The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-09-17
LITTLE KINGDOMS
FEAR FOR SAFETY
Holland, Belgium and Denmark
Think They viii Fall Into
Now Of Germany H
Kaiser Wins.

giants only. In n sense, indeed, the
smaller states fringtng the North sea
and the Baltic stand to lose more by 1t
than any Of the great powers. What
kever happens and whichever side 10
victorious none OF the major combat
ants win cease TO be national and In
dependent entities. But for their lesser
neighbors standing on the brink, OF
caught IN the cleft OF b titanic strug-
sic, for Belgium, Holland, Denmark,
and possibly Switzerland, there are but
two prospects. One Is to remain as
they are now, free and self-governing
states; the other Is TO be blottea from
the map and to suffer the final catas-
trophe OF annexation by an alien and
hated power. ..t
Why Dutch Are Ready,
That Is the terror which for years
has haunted the minds and guided the
policies OF statesmen from Copenhagen
to Brussels. And that is the q
why the Dutch at his moment are
ready to open the dykes n food the
country rather than submit to being
turned into a German province; why
the Danes are standing to arms vigt-
liant n grim; and why the Beig1ans
with splendid hardihood have flung
themselves across h path Of the Ger
man invaders.
The Germans have many great
qualities, but they have not the gift Of
inspiring either trust OF affection; and
nowhere are they so bitterly hated and
In the little kingdoms that border on
their frontiers.
The map shows the whole position
more clearly than any words. There is
Germany such as we know 1t to be--R
patient. virile, finely organized nation,
flled with the consciousness Of being
on the crest OF. the rising wave, hun
gering for an empire overseas but
Rware that ne empire can be founded
In the old, easy, effortless
fashion, cut off from the full freedom
Of the Baltic and the North sea, from
and with the short and difficult coast
line between Holland and Denmark
forming almost the only effective
channel fer its expanding commerce..
Little Nations In Way.
Ana the nations that in this way
cramp Germany's development are In
all cases weaker than itself. It Is
walled off by puny, insignificant states
from everything it most vitality needs
for the protection OF it's security and
the fun utilization OF its strength.
Ports. territory, opportunities, lie Just
beyond its Observation-Disclosures, re-
member, that are artificial, not perma-
nent drawn by diplomatists, not, by ma
ture-and their occupation would pro-
VlQe LOT RSIcTallOn hH dOGQu6kC OuAAGb
for it's surplus population, its maritime
ambitions. and its Industrial enter
prise, an outlet more than ever desir-
bile now that Germany, with Its rap
idly growing numbers and a conse-
Quent increase Of the social pressure,
has changed from a mainly agricultural
to a mainly Industrial state. e.gf "
Therefore for three decades at least
Holland, Belgium and Denmark have
been the objects Of the Pan-German
propaganda The Dutch have been
plainly told that 1t is an insufferable
monstrosity that the mout OF the
Rhine, the German Tiber, should be in
the hands OF strangers and that a
small coast people should set astrtde
of Germany's busiest river. They have
been warned that Germany must adj
vance to its natural confines, and
that while Holland remains detached,
Germany IL in the position of a man
who is denied a key TO his own front
door. - ~
The advantages Of a commercial
union, the danger 70 the Dutch. col
onies from the predatory ambition OF
Great Britain and the United States,
the chronological, linguistic and spirit
ual affinity between h TWO peoples,
have been dwelt upon with allur1ng
iteration. ." .@E . ~.
It has an been to little purpose.
There are a few Dutch papers that in
the past have favored both a customs
union ana q military alliance with
Germany. But the masses Of the peo-
pie nave stOod resolutely against any
scheme that threatened to compromise
their Independence. They forsee that
an economic union f~oreshadows an ul-
innate political subserviency; they In
tensely dislike the German militartst
and bureaucratic spirit.
II they are forced to enter the pres
x.k akw.tRoRa e. ruf1l hn tn ADht m thafA
forefathePs fought against Spain. We
can all see now that 1T would have
been better II the long discussed pro-
ject of an alliance between Holland
and Belgium had taken effect. The
fate of the two countries is inseparable.
A German triumph means for each ex-
tinction. It means that the whole lit
toral- from Ostend to Copenhagen
passes into German hands. The Dutch
will go any lengths to ward of such
q destiny.
The position of Denmark is equally
difficult. 1t Is washed both by the
North sea and the Baltic and It con-
trolls the passage between them. The
British feet, for instance, a only
gain entrance to the Baltic by steam
ing through the narrow and hazard
Gus straits Of the Great Belt or the
Sound, both of which may be opened
or closed at the will Of Denmark, and
kAACI SCA6oA VA VAA~A AAeJ NAAS AOASAQ
present itself either to Great Britain
or to Germany as a strategic neces-
Stty. r,lE|
The Danes Have Fears.
The Danes have never relished the
disquieting perils and responsibilities
Of their situation. At the time OF the
first Hague conference 300, coo OF King
Christians subjects petitioned him to
obtain fr0m the conference a solemn
recognition Of Danish neutrality. The
problems Of defense are their constant
preoccupation. They have strength
ened Seeland's coast line with forts,
mines and terpedoes. They have
worked out an elaborate system of
transport and mobilization for bring
ing their troops from .Jutland and Flu
men to Seeland. Their dread has al
ways been that they might find them
selves the cockpit Of an European
struggle. .~. -....
Are these three ancient kingdoms,
with their distinctive traits and their
highly individual contributions to the
common stock OF culture and civiliza-
ton, to be run into the German mold?
Not certainly Il Great Britain can pre-
"-L- -