A very gratifying feature of the war has been the
unanimity and warmth of feeling with which Americans have rallied to the British cause. Germany has lost every inch of the ground she had gradually gained in American public favour. The German Chaneellor and the German Press in their- several
ways have appealed to Americans to rehear the German case, but the American judgment is final, and it is a very severe one. We have one suggestion to make, however, of a step by which the Emperor might recapture a little American esteem. The German troops, on their own admission, have been shooting Belgians who took part in the defence of their country, although not wearing uniforms. It is not sufficiently ban% n that the Hague agreements do not allow the summary execu- tion of men merely because they fight without uniforms. Why should not President Wilson, as an ardent supporter of the Hague Treaties, appeal to the German Emperor to respect them P Surely this would be a noble stroke for civilized usage. And Mr. Wilson is the very man to do it. He presides over a nation which owes its independence to just such a gallant uprising by non-professional soldiers as is now being seen is Belgium.
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