The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-25
THE WAR SITUATION
FROM DAY TO DAY,
nv uERMAN Ridden.

by HERMAN R1DDER.
1t was not without many misgiv-
ings that entered upon the conduct
of this. column. could not be blind
to the dangers Of misintcrpretation
Ito which might be open. assumed
1.-THE task, as in duty bound, not as n
German subject, which am not, but
ms American, which I am, not to ere
ate ill-feeling, among Americans Of
diverse sympatlfies; but to apay iii.
Truth alone can survive and upon
truth alone lean be founded the. last
ing impressions which must follow
inevitably the present war.
| Convinced as was that the Amer
lean people were receiving through
the censorship OF Paris and London
but one side of the questions at issue.
land that side the most unfavorablc to
the German people, I sought, in ms.
small way, to preserve the balance Of
truth. It is with deepfelt regret that
7 find my endeavors in this direction
misinterpreted in quarters where as
an American l could least wish to be
misunderstood.
| 1t shall always be my aim to offer
the President inc sense of loyalty.
Germany has many friends in the
United States and they stand ready,
am sure, to make any sacrifice Of
sympathy or emotion for what is for
us nationally desirable. As an Amer
lean pledge myself to avoid even
the "most subtle breach of neutral
Iity.'
We must remember, that, in the
last analysis, we are polyglot ma
tion. We are still In the experiment.
nj stage, and crude racial character
istics are as yet distinctive and to he
rcckoned with. What tho man in
the street says and docs has q certain
connection with what he thinks,
while his interest in the European
situation is hardly less vital than
that of his kin across the sea. Tic
collective 1--WE" cannot be eliminated
on both sides of the Atlantic.
When we stop to realize that, al
though influenced by intrinctive 10y
atty for each continental homeland.
what. American citizens say and do
depends largely upon the reports of
the daily press We must agree that n
tremendous responsibility rests on
the press to assume fair and unpar-
tisan viewpoint.
When so serious crisis is at hand
in our own national affairs, the re-
sponsibility of educating the public
mind, in regard TO interaction of ma
terial and moral forces in these in
ternational destinfes. rests upon the
press. When hot racial instincts
need little encouragement to plunge
fusdnto informal discord, ftsis inpera-
tive to demand ofEour national press
DECENT restraintsahd unbiased col-
umns. RTE IN n Il
e Belgian Situatiorls n IA
The retreat 'of tho Belgian army
upon Antwerp has all the appearance
of "a rout. There is no doubt that
the belgian troops fought bravely
wherever they met the enemy, but it
was not over liberal OF France, and
the French point with pride TO- the
fact that generosity is a predominant
trait of the Gallo character. to place
the full burden Of stemming the Ger
man tide upon the small Belgian
army.
Where are the strong French
forces which, according to reports
sent out a week ago, were to defend
Belgian soil at Gembloux? Where are
tho three English corps that landed
on Belgian territory on August fifth?
We do not know how strong the
French forces were that fought sout!,
OF Brussels, but It is more than prob
ablethat they consisted Of fourseo
Where are. they?. A letter from an.
English officer dated August 14th.
printed IN yesterdays Sun, states
that the writer has taken part in
two engagements.
Meanwhile even Paris Is compelled
tosadmit that the invasion of lower
Alsace has received serious check.
The German army of the Saar has
forced the French back across the
river Seillc. This means that a sec
ond decisive battle is being fought
south of Metz.
made In Germany,
A special London dispatch OF the
New York Herald of yesterday says: