Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-08-13
German View OF
Present War

Many German-AmericanS resent
the charge that Germany is the
aggressor in the present war, and the
Westlich Post, leading German
American paper published at St.
Louis, in discussing the matter edi-
torially says:
What has been expected, and at
the same time doubted by every one
for week, has finally come to pass
the Europen war is now reality,
"In deplorable misconstruction of
facts and circumstances, the Ameri-
can press has on many occasions des-
ignated the German empire, and es-
pecially the German emperor, as the
disturbing element in European poll
tics. Since Germany, under the reign
of its third emperor, made such phe-
nomenal strides in the race for COM
mercial and industrial as well as in
tellectual supremacy, it has become
the object of the jealousy and envy
of the rest of the world.
Whenever Germany scored anoth-
er success in any field of human en-
deavor this only served to still fur
ther increase the blind hatred.
Whenever Europe faced bloody war
the cry outside the German empire
was always that Germany was re-
sponsible for melting the unrest,
whereas the fact was always the con-
trary.
Never has a ruler exerted himself
for the cause of peace as did William
II, supreme commander of the might
lest army the world has known. But
his endeavors were not recognized.
The intrigues against Germany be-
came more pronounced as the empire
threatened England's commercial su-
premacy.
ITO annihilate this competition
England did not hesitate in the
choice of its means. English news
agencies made it their business to
saddle upon Germany the RESPONSE
bility for every disturbance that
arose in the eastern or western hem
isphere.
"As the news service of the Ameri-
can Press is almost exclusively dis
tributed from London, there has, un-
fortunately, been created deep-root-
ed prejudice against the German ma
ton in the United States.
1--WE German-Ameri loyal citi-
zens of the land of our choice, but
unwilling to forget the land of our
birth, have noted with sincere regret
that this erroneous conception is ap-
parent again during the present cri-
sis.
THE indisputable fact remains
that this unfortunate war, by which
all Europe will be made to suffer,
has been forced upon Germany.
Without any apparent cause Russia
has been gathering its enormous war
hordes on the German border for the
last six months.
THE cry for revenge of the chau-
vinists in France became more in
sistent, but still Germany used its
utmost endeavors to prevent the
threatened conflagration. Not until
it became apparent from the east and
the west the arms of the octopus
were stretched to throttle the en-
pire, did the government take the ut
most step.
1T is not a war of the kaiser's
making; it is a war waged by the
German nation for existence and the
upholding of the national honor.
The German people fight for what
they prize highest in the world
their freedom and honor. The Ger
man nation is not waging a war of
conquest; its purpose is to advance
the growth of culture.
I'VE Americans Of German extrac-
tion, during these solemn hours, de-
sire only that these facts should be
fully understood by our fellow Amer
leans. But they can only be possible
If the American press will judge i'm
partially and will not accept the con-
clusion that Germany has brought
about the war"