well as on other things.
The headline in the Capital Journal reads “Dead Are Buried in Piles in Trenches:”
Whole Regiments of Germans, French and British Are Alike Wiped Out
The Hague, Sept. 19. – Horrible stories were reaching here today of the slaughter on the fields of the battles of the Marne and Aisne.
The French, it was said, had put German prisoners at the work of burying the dead in the Marne district and a tolerably complete job has been made of interring those who died in the trenches and open places. For the corpses of those who, before dying, crawled for shelter under hedges and into woods, however, the search was still progressing.
No figures were given, but it was said many of the trenches in which the conflict’s victims were laid were 150 yards long and in them the bodies were not only laid as close together as possible but frequently in layers.
Such graves, it was declared, dot the whole countryside.
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Many well-known regiments, British, French and German alike, were reported here to have been practically wiped out.
Though the grief of certainty may be better than suspense, it was forecasted that it would be terrible when the truth became known.
The military authorities of all the countries engaged in the struggle were understood to hesitate at making casualty lists public on account of the terrible shock it will be to the world when it is revealed how frightful they are.
For readers who want to read more about these battles and the memorials to the fallen, the following are good entry points:
The Forgotten Boys of the Aisne Battlefields
War Graves for WW1 Dead on The Western Front
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