The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-08-11
SAYS U. 5. PRESS
ISN'T FAIR in
BLAMING KAISER
Really Not Responsible for War,
Claims Ernest Kern, Home
from Trip Abroad
THINKS RACE HATRED AT
BOTTOM OF CONFLICT
Returned ON Mauretania, Which
Landed at Halifax to Dodge
German Cruisers

Among the 1000 passengers Of the
Cunard liner Mauritania. landed In
Halifax. last Thursday. after the
steamer had made q forced run there
to avoid German cruisers. was Ernst
Kern. Detroit merchant. who arrived
home, Sunday.
1T was most thrilling trip" said
Mr.. Kern. Monday morning. 1.-The YES
last Saturday. We received news ey
wireless up TO Tuesday, but very little
after that. We saw no evidences OF
war vessels. but knew that reports OF
them must have been received. by the
actions OF the officers Of our own ship.
"Wednesday. the course or our
steamer was changed. and that night
we ran at full speed. faster than the
ship had ever travelled before. they
said, even though we We're passing
through q fog. All except the neces-
sary sailing lights were covered and
the ship sounded no fog horn or whis-
tie. He had no mishap, though. and
reached Halifax safely, Thursday"
Mr.. Kern left the Mauretania, Thurs
day night, and came home by way OF
New York. He was returning from
months trip through Germany, Eng
land, France and Switzerland.
The people In those countries" he
said. were very much aroused when
left, especially In Paris and London.
They had largely discounted the pos
sibility of war then. You could not
get anything like face value even on
any of their own commercial paper.
"This war is terribly sad and de-
plorable thing. IL Is pitiful TO see
the peoples of Germany. France and
England, among the best and most
enlightened OF the world, Strengthening
one another so mercilessly. The chief
cause OF the whole struggle Is one OF
racial animosity, the animosity OF
Teuton and Slav on the one hand and
the Celt and Teuton on the other.
There Is really no aggressor In the
conflict. A great injustice has been
done Germany by the attitude OF the
American press which on the whole
has laid the blame for the general con-
fiict on the kaiser. Germany Is blam-
ed for entering Belgium and for refus-
ing to agree to England's demand TO
respect the neutrality Of that country.
The truth is that Germany refused to
give such guarantee because Eng
land would not give the very same as
surance which she demanded OF the
Germans. and as a matter Of fact,
France entered Belgium before Ger
many did.
Neither the kaiser nor the German
people wanted war any more than the
peoples OF other countries did. Their
country was the busiest and most pro-
pressive of all in Europe commercially.
Surely they could not help but see
what war would mean TO them"
Ralph Hall Ferris. Progressive can.
didate for congress In the Thirteenth
district, spoke. Sunday. In the North
Woodward Congregational church, and
gave an analysis Of the European sit.
uation in which he declared: The
war is only a great big political SQUAD
BILE In which three or four Of the big
bosses OF Europe have came to blows
in trying each one to enhance his own
prestige"
War" said Mr.. Ferris, els no more
justiflable than the duel. There Is no
valid reason why any international dis
pute should not be settled by arbitra-
tion." He also explained the war as
laroelv dine IN racial aniYuoaitv