The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-08
THE GERMAN SIDE
Reason For Germany's Stand In the
War

War
New York, Aug CDR Ernst Rich
ard, president of the German-Ameri-
can Peace Society and founder of the
New York Peace Society, depIored
the attitude OF the American Press
yesterday, accusing the newspapers OF
taking sides against Germany. DR..
Richard contended that the Kaiser
had been driven into war.
"The newspapers are decidedly
against Germany in the trouble. The
German-American population of New
York fels that the entire press is
against Germany. There are editor
falls against the Germans. A German
defeat is printed in big headlines.
A German victory is printed in little
letters
THE clash in Europe was not start
ed by the Austria-Servia embodiment
said DR.. Richard Something much
deeper began it. and it is from that
deeper cause that the Kaiser and the
German people must be judges in the
present wac. The deeper and the
real cause of the war Isl Shall Eur
ope be ruled by Asiatics or by Europ-
eans-by Slavs or by Teutons?
Russia, with its Asiastic absolu-
tism and hatred of the ideas of indi-
vidual liberty, means to make itself
master of all Europe as well as of
Asia. The Car knows that the Teu-
ton is his only bar to that, and he
means to seize Europe and Asia even
If he has to do it over the dead bod
les of the Teuton race.
"The Austria-Servia flareup is only
the spark in the powder magazine.
Russia did not really care anything
about Servia. But it did see a chance
to strike blow at Germany with the
aid Of France and England. That is
why the Car ordered the mobiliza-
tion of his troops on the German Dor
der.
"Was Germany expected to sit
quietly by while Russia was massing
her troops against her? In the same
way the French, who had been mean
| ~ sulking at their defeat since the
FrancoPrussian war, are little con-
cerned about the rights or wrongs of
Servia. They see only chance TO
get revenge. with the aid of Russia
and England.
France began the war without
Il st declaring war, just as she has
first scclaring war, just as she has
many in the past hundred years.
Germany does not want war New
er was it so prosperous; never did It
so strongly desire peace. 1t is ridicu-
lous not to see that Germany and the
Kaiser had no motive to want war.
But they were driven into war by the
Muscovitc, who wants to sweep Eur
ope. and by the French, who want re-
venge.
so hard has the Kaiser tried 70
preserve the peace that even the Nor-
waerts. organ of the powerful Social
ist movement in Germany. always bit
ter against the Kaiser on principles
and personally, has admitted IT,"
"How do you Justify the kaiser's
violation OF the neutrality of Belgium
and Luxemburg?" DR.. Richard was
asked.
Germany has no intention what
ever of keeping any of Delgiums ter
ritory. II will restore It to full indie
pendence after the war. II violated
Belgium's neutrality for the same rea
son it struck at Russia--it could no.
afford to wait for the enemy to strike
first. If she had not occupied Belgi-
um first France would have done so.
and as TO Luxemburg-every inch
of railroad in Luxembourg is owned by
the Prussian State Does any one sup
pose for a moment Luxembourg did
not know all along that in case Of
war Prussia. which owns these rail-
roads. would use them to convey her
own troops?"