Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-06

Will England and Germany fight? Oceans
Of ink have been spilled in the last two
years in attempts to answer this, the most
momentous question propounded In the
realms Of international politics for many
years. And, naturally, IL Is yet unsn-
swered to the satisfaction of anybody Curl
ously enough, the so-cRlled conservative
thinkers, speakers and writer's Of both ma
lions directly interested have replied in the
affirmative and the radicals have said
no" The one thing certain is that both
British and German governments have not
scrupled to multiply burdensome taxes in
order to prepare for possible, even prob
able. war.
Impcrlallsts, their attention directed
solely to the national fortunes of<the two
greatest European empires, have been able
to see only the growing rivalry in politics
and in trade which daily increases the
friction between the two countries, They
do not scruple to predict an early clash
at arms They say that the continued
growth OF Germany's political power threat
ems Ensland's diplomatic supremacy; t4st
the increase OF Germany's foreign com
merce endangers the prosperity Of Britain's
commercial empire; and, most important Of
! all, the avowed intention OF Germany to
1 make its navy strong enough to dispute
with England the mastery Of the seas-all
| operate together to. make the war lnev-
/ table.
! Democrats, with minds engrossed by the
economic and sociological problems Of the
age, declare that neither Germany nor
England can afford to risk the blood and
treasurer which would be lost in such q
war regardless OF its Issue. They say that
the growing social intelligence OF both
peoples is bringing about a universal rec
ognition OF the fact that war is a useless
human and economic waste. however glori-
Gus politically. the results of which ever
in the case OF the most tremendous. victory
cannot compensate for the loss involved.
To this argument the imperialists repl,
that the rapidly increasing expenditure to
military establishments to guarantee tn,
peace soon will prove TO be more cost!
than actual war The democrats admit
this, and suggest that the preparations 70
war be discontinued and that the poo
people of both countries no longer be re
quired to stint their stomachs In orde
that they may afford the luxury of battle
ships. And then the dispute goes on. tn
imperialsts denouncing the democrats a
impractical idealists, and the democrat
denouncing the imperialsts as inhuma
monsters.
Military men take more practical vie'
OF the question than either school of pol
ticians., 1t may be that the wish is fatht
to the thought, but 1t Is a fact that arm
and navy officers, not only Britons an
Germans. but those OF every other natioI
are practically a unit in predicting III
certainty of war. Perhaps It seems to ther
unthihkable that such great preparation
should be made all for nothing. Their bus
ness is to fight, they too seldom get
chance for active service and they aIwaJ
are peSsimistcally dubious Of the efficac
of diplomacy to settle major internationt
quarrels.
A long time ago somebody, in dIscussir
this same question asked how It was Do
sible for a tiger and a shark to do battl
That was when Germany was all arm
u ana England was all navy. As long {
,, that condition obtained Germany could n,
!, start things because II was afraid of Il
British navy, and England could not a
, tack because It was afraid of the Gerrus
army. The difference In the constitute
\ OF the chief military arms of the two nj
Z tons was an automatic guarantee Of peac
a But in late years Germany has bee
DullolnB a navy, ana England mas Oeen a
o tempting to organize an army. The Kais
1 has said that the trident must be place
e in the fist OF Germania. The British mil
}. tary experts have said that every Britis
: boy must be trained as a soldier. Tn
e means that the shark Is trying to gro
y legs, and the tiger is cultivating fins
> OF course there Is no real reason Il
n war England is not attempting to infrnE
n Germany's natural rights, and German
= is not interfering with British affairs. b.
n 1t must be remembered that there is ver
e seldom any reason for war. Rebe
lions and instructions usually. II not a
ways, have a real and logical cause. Whe
people, or a section OF a people, arise
in arms against its constituted ruler, thei
is always a grievance OF a real or fanolt
oppression, and the rebels believe thu
they are fighting for their liberty.
When two nations go to war there
usually no reason except greed and amb
ton. II the war between Japan and Ru
sia had not been fought the status of Il
Japanese and Russian people would not
appreciably different from its actual col