The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-22
BELGIANS IN ROUT,
SAYS HERMAN RIDDER
France "NOt Over Liberal" in
Placing Defence Bur-
den on Them.
ALSACE INVASION CHECKED
Writer Hopes United States
May Regain Her Mer-
chant Marine.
ny HERMAN RIDDER.

ny HERMAN RIDDER.
IL was not without many mIsgivlngs
that I entered upon the conduct OF this
column. could not be blind 10 the
dangers Of mislnterpretatlon to which
nisht be open. | assumed the task. as
in duty bound. not a. a German SUBJ
ject, which am not, but as American.
which ] am. not to create III feeling
among Americans OF diverse sympathies,
but TO allay VI. Truth alone can sur
vtve and upon truth alone can be founded
the lasting Impressions which must fol-
iow inevitably the present war
Convinced as | was that the American
people we're receiving through the cen
sorshlp OF Paris and London but one side
o. the questions at ISSUE. and that side
the most unfavorable to the German peo-
pie. sought In my small way, to pre-
serve the balance OF ruth. II is with
/ deepfet regret that : md my ondeavors
/ In This direction msnterpreted In quar-
/ ters where as an American ! could least
| wish to he misunderstood
It'shall always he my aim to of r the
/ President a fine sense OF loyalty. Ger
many has many friends In the United
states and they stand ready 7 am sure.
| to make any sacrifice " sympathy or
emotion for what is for us nationally de-
sirable. As an American I pledge my
self TO avoid even the most subtle breach
Of neutrality"
We must remember that In the last
| analysis we are polyglot nation We
| are stu In the experimental stage. and
| crude racial characteristics are as yet dis
t'nctive and to be reckoned with. What
| the man In the street says a. does has n
certain connection with what he thinks.
while his iutarazt In ba
tion II hardly less vital than that of his
kin across the sea. The collective 1--WE"
car not be eliminated on both sides Of the
| Atlantic
When We stop to realize that. although
| influenced by instructive loyalty for each
| Continental homeland. what American
citizens say and do depends largely upon
| the reports OF the daily press We must
agree that tremendous responsibility
rests on tho press TO assume a fair and
bipartisan viewpoint.
When So serious a crisis 10 at hand In
our own national affairs the responsibility
of educating the public mind In regard to
interaction OF material and moral forces
in these International destinies rests upon
the press. Who hot racial instincts need
little announcement to plunge Us into
Internal discord II Is imperative to de-
mand of our national press decent re-
straint and unbiased columns
The retreat Of the Belgian army upon
Antwerp has all the appearances Of a
rout There Is no doubt that the Belgian
troops fought brsvely whenever they met
the enemy, but II was not overheard of
France, and the French point with pride
to the fact that generosity Is a predomi-
nant trait OF the Gallo character to place
the fun burden OF stemming the German
tide upon the small Belgian army.
Where are the strong French forces
which, according TO reports sent out a
! "A n md I-l los ani .
: Gembloux? Where are the three English
corps that landed on Belgian territory on
; August s? We do not know how strong
the French forces were that fought south
OF Brussels, but It IL more than probable
= that they consisted OF four corps Where
5 are they? letter from an English on
GER, dated August IL, printed in yester-
days Sun, states that the writer has
taken part IN two engagements.
Meanwhile even Paris Ia compelled 70
) admit that the invasion OF lower Alsace
has received a serious check. The German
army OF the Saar has forced the French
I back across the River Settle. This means
A that second decisive battle is being
fought south of Metz
. A special London despatch OF the New
York Herald of yesterday SAYS: The
attention of the business world here IL
largely diverted from the war to the cap
ture of Germany's great commerce, which
is now PROSTATE"
y There is a wide interest in the move
' ment,'-Times.
. Merchants are ready to assist in thu
war on the enemys trade. All that /!
!. worth having will be seized. Doll,
- Chronicle.
THE British attack on and seizure o
Germanys trade presents "A great oppor
'tunty. Daily Telegraph.
THE way to make fortunes during tn
y, war Is TO capture the markets OF Ger
many Daily Mail
Let us have no more about good
e made In Germany.'-Da Express.
a The war of conquest is thus seen from
l. a new angle. The war was not mad
!, in Germany. hut made In Germany" 1
one OF the real causes Of 1t.
d An unholy fear has taken possession
e OF the British mind that in wiping on
e enemy of the mercantile map way ha
h been opened for the entrance OF anothe
I and for a stronger competitor for tn
" worlds business
D. II Ia our great chance. The gods NAV
e smiled upon us and placed the opportunit
e In our laps. II remains for us to ac
and act promptly II may he dolla
IS diplomacy, but II Is an effective polio
n to pursue. We lost our merchant marin
1t in one war: we may gain 1t back |
" another.
ID We must remember that England ha
d held more people under her sway wit
lie greater benefit to herself than any othe
nation in recorded history The statemer
OF John Wanamaker a man or broad e>
r. perience and mature judgment may we
Y deserve the attention Of the American put
lie ut could not he done better thre
ii years from now. II we were to build II
N ships than 1t can be done In single da'
10 this August by a purchase