Read the passage from “cruel tribute.” then every maiden, without looking, reached her hand into one of the vessels and drew forth a ball, and those who took the black balls were borne away to the black ship, which lay in waiting by the shore. the young men also drew lots in like manner, but when six black balls had been drawn theseus came quickly forward and said: “hold! let no more balls be drawn. i will be the seventh youth to pay this tribute.” what is the effect when theseus volunteers? theseus sets himself up to become the ruler of athens. theseus sets himself up to battle the minotaur. theseus sets himself up to win ariadne’s love. theseus sets himself up to win king minos’s respect.

the question concerns exactly this part of the speech:

i am not now thinking of the loss of property involved, immense and serious as that is, but only of the wanton and wholesale destruction of the lives of non-combatants, men, women, and children, engaged in pursuits which have always, even in the darkest periods of modern history, been deemed innocent and legitimate. property can be paid for; the lives of the peaceful and innocent people cannot be.

president wilson talks about the lives of people destroyed by german army. but these people are not americans, they are the local people living in europe. the president mentions the barbarity of germans, considering that he is not targeting the nation, instead it is said about german army. the correct answer is the last one.

i guess you are missing the idea that has to be supported, am i right?