The Detroit times., 1914-08-10
KAISER ALMOST
ON HIS KNEES
TO AVERT WAR
Fritz Neef Defends the Father
land Against One-Sided
Campaign in Press
COMMENDS THE TIMES
FOR IT'S FAIRNESS
Asks United States Not to For.
get Service of Friendly
Germany
TO the Editor Of TIE Tsmss:

UcImouy
To the Editor of The Ttmes:
The impartial attitude OF The
Times toward the present disaster
which has befallen Europe, the clear
judgment and tact with which you re-
spect the patriotic feeling OF every
nation involved, cannot but appeal
strongly TO lovers OF justice.
In this way you fefect. 20 to
say. the character Of the whole
nation. which, ever since Its sons
gave their lives for its Independence,
so that the following generations
might prosper and live In peace, has
stood for righteousness and justice.
Part Of the American press, how
ever. has started one-sided cam
paign against Germany In the hard
struggle which she has to fight for
her existence. and II Is therefore
only natural that every one OF the
80 per cent OF the population of the
United States, which Ii German or Of
German descent, does not support q
paper In which they read only that
which IL not true.
None of these papers seems to
realize what Germany means for the
progress OF the world. and what
values 1t has given to build up this
great and glorious United States"
But. the Germans here could not be
such splendid citizens of the new
country II. deep In their hearts, they
did not have great love and graft
tude for their mother country. A
bad husband to his bride Is the one
who could be selfish enough to for
get his mother, and II is for that rea-
son that America will allow us to
give our hearts and assistance to
Germany In the hard times which
have come over II.
Il would be going too far to again
relate the details Of the beginning
Of the present war; as II Is well
known, and, as the New York Herald
writes. that the emperor Of Germany
almost got down on his knees In his
endeavor to induce Russia to desist
from mobilization.
ITO know everything means to un-
derstand everything" and one must
have lived In Germany and must
have witnessed all the provocations
which Russia and France have given
Germany and Austria In the Lost few
years. to realize why q peaceful ma
ton stands behind its leader, man for
man. In its endeavor to protect Its
civilization, its art. and It's industry,
against the unctvilization OF the
Slavs, and the desire for revenge
from the French.
There was no loud tumult, no cry
ing sore Of throats. In Berlin, as In
Paris--there was, and IL, only duty"
and full realization Of the gravity
Of the situation. IL Is ridiculous
when the other nations claim that
they have not declared war, because
Germany, In her honesty, put an end
to the hypocrism. and told France
and Russia to demobilixe or fight.
But the "honor OF England" was in
Jured because Germany did not re-
spect the neutrality Of Belgium, with
whom we knew that France had a
treaty, and who. undoubtedly would
have opened her borders for the
French troops to fall In our back.
and serve as naval base for the Eng.
lish, whose parliament would have
declared war, no matter what prom
ises Germany might have made.
England had to defend treaty
Of neutrality" but did not their feet
lombard Copenhagen 100 years ago
without q declaration of war? Has
she not always eliminated the strong
est competitor from the world mar
ket with an unbelievable reckless
ness? Has she not suppressed the
Indian and Egypion insurrections
with cruelty which IL q shame to
civilization. and where, "Son Al
bions." was the justice when you sup
pressed the Boersf Where we're
treaties and respect of promises
when you delivered battleships to
the south during the war for the
union, and damaged American COM
merce SO that Detroit paper says
America still suffers from It." 1t
would mean to again reveal American
history II should tell you Of the OBJ
| stacles which England put in the
way Of this young republic, even by
stirring up the Indians against 1t.
What Germany wanted was moth
ing but her place under the sun, and
her fair share In fair competition on
the world market. just as America
does. Germany's play with England
has always been fair and open. Dur
ing the South African war, Russia ap-
preached Germany for an alliance
against England. but our emperor re-
fused to attack England In such a
shameful way. The outcome Of q
war with France during the Russo
japanese war, would not have been
doubtful, but we proved to the world
that we wished TO live In peace. I
could give SCORES Of these proofs.
which one day were circulated In the
press, but seem TO have been forgot