Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-09-08

the war. AS long as there has been
war in the world %fortresses have al
ways been bombarded. Whether they
are bombarded from the air or from
cannon on land is simply a technical
detail.
Is not the destruction of the histor-
ic edifices and library at Louvain an
act of vandalism?
TO begin with l doubt whether the
historic edifices and library at Lou
vain have been destroyed. But II
they should have been. the respon-
sibility rests solely with the popula-
ton Of Louvain, and the act of van
dalism, If there has been one, has
been %perpetrated also solely by that
population. The facts of the case are
the following: One ~battalian Of Ger
mar troops was left in charge Of the
city, and of the communications Of
the army. They we're not in line,
but dispersed in the city. The priests
of the city, thinking that the German
army had retired, distributed arms
among the civilian population md
our soldiers were shot unaWares. The
principle of civilized warfare is based
on the assumption that only the SOL
diers of a country shall fight against
the soldiers Of the other country, but
that civilians, women and children
shall ever join in the combat. To
maintain these principles severe pun
ishment has. always been inflicted up
on any population that joins in the
fight, and l do not refrain for one
moment from saying that they de.
serve it. In this special case, how
ever, the German soldiers who were
attacked by the people of Louvain
were mutilated, and treated with acts
of bestial cruelty. If the returning
troops with these facts before their
eyes burned down many houses Of
the city, l do not see now they a be
blamed.
What is the Slavic peril? And why
should Germany fear it more than
England or France?
Germany does not fear the Slavic
peril at all. However, the existence
of Austria as a great power has al
ways been considered of vital inter-
est to Germany because it keeps our
flank covered. Furthermore it must
not be forgotten that the alliance be-
tween Germany and Austria is quite
a different kind of alliance than any
of those among the powers who have
for,,pd n coalition oooipcf 1c Ans.
tria and Germany have belonged to-
gether for a thousand years, and ev-
cry fight between them has been re-
garded by both nations as a civil
war. Historic developments since
1866 have changed the aspect of Aus
ltria and have formed a dual monar-
chy between Austria and Hungary.
Austria is now half a tSlav state and
as such cannot permit the preten'
sions of Russia to be the protector Of
the Slavs. England and France are
now fighting for Russia's purposes.
Why they do so they will have to an
swer for themselves.
Would the purchase by the United
States of the German merchant ships
of New York harbor be a violation OF
neutrality? Dr..
According to my opinion, No. Be-
: cause our shipping companies are alb
solutely private business undertak-
ings without any interference Of the
Government. II, furthermore, those
companies are, as the American gov
eminent has stated, not to receive
payment till after the war l cannot
see how the purchase of these ships
can in any way holp Germany. OPP
position to these plans seems to me
to come simply from the wish to pre-
vent the United States from having
a mercantile marine. England has
joined our enemies for the chief pur-
pose Of getting VI trade. 1t would
naturally gain nothing, if Eng
land did win the war if their trade
were taken by the United States.
What do you think of the employ
ment of african and Asiatic troops IN
European war?
l condemn it Internationally.
In conclusion I may say that it is
one of the fundamental errors OF
American newspapers that this Is a
war of kings. Most emphatically is
it a war of the German people. Do
not be deceived about it. Every man
who doubts this is fundamentally at
error. l read all sorts OF things
about "the kings war;" but God
knows it is the peoples war. The
absolute feeling of the German peo-
pie was that the Emperor waited as
long as possible, if anything that he
waited at least two days too long. IT
any proof is needed for this state
ment look at the attitude Of the lead
ers of the German Social Democrats,
who are Loyalty supporting the En-
peror. See how different it is in Rus
STA where the Poles are in revolution;
in England where the leader Of the
Labor group said that 1t was not a
peoples wal and the government, had
not done enough to prevent it. The
leader of the Social Democrats in
Germany said: I'VE hate war, but
since the German nation has been at
tackled we will stand up like n man
against the autocrat who attacked
u.s."
Got EN- Both Ways.
"Scrry, gentlemen said the new
constable, "but I'll have to run ye in.
We been keepin' tab on ye since We
left Hunker's Corners.
- M - - " ~