SUBMARINE MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5883, 1 April 1915, Page 6

SUBMARINE MURDER.

The conduct of the crew of a German submarine in mocking the dying struggles of civilians and women from a steamer they had torpedoed would have been deemed incredible a year ago, and, if proved, would have stirred the civilised world to its depths. To-day it excites in us detestation, but no surprise. We have been steeled by previous exhibitions of German i rightfulness" to know what to expect. Atrocious as is the crime of leaving a hundred sailors and passengers to drown, it is light compared with the iniquities of Germans in Belgium and France. It is not to be expected that British civilians | men or womenwho fall into the clutches of Germans should fare better than tho Belgians or the French. It is unreasonable to hope that the navy which has not throughout the war rescued a single British seaman from drowning should commence to make precedents in favour of merchant shipping. The "Hymn of Hate" has served its ignoble purpose; it has sunk deep into the German mind and poisoned his heart. The frequent lapses into savagery with which the German's name is be-' smirched have not been directed! particularly against tho British; they have extended to the Belgians and the French. But the Germans have done us the honour of reserving a special hatred for us. They have expressed their blind passion in verse, as well as in the bombardment of undefended towns. This is an interesting psychological indication of the present military situation. It indicates in the Germans a feeling of helplessness; it is a frenzy of baffled rage. Men do not write philippics about those they can strike. They do not chant hate against adversaries who are in their power. But tho German blows aimed at Britain have failed, and in their helplessness they breathe the sacrilegious prayer, "God punish England."