NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16983, 17 October 1918, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

IRELAND AND THE WAR.

Two articles wore recently published in the London Horning Post from a corres-

pondent who had visited Ireland for the first time since the war began. Commenting on his observations, the Morning Post says the picture he presents is of a country "where tho war does not count;" a country of abounding plenty and ample leisure; a country to which tho agony of Europe is a matter of supreme indiffer-

i ; a country which eats, drinks, makes

money, and takes its ease, while others fight its battles. If any shade of anxiety ever crosses the Irishman's mind it is

lest he should by inadvertence do anything to help. It is a positive grievance that Irish labour cannot come to England for the fine wages that are offering for fear lest it should "get took." In all her chequered histoVy Ireland has never cut a? sorrier figure nor played a more contemptible part ; and it is some satisfaction to know that the truth about her is at last likely to be revealed where it will produce the, most salutary impression. There are American and Dominion soldiers in Ireland; men who havo travelled thousands of miles to fight for the cause which Ireland deserts. What they see with their own eyes will hardly kindle sympathy for what they had been taught to regard as "a poor, oppressed nation, groaning under a tyranny worse than that of Russia in Poland." It 'is. not for " oppressed nations" of the Irish type that they have left their homes, and dedicated

their lives. In the past ifciias been difficult for the oasy-going Englishman to /understand the animosity of the Irish temper.

In tie'future the difficulty is likely to disappear, for the animosity will not be all on one side. If Ireland "prefers her ease to her self-respeot that is her affair, but if she imagines that England, and not only England but America—will forgot the choice she has made, Ireland is vastly mis--1 taken. THE LUSITANIA CRIME. But while in this lawsuit there may bo no recovery, the United States of America will remember the rights of those affected by tho sinking of the Lusitania, and when the time shall come will see to it that reparation shall be mado for one of tlio most indefonsiblo nets of modem tiroes." Thus the Federal District Court of New York in a voluminous decision written by Judge Julius M. Mayer, who dismisses without costs claims in 67 suits, for damages of approximately £1,200,000, brought against the Cunard Steamship Companv as tho result of the sinking of the Lusitania. This is the first time that an American Court has had the opportunity to pass judgment directly upon tho various contentions advanced in regard to the Lusitania atrocity. Judgo Mayer upholds the standpoint of the British owners of tho Lusitania that the act was an act of piracy and of the common enemy of mankind. In his verdict, he states that when the German Government destroyed the- Lusitania it committed "an inexpressibly cowardly act," which was the violation of all laws govorning civilised warfare at sea. Tlio Court, in the courseof a year's litigation, has thoroughly investigated the arguments of some of the claimants that the Lusitania " was painted like a transport," carried ammunition' and high explosives, and was improperly navigated whilo passing through the subma-rine-infested waters of the Irish coast. Tho decision holds that the Cunard Company is blameless of negligence. It finds no cause for censuring, but many reasons for praising, Captain Turner, his officers, and crew.