The Washington times., 1914-10-01
n the Editor Of THE TIMES:

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
DR.. Bernhard Dernburg and other de-
tenders Of Germany continually assert
that ENGLAND forced the war on Ger
many because Of jealousy OF Germany.
that for years England has been seek
ing hen opportunity, that finally she
availed herself Of the pretext OF the
violation of the neutrality OF Belgium.
hoping to destroy Germany and crush
German commercial competition.
Assertions are not facts, no matter
how often they may be repeated. but
the public is apt to become confused
when 1t Is told the same thing day
after day with an air Of piausibility.
The public. however. is TOO intelligent
not to see the weakness Of an asser-
ton when it can bs blown to pieces
with a Whit of common sense.
DR.. Pernburg and his Fellow laborers
have accused the English OF being
guilty Of a great many crimes. put
none OF them have charged tnat tne
English are 4 pack OF fools; on the
contrary. they have attriouted 70 .neIt ~
almost preternatural cunning. Now II
tha premise Is correct-that England
delibcrs tcly brought on the war and
for years has been waiting an oppor-
tunity to attack Germany-and the sec,
ond premise is also true, that Ensland
made war with one end in EieW-to
profit by Germany's misfortune-would
any but a nation Of fools plunge into
war against the most powerful military
ration history has known. nation
that for years has openly ooasted OF
its preparations for war. that was
ready to strike on the instant, without
hcing ready down to the last gaiter
button'"
Instead Of being ready. instead Of
having made any preparations. instead
of having mobilized all her resources
Of men and money and credit. Eng
land took not a single step until after
war was declared. By a stroke OF
good fortune. pure luck. her fleet was
in home waters instead or being
scattered on half a dozen oceans. but
barring that-which. / repeat. was
sheer accident and not desisn-Eng-
land was as unready for war against
a great military power, which mere
Iy had to issue mobilization orders
and its armies were In motion. as Is
the United States today. and what
more striking comparison can ps
made that that?
I am not relying on assertion.
Everyone knows the facts. Not until
the war had been actively carried
on by Germany for three weeks was
England able to send her first small
contingent 10 FRANCE Va
being prepared for war. she was most
unready. to speak
frankly.
Instead of having a great army to
be sent abroad at an hours notice,
she has mad to create an army by
voluntary enltstments. to arm and
drill civilians who have Joined the
colors because their country is en-
dangered. Instead OF having troops
ready to send from India. only wheE
the magnitude of the struggle was
realized did England draw on the re-
sources of her Indian empire. In
stead OF having arranged to ffll mp
the ranks from Canada. Australia.
and South Africa. IT is only now
nearly two months after the declara-
ton Of hostilities. that the oversea
are approaching the bat
tie line.
ONLY a nation of fools would go to
war against GERMANY with no prep
arations made for the conflict. and
DR.. Dernburg generously admits that
the English are not fools.
Faithfully yours.
A MAURICE LOW.