The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-29


American friendship for the nation
that came to their help in the war of
the Revolution Russia regards with
disdain the German attacks in the
United States, and so far as the Jap
anese are concerned, Americans must
admit they have kept strictly to the
letter of their agreement with the al
lies.
Efforts to Brighten America.
AS seen from this side of the At
lantic, the German efforts to brighten
America seem cruCe. 1 don't remem-
Der any time in American history
when your people were frightened.
You are told to beware of British ma
val domination. You are told to be
careful lest the Japanese nation at
tack you in the Pacific. Americans
are well aware Of the size Of the Eng
lish navy and they know that for one
hundred years it has been friendly to
them. Any Japanese I have been ac-
quainted with were cognizant of the
latent power of the United States.
They know that Americans, like the
English, are generally unprepared for
war. but that being once aroused they
will carry their war to the finish. 1t
is no doubt disappointing to English
and American business men to learn
that there are people like myself who
regard this gigantic struggle as a mat
ter of years rather than months, but
from the most sorC.d point of view 1t
is better that the world should be rid
of this menace to its peace once for all
rather than to have some sort of
patched-up peace by treaty or COM
promise. which would merely allow
Germany to fall back for another
spring.
The part played by Americans in
this war has aroused much enthusiasm
over here. The only new determining
factor in warfare is the aeroplane,
the invention of Wilbur and Orville
Wright of Dayton. Ohio. Your am
bassador at Berlin. Gerard, your late
mbassador at Paris. Herrick, have
earned the thanks Of the allies and
even OF Germany. Your gifts to our
Red Cross, your hospital ship, your
american ambu Is in Paris: your
American sympathy and efficiency.
England Has Been Patient.
We have been extraordinary patient
in Great Britain about the war; SO pa
tient that numbers of our people have
begun to think that the days of wars
were over. The kaiser and his agent,
Prince Henry. duped the members of
our government, diplomats, business
men, university professors in both our
country and yours while he perfected
this machine of his. Some Of his satel-
lites really persuaded themselves that
this military monster of a war engine
was an engine of peace. Others on
both sides Of the Atlantic were highly
placed toadies whose views were en-
tirely twisted by favor of the royal
smile.
i 1t is fortunate that the German arms
and the present German government
have produced no Bismarck, no Won
Moltke, no Won Room. It is a superb
/ organization with no brains at the top.
A Bismarck would have known that
Canada would have rushed to the help
OF the mother country with its wonder
full supply Of men, war material and
mcrer-
r'~--a-ck would have at least one
strong friend among the neutral ma
tiCns. The German soldiers have
proven themselves possessed of mag
nifcent courage and the story of the
death of Admiral Won Spec and his
two sons in the battle on the Falkland
Island has aroused. am sure. almost