The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-09-15
BY CHARLES p. STEWART.

lowing is Ms size-up OF the present
crisis:
BY CHARLES p. STEWART.
(copyrisht 1911 by United Press.)
Nominally It is between Germany
ed. Really, II Is between Germany
and England. To predict early hos
tilities would be going too far. There
is possibility OF them-no more.
But that England and Germany will
have to fight out their difference
sooner or later is reasonably certain.
English and German interests are in
hopeless conflict. This conflict can
not be ended by arbitration. One
country or the other must be reduced
to second place. Neither Is willing
to be that one. One of them will
have to be beaten into II.
England has recognized this for a
long time. Ever since Germany be-
came formidable power 1t has been
the English policy to band the rest
of the old world nations together
against 1t. At present the lineup is
England, France and Russia on one
side and Germany, Austria and Italy
on the other. Russia Is a rather un-
certain ally OF England and France.
Italy Is suspected Of disloyalty to
Germany and Austria. France and
England, however, are real allies.
Austrian interests and German inter-
ests are so closely bound together, so
far as policies are concerned as TO
be practically one country.
Just 40 II la to- England's interest to
mite asrmsny. .shatiaps - possible
against Germany, It ~ 3trmany's In
terest to break these combinations.
This II the explanation OF It's persist
antly hostile attitude towards France.
or France alone, Germany is not
afraid. II would even like the repub-
lie as an ally of its own, but as Eng
lands friend IL is very much opposed
to II indeed. At the present time the
English navy being something like
twice as strong az Germany's and
England being an island, It 10 impos-
sible for the Fatherland to get at its
|arch-foe. But Il Is not impossible for
Il to get at Francs, which lies across
mo more serious obstacle than an i'm
aginary line with defensive army
almost as much weaker than the Ger
uldu d6 lnC oGI haNy ~ WOohCA
than the English.
Accordingly the Gernan game is
to annoy England through France.
With each blow dealt from Berlin at
French interests or French pride, the
kaiser glances an invitation towards
England to come to its ally's aid. He
is convinced that England dare not
do It, for the English army Is mi
croscopic even compared with the
French and for continental cam
paign, such as the English must en-
gage In to protect France, of course
the English navy is of no use.
Sooner or later, the Germans are
convinced that France will grow tired
of an ally which, like England. uses
France, but when France needs aid,
does nothing at all. When this time
comes, Germany will undoubtedly say
to France: why not have an ally
that is worth something-come In
with US" II France goes. Russia will
certainly do so to, and England Will
be left alone, with Germany at the
head of the strongest alliance that
Europe has ever known.
But before this happens, England
will have to fight whether IL wishes
to or not. And there IL a strong par
ty among the British that opposes
waiting until the last moment for a
declaration OF hostilities. Logically,
this party has q strong argument.
Germany Is building warships at such
a rate that II Ii gradually overhauling
fhe English navy. Not to be over
hauled very soon. the English are
compelled to build on their own side
at a terrific rate. The burden OF
this growing armament 10 crushing
the country.
will Il not be better" ask the mill
tarists, ITO demolish the Germany
navy before Il IL as strccg as our
own? To do Il will not only be a
measure of safety, but will relieve us
OF the expense Of maintaining our
lead"
Aside from their political rivalries.
Germany absolutely must have room
to expand. England has all desirable
territories pre-empted. With Ger
many determined to secure possession
OF a part of England's possessions
and England determined to keep all
Il has got, the outlook for indefinite
peace between them is not bright.
Modern war Is so expensive and
the stakes so great that both coun-
tries hesitate when an actual crisis
is reached, and so far as any given
crisis 10 concerned, Il is generally
safe to count on'a temporary patching
up of differences, but while the cen
tral issues remain undecided the dan
ger Of an Anglo-German war will al.
ways be imminent whether there is
a criaia IN the fore or not