Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-05-25
RECENT WRITINGS ON SUBJECT
or WAR CAUSE MUCH DIS
CUSSION.
fate DEPENDS ON ARMY
Words of the Future Ruler of Ger
man Empire Are Alive With
Martial Spirit.

Ham, has written a preface TO Ger
many Under Arms" which is attract
ing a good deal Of interested atten-
ton, I'm view OF the fact that this
young man is destined some day 10
rule the German empire. From the
inscription on the fly-leaf OF the
book, "The world rests no more Sc
curely upon the shoulders of Atlas
than Germany upon its army and
navy" down to the last words OF the
preface Of the crown prince, III the
whole German people are resolved
gladly TO stake life and property,
then, even though n world fun of
devils stand IN arms against us, we
shall conquer" the words Of Fred
erick William are alive with martial
spirit and show "A keen appreciation
Of certain tendencies in modern So
ciety.
With some unimportant omissions,
the preface runs substantially as fol-
lows:
"Our fatherland, more than other
countries, is compelled to rely upon
its strong sword. Situated in the cen
ter OF Europe, poorly protected by
unfavorable geographical frontiers,
not regarded with love by all ma
tons, II is the sacred duty Of the
German empire TO keep its army and
navy ever at the highest point of
readiness to strike. Only so, and re
lying upon our good sword can we
maintain our place, the place that
belongs to us, but f. not willingly
conceded.
Joy In bearing arms was ever in
the hearts of four people. Even with
the old Teutons a youth became a
man only after he had his baptism
of fire. IT was this spirit, inherited
from brave ancestors. that welded our
fathers into invincible troops in the
wars of the Great Elector, especially
in the glorious battle of 1S70-71 and
still more recently upon the sun
parched soil of German Southwest
Africa. This warlike, loyal, and proud
spirit we must cherish and transmit
as a holy heritage to our children.
I'VE live today, indeed, in a period
which emphasizes the high level of
its civilization and which delights in
fantastic dreama of the possibility OF
an eternal and universal peace. This
conception of life Is un-German and
1t not becoming to us. The German
who loves his people, who believes in
the greatness and the uture our
homeland dares not let himself be
soothed to slumber with utopian
songs of peace,
Since its last great wars Germany
has passed through a period of eco
nomic development that almost
awakens anxiety Prosperity has so
Increased among all classes of our
people that their den ands for n high
er standard Of life and for luxuries
have developed exuberantly. But the
dark side of this too rapid develop
ment presents itself in threatening
ways The love of money has al
ready assumed form with us that
can only be regarded with concern.
We scarcely ask today by what
means n fortune has been acquired.
Things are tacitly tolerated today that
formerly were condemned Every
thing is sacrificed to the pursuit of
money. Old ideals, even the reputa-
ton and honor of tho nation, can
suffer, so long as the people enjoy a
period of peace in which to amass
wealth.
IF we study history we see that
the lesson of the need Of warlike ef-
ficiency in n people runs like a red
thread through its pages. Even the
strong and great nations have lost
their long maintained position In the
front rank when the nurture Of mill
tary virtues has given place to the
passion for easy living, and when a
fresher and more efficient people
seizing it's advantages, has appeared
in the arena. And the sympathies of
the civilized world still go. as they did
in antiquity, to the army that fights
with dash and bravery.
diplomatic skill can and should
postpone conflicts for a time, and
sometimes settle them. All men in
ltdilllb pb'lNlbilo must hNNtIl illfli
enormous responsibility in the decld-
ing hour They must see clearly that
the gigantic conflagration, once kim
died, cannot be etinguished easily
and quickly. But as a flash Of light
ening equalizes the tension between
two strata Of air differently charged
with electricity, SO the sword is ana
ever will remain, the final deciding
factor.
"And therefore every man who
loves his country and believes in the
great future Of his people must joy
fully contribute his part to prevent
the old soldler-spirit of our fathers
from being lost. The sword alone
does not suffice; the arm that holds
IL must be made strong by practice.
Every man Of us must keep himself
able to bear arms and ready at heart
for the great and earnest hour when
the emperor calls us to the colors--
the hour when we no longer belong
to ourselves. but to our country.
"All our abilities must be brought
to the highest state OF efficiency to
supplement that will to conquer
which never in history has known de-
feat"