The Washington times., 1913-04-21
MANUFACTURING WAR sCAREs.

The disposition of army and navy men, all the
world around, to view with aarm'-it ought to read
view with satisfaction"-every warke suggestion,
is we'll enough recognized not to need comment. The
soldiers business is fighting, and if he is good
soldier ne likes occupation. He manages in various
ways to convince himself that war is rather good
thing for society," All that is just as natural and
inevitable as that solicitor for the gas company
should have ready argument to convince the house
wife that she ought to cook with gas
But it's rather a different affair when the manu-
facturers of smokeless POWDER machine guns, armor
plate battleshps and ambulances organize deliberate
campaigns to develop international illwill, in order
that armamens may be increased and the market for
their products expanded. It's just little bit as if
the coffin makers justifying themselves with the
argument that death is bound to come to everybody
sooner or later. should form poisoning syndicate
and hurry it along in wholesale way in order to
help business.
No wonder then, that Germany is>horrifed at the
revelations concerning the Vaccinations of the House
of Krupp worlds foremost makers of war munitions
1t appears that the Krupps have maintained sort
of quasi-diplomatc press agency whose business was
to keep Germany at swords points with France and
Britain 1t is charged that the makers Of war
material have freely subsidized German newspapers
to keep up the clamor for more men, more guns
and the most truculent policy toward other countries
1t is claimed that proof will be adduced that num-
bers of paid agents. lecturers, etc. have been main
tanned. preaching war throughout Germany.
Beyond all tnat there is the remarkable accusa
ton that the great German house even went far
tc induce publications in France that were designed
to give alarm in Germany, to convince the Germans
that their military establishment needed strengthen
ing. and that more modern weapons, which the
Krupps wanted sell in place of those already used
by the German troops, ought to be ordered.
The House of Krupp is tremendous power in
Germany Its founder left one of the worlds great
est fortunes was an intimate of tine emperors and
statesmen of his nation, and was regarded a
national benefactor His wares sold all over the
world and naturally the promotion Of wars and war
sentiments was an inevitable incident to keeping
business good
More recently the Krupps have not commanded
such unquestioning confidence. Their goods suf-
fered sadly in the pubics estimate, by of the
fact that German officers and German equipment
have long been the basis of the Turkish army estab
lshment while French munitions, military teachers,
and strategy nave been the foundation on which
Bulgaria buded the splenddly victorious. army which
has made new power in Bahama. 1t brought shock
10 the German people, and the blow has not been
eased by the revelations of the corruptng activities
of the immensely rich and profitable German ven-
ders of war materials 1t is charged that Germany
has paid good deal more for arms and equipment
than any other nations paid to tine same German
makers, and that the profits of the German manu-
facurers in these lines have been the greatest Of
any industry in the empire.
Perhaps if Europe discovers how much Of selfish,
sordid, pro6tseeking interest has been behind the
scenes of the persistent agitation, it will decide
that some sanity and common sense are in order.