The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1918. THE LATEST HUN OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1918. THE LATEST HUN OUTRAGE.

The sinking of the Llandovery Castle, the hospital ship that was taking doctors and nurses from Canada to France, adds another to the long list of infamous outrages perpetrated hy the barbaric Huns, The -violent indignation that has been aroused is only natural, especially as the vessel was clearly displaying the recognised lights and markings denoting the nature of her errand. Apparently the order has gone forth from Germany to sink all ships without leaving a trace, for not content with destroying the vessel the Hun pirates made murderous attempts to ram the boats containing the survivors of those on board. Well may Mr. Bonar Law say it is no use arguing with a ferocious wild beast at large, and that the only course to take is to "destroy the beast." That will come in time, but only a few possess the necessary patience to wait till the end of the war, so that an outcry for reprisals has speedily followed the diabolical deed. It is one thing to demand reprisals nnd quite another matter to decide the form they shall take and the method of their execution. The Seamen's Union has decided to extend its boycott against Germans for six years at ter the war. As an expression of resentment this threatened boycott -is-A4mieable. but ,so jaaax

tilings may happen to prevent it being carried out. Moreover what is needed is the delivery of such a crushing blow on the Germans that they will feel the full weight ol! the power of the avenger. This can only be achieved on the German army, but there is a very strong feeling that stern measures should be taken at once to mark the horror and repulsion which the sinking of the Llandovery Castle has caused. The appointment of a Government committee to examine into the matter and report thereon in a few days encourages the hope that some drastic measures will be taken without delay to give practical expression to the abhorrence with, which the murder of the victims is regarded, not only by Britain, but by the civilised world. Germany must be made to feel that these infamous and ruthless murders must cease, and it is for the British Government to devise the means that will make the Huns hesitate before committing any further outrages of this horrible nature. Already some fifteen thousand British seamen are stated to have been murdered at sea, in addition to the thousands of women and children ruthlessly massacred to satiate the vengeance of the ferocious Hun. Such a terrible record of crime renders any mercy to Germany impossible, and places trade relations with the Germans after the war beyond resumption. The spirit in which Germany entered upon the war was one of calculated ferocity, and the thwarting of her aims has intensified hen savagery as well as her disregard of all human principles. To sink vessels without a trace is regarded by her as a policy, and thereby reveals that centuries of civilisation have only given a veneer to the rough framework of the primitive Hun. The Germans see red, and the savage instinct for slaying and destruction has run riotit has become an obsession—therefore the "beast" must be destroyed. The demand for the internment of all Germans is one that appears to have become irresistible, and may be Empire-wide in its application. The one ray of gratification in connection with these atrocious submarine murders is the fact that the measures taken for destroying U-boats are proving most successful. A further impetus will be given to this necessary work by the latest outrage committed, and no quarter should be given to the assassins—sunk without a trace. It is almost impossible to adequately punish such monstrous culprits so, in the words of Mr. Bonar Law, we must „et our teeth till the end is achieved.