THE HESPERIAN AFFAIR.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 801, 5 November 1915, Page 8

THE HESPERIAN AFFAIR.

Another Hun Lie Exposed

ANANIAS and SappMra, Baron Munchausen, Tom Pepper, and each and every other recognised expert professor of mendacity, ancient or modern, is simply not in it with the Herren Tarradiddlers of Berlin. and

Potsdam. The latest exposure of TTim mendacity is recorded. in connection; with, the Hesperian .affair. Berlin solemnly assured/Washington updzi its sai<*> red Kaiserliche Worte—the word of thespecially honoured, beloved and; protected of the Almighty—that nary a Hun. torpedo had ever been discharged at the steamer Hesperian. As a matter of fact, so argued Berlin, the nearest Hun. submarines were in the Caribbean or Java Seas, or were being used as'prayermeeting shelters for the virtuous DeuV sellers on the Western and Eastern.fronts, who always pray toost vigorously before they set forth to slay t'he ver* dammte Englischer. "

2s o German submarine commander tiad ever seen, or. heard, or been told" about, the Hesperian. That steamerhad been blown up by its own carge of explosives, or had been wickedly mined, by John Bull's naval men—Gott strafe and , in order to give- the innocent--teutons a bad name, etc., etc., eto. Unfortunately. - even Mr. WobblesomeVVi.son, like the proverbial Scot, hashis doots sometimes, and so a special ana impartial and. searching inquiry-— was ordered, by Mr. Robert Lansinjz who succeeded the pro-German Bryanas Secretary of State. The enquiry conducted by American naval commanders, has established the fact that the■tiesperian was torpedoed by a German submarine, and now Mr. Lansing wantsto know what Berlin has got to say onthe matter. '

Berlin -will, no doubt, protest its complete ignorarrce and innocence, and" nt Tvr x Wlss °n will then despatchanother Note. The champion Note writer of the century is the American President, but like the thin claret ■which the old farmer at the rent dinner complained got him "no forrarder," the -Note> will not make much practical effect upon the diplomatic relations of the two countries. The American statesman of to-day would apparently" j a Xl trem an i expectorate in- his face, WAT 4. * s 4? down quietly and write a' i ea S Protest. It is enough tomaUe Abe .Lincoln .turn in his grave.