A MURDEROUS OUTRAGE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1939, Page 6

A MURDEROUS OUTRAGE.

LL doubts as to the criminal nature of the attack made on the liner Athenia or as to the responsibility ol the Nazi dictatorship for that crime are swept away by the adequate and authentic details now available. One of yesterday’s messages stated that Lord Stanhope told the House of Lords that there was no doubt that a submarine sank the Athenia, though there was no official confirmation, and that the submarine also tired a shell after torpedoing the liner. The German Government stands indicted with a lonl violation of the undertaking regarding submarine warfare to which Germany is a party with other nations and therefore with the cold-blooded murder of non-combatants. The German denial ol responsibility is exposed as palpably false. On the facts now established, the torpedoing of Hie AHicnia ranks with the worst, examples of.lawless murder at sea. There is lacking in this ease even the poor excuse advanced with regard to the torpedoing of the Lusitania in. Hie Great War—life claim that the liner was carrying ammunition. There can be no question of any such contention even being advanced where the Athenia is concerned. As an unarmed ship, carrying no munitions of anv kind and engaged in a peaceful voyage, the Athenia was entitled to the fullest protection of the protocol which Germany was pledged solemnly to observe and uphold. The attack on the liner was a deed of infamy for which Germany will be condemned by honest and sell-respecting public opinion throughout the world.