The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-12


corresponding period, only a little
over fourty six was to countries be-
you'd their control. Thus, while
expectation and emigration were
alike strengthening to France and
and England, both were weakening
Germany.
This alarming condition impera-
lively demanded territorial expan-
sion on the part pf Germany if she
would continue to exist as a world
power. If she did not soon obtain
some territory to which could be
diverted this stream of outgoing
Germans, and whose trade she could
keep in her own hand, France aud
England would soon SO far ouldis
lance her that she would he com
PEELED to follow Spain, Holland aud
Portugal into the ranks of second
class powers. Even Russia, the
backward child among the European
powers, would soon out-strip her.
with the vast field of development
which Russia holds in ASIA.
Already the boundaries of Ger
many in Europe had been pushed
to their extreme limits; more terri
tory could be added only at the
expense of France or Russia, or by
annexiug parts or all of Belgium,
Hollaud or Denmark. Aud even
this woald be OF little value, as these
countries are nearly if not quite as
congested industrlally and socially
as Is Germany herself.
Belgium, it is true, controls the
Congo. a rich territory suitable for
colonization Bearing this in mind,
it is significant thar Germany's first
step in the present war was against
Belgium.
But Germany did not resort to a
general European war until she had
tried out every other possible means
of relieving herself from her own
growth. She sought and secured
concessions in China, only TO have
the other powers, chiefly France
and England, limit the scope of her
development Of them. She sought
and secured the confidence of the
opposition party III the Turkish
Government, and on the promise of
a commercial monopoly of Turkish
ASIA, to be secured by control Of
the proposed Bagtiad R.~it. to the
Persian Gulf, hlped them to over
throw the ruling house and depose
the Sultan. This time it was Eng
land and Russia who thwarled her
plans, by combining III Persia, a po-
sition which made the I}agdad r.
X. useless as commercial weapon
in German hands. The attitude of
England and Russia toward the
German plans, and the extent t"
which they were willing to go to
prevent their success was strikingly
illustrated when it began to appear
as If group of American officials
of the Persian Government were
about to place that nation on a foot
ing from which she could throw off
all European control. Persia is alb
solutely useless to Russia and Eng-
land, but our independent Persia
might allow Germany to obtain vir-
tual control of Eastern Asia. Nor
gan ShuslCr and hi, American asso-
ciates were rapidly creating al in
dependent Persia, therefore, Shus-
Ter. ct al, must go. They did.
Germany also tried to obtain com
merclal control of South American
country as a market for her surplus
produce, if not as basis for colon
iza,ion. 1t was the U S. thar
lh,erfered on this occasion. The
Venezuela incident is probably fa-
mi!iar to all of you.
The last attempt at a peaceable
method of expansion for the Ger
man Empire was the ATTEMPT on
Mor"cco-recent history France,
supported by England, prevented
German success in that quarter of
The globe.
So finally: in 1914 Germany found
herself in a position but little adj
vanced from that of 1880. Her
attempts at peaceful expansion,
carried on with a patience, a per-
severance unprecedented in history,
and with an objeo, at least as
worthy as that of any other great
power in any time, namely. the pre-
servation of her rank as a world
power of the first class, had been
thwarted at every turn.
1t was plain that If Germany was
to expand-and expand she must or
cease to exist as first class nation
she must resort to war.
Awaitad then hnt the OnnOrtuna