The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-31
CHURCHILL SAYS
WAR CAUSED BY
TEUTON AMBITION
SsHmAN VICTORY WOULD MEN.
ACE THE UNITED STATES,
HE SAYS.
ENGLAND III DEATH GEAFP.E
WITH PRUSSIAN MILITARISM
s7opes For Reduction of struoole Of
Armaments at End of War-ov.r..
expansion Of Germans Would Mean
Friction With Monroe Doctrine.

Ger Churchill, First Lord Of tho Al
mlralty, today gave to the Herald an
interview on the great war. Asked
concerning the cause of the conflict Mr.
Churchill pointed to the white paper
OF Sir Edward Grey's negotiations.
There he said, "is our case-and
all we ask the American people is
that they should study it with severe
and impartial attention"
When asked what was the underlv.
ing cause, apart from the actual stems
which had led to the rupture Mr.
churchill stated in effect that the war
was started and was being maintained
by the Prussian military aristocracv
which set no limits to its ambition of
worldwide predominance.
Issue the Same.
In word" he said, "it is the old
struggle of hundred years ago against
Napoleon. The grouping of forces is
different; the circumstances are diff
ferent; the occasion is different: the
man, above all, is Internationally
But the issue is the same. We are at
grips with Prussian militarism. Eng
land stands right in the path of this
overgrowing power.
Our military force is, perhaps, small
but it is good and it will grow: our
naval and financial resources are con-
siderable and with these we stand be-
tween this mighty army and domin-
ion which would certainly not be con-
tent with European limits"
When asked whether the end of the
war would see some abatement of the
struggle of armaments, Mr.. Churchill
replied:
"That depends on the result. If we
succeed and if, as result of our vic
tory, Europe is rearranged> as far as
possible with regard to the principle
of nationality, and in accordance with
the wishes of the people who dwell in
the various disputed areas, we may
look forward with hope to great re-
Taxation and easement. But If Germany
wins. it will not be victory of the
quiet, sober, commercial elements in
Germany, nor of the common people Of
Germany, with all their virtue, but the
victory of the blood and iron military
school, whose doctrines and principles
will then have received supreme and
terrible vindication."
Porgress Wonderful.
81 cannot understand" he continued,
S'why Germany has not been contented
with her wonderful progress since the
battle of waterloo. For the last half
century she has been the centre of Eu-
rope; counted by many, feared by
many, treated with Difference by all,
no country has had such a reign OF
prosperity and splendor. Yet all the
time she has been discontented; So
fictitious of admiration, careless of in
ternational law, worshipping force, and
giving us all to understand that her
triumphs in the past, and her power
in the present, were little compared to
what she sought in the future.
"And now the great collision has
come and it is well that the democrat
ic nations of the world-the. nations,
mean. where the people own the gov
ernment and not the government the
people-should realize what is at
stake The French, English and
American systems of government by
nopular election and parliamentary
debate. with the kind of civilization
which flows from such Institutions
are brought into direct conflict with
the highly efficient fmperialist bu-
reaucracy and military organization
Of Prussia. That is the issue. NO
partisanship is required to make 1t
plain. No sophistrs can obscure 1t.
Mr.. Churchill was asked whether
the democracy of the United States
apart from the moral issues involved
,r...,rrad nm PAGE Four.)