Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-10-06
SAYS GERMANY CAN
JUSTIFY POSITION
Robert Renner, Reserve in
Kaiser's Army, Blarnes
England.
LOOKS O EARLY
N OF FIGHTING
Conditions in Fatherland
Are Normal and People
Are United.

Germany must win this war" said
Robert c. Renner. of Buffalo, N. z,
a reserve in the kaiser's navy, after
his arrival in Grand Forks this orn
the German navy. and, when war was
declared. enlisted at New York, but
the kaiser's government had no IA
cilities for getting him. and other
Teutons out Of this country.
Mr.. Rener has just come from Cal
ifornia, where he has been attending
to business matters. Conditions in
said.
Germany has been greatly mis-
judged since the outbreak of the war;"
said Mr.. Rener. But the truth will
be known. Just as soon as Germany
can communicate directly with the
United States. you Americans will
learn a few startling things.
Five Relatives FightingI
" II have a letter from a friend
Of mine in Hamburg. He is employed
at the government recruiting station
there. and he tells me that conditions
are far different from what other
countries report His letter got by the
censor absolutely untouched, and I
must say it cheered me immensely.
= q v SA LA J
have five relatives fighting at the
front. but since the outbreak Of hos
tilities I have not received a word
from them. This letter from Ham
burg Is the first word I have received
from the fatherland.
my friend says that conditions are
absolutely normal. Prices haven't
advanced, and there is an absolute
feeling Of confidence on the part of all
Germans. During the stress and tur-
moil of this conflict, there is no such
thing as socialism. Germans are all
one people today. They are united by
a common bond and they are stand
ing s%quarely for the kaiser and his
principals.
Fighting for Principals.
This is not a war Of conquest.
Germany is not lighting for more ter
ritory. She Is simply defending her
natural rights, and every German has
a feeling that she must in. She has to
win, and between three and four mil
lion regular soldiers are fighting that
h may win.
THE kaiser often is referred to as
the instigator Of this war, but I do
not believe he I firmly believe
that England had as much. to do with
starting it as anyone. This Is evidence
ed by the exchange Of kilograms be-
tween Germany and England. The
kaiser, o remember, SEN his broth
er. Prince Henry, to Great Britain to
Car in an effort to have him cease
mobilization. But England was jeal-
ous OF Germany's progress and Ger
many's commercial position.
Al for England not being ready, I
take no stock in that report. Eng
land was just as prepared as Ger
many, n England knew long before
war was declared that war was COM
ing.
Looks For Early Conclusion.
Il don't believe this war will last
longer than two months more. I don't
see o it can. Russia is not serious
ly considered by German authorities,
as Is evidenced by my friends letter.
They expect Austria and Hungary to
check the Russian advance. We also
believed that the German forces will
bring about a decisive conflict in the
western war zone in a very short
time. When that is completed, look
for an early conclusion Of hostilities.
Germany wants to take Verdun,
for, IN Its capture, she will have solv-
ed the greatest problem in her at
tempt to reach Paris. Verdun is the
key to Paris. and it's fall would be a
terrible blow to France.
The world Is lauding the Bel
gums for their stand at Liege and the
so-called check that they gave the
Teuton army. The fact is that the
Germans went through Belgium much
more quickly than they anticipated.
They realized that the forts at Liege
were almost impregnable, and yet, six
days after war was declared, the CITY
fell.
wait until the regular zeppel,,.
war heet gets into action. There are
four Zeppelin posts in. Germany, two
OF which are sea coast towns. So far.
the government has used only the
lighter dirigibles which have been
used Tor carrying passengers. But
they have heavier Zeppeline, design
ed especially for war, and when they
get In action, you will hear Of great
er and more effective things from the
Zeppelin soldiers"
In speaking Of business conditions
IN California, Mr.. Renner said:
You people in this section Of the
country are fortunate. I believe YOU
are In the most independent district
IN the United States, for the east.
south and west have been greatly
harmed by this war. Especially are
they feeling 1t in California and IN
other Pacific coast states. The fruit
shipments to Europe have been cut
on, and that ear a loss Of millions
OF dollars. There is no money in siphr
IN California. and hundreds ana hun
oreds OF men are out of employment.
for the Panama exposition. I
think 1t will be a financial failure. I
canot see how Germany and the 9TH
or countries stricken by war can take
part In the exhibition"