The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-08-21
-A,R PLAY FOR GERMANS
Anthony, Fla, Aug. II, 1914.

ur,,, Won kindly give space for a
.sr lines just to give us Germans fair
bay? u,.4on rooana
u the attitude of Germany, which is
"a on sheer ignorance of the con-
s'.,ons abroad, and so much has been
.t,,eu in sympathy with the enc
H. of Germany, that I would like to
..,e as frankly and as clearly as |
an, the German point of view.
helieye that 1t is difficult to OBJ
n fair idea of the real situation
I'm most of the English printed pa
=. do not pretend that my view
lint is entirely unprecedented. 1t is
..ricult in the heat of battle to as
,me a wholly just and impartial at
.,,ude My sympathies are entirely
lin Germany and Austria. The
rotherland is my place of birth, there
70 cannot forget my loving Faith
erland.
can accomplish no good purpose
attempting to determine at this
mo the question as to the business
1, Germany's attitude in this terri
Ii war. Every TeutOn knows that
nermany and Austria are fighting for
heir very existence. 1t is quite clear
4 the German mind that this is a
lash in which either the Teuton or
NJ Slay will impose the civilization
mon the greater part of Europe. The
.truggle has been many years in COM
ibg Germany did not want war!
During the last quarter OF century
her industries and her commerce
AVE developed under the regime of a
1aiser who has always been a sincere
Ia forceful advocate of peace. That
IN these efforts of twenty-five years
a uninterrupted peace should be lost
ID a few days must tell its own story
Germany, whether successful or not,
aust make terrible sacrifices and
land tremendous losses.
When the diplomacy of Europe iso-
hted Germany and Austria it made
britain the day when all Europe
NOuld be aligned against the leu
ibnic race. To picture the kaiser as
81 blood-thirsty war-lord is arrant non
<ense The kilograms that were ex-
hanged between the kaiser and the
ezar show how far the emperor OF
Germany went to preserve the peace
81 Europe. Further, to assume that
he kaiser declared war in the pres
90 instance against the will of the
Eerman people is an absurd presump-
ipn. Germany is a military nation
p people are soldiers, and the prob
pms of Germany, from a military
iandpOint, are we'll known to every
German citizen. .!
When Russia modified her army it
neant war, and every German knew
90 expected it. Had Germany been
nder a republican form of govern
tent war would have been declared
PSI as quickly, and just as certainly,
Hd just as surely. The kaiser is a
art of German national life, but by
means an all-important part. The
pe ne plays in the commercial, ar
sue and military life of Germany is
direct proportion to his personal
Rgnetism and to his personal abil-
Y In this situation, however, the
~ spirit was abroad in the land, and
Kaiser or reichstag could have con-
Nplled it for very long.
The Russian mobilization spelled
anger for Germany, and the nation
ealiled it and acted accordingly.
y is my belief, which is worth as
lle or as much as that of any other
Pieriean who tries to keep in touch
ia the situation abroad, that the
y" OF Russia and France against
rnlany has been delayed many
ars through the moderation and
aceloVlng nature of the present
imah emperor. An ambitious war
u would have plunged Europe into
at the time of the Morocco crisis.
ms Is not war OF conquest. 1t is
Napoleonic war to satisfy the
sOnal ambitions of an emperor. 1t
defensive war for the German
g with the national life at stake.
'0pe was ready for this struggle.
Deu the Austrian arch duke was
-Qered' every European capital