The sun., 1914-09-27
THE GERMAN ATTITUDE TO
WARD THE WAR.
Professor Morris .Iastrow, Jr.. Describes
II From Recent Obscr, ION.

II From Recent Observation.
1t seems almost a hopeless task to
attempt to correct the erroneous i'm
pressions that have been spread
throughout the United States regarding
Germanys attitude in the Euro
pean war as well as regarding her aims
and ambitions. First Impressions are
always hard TO eradicate, and particularly
so when they are reinforced by colored
reports and by rumors and suspicious
emanating from sources openly hostile
to Germany.
AS one of the many thousands Of
American citizens who happened to he
in Germany at the outbreak of hostili-
ties, feel impellcd by a sense Of Justice
ana duty to give the Impressions that
I received Of the situation during the
first three weeks of the war. partiCu-
larly as | was enabled to follow the
course Of events at somewhat close
range. while through repeated and pro-
longed visits to Germany during the
past thirty years and through large
circle Of acquaintances in the various
parts of Germany / venture to think
that | have acquired a fairly thorough
/ knowledge of conditions in Germany
and, | trust a reliable estimate Of the
| German character.
| The war took the German people com
I pletcly by surprise ara this surprise
extended as | happen to know to mill
tary circles. An officer high in rank
and belonging to the immediate inner
circle around the German Emperor was
at a French bathing resort taking the
waters at the time of the crisis. So
little did ne forescc the serious issue
/ fluf "a f.y ~ ,. Il. .f.t
ton of war between Germany and
Russia he could point to his prcscnc"
in foreign country as a proof that
there was no cause for alarm The
Emperor himself was away on his va
cation IN Norway and when he re-
turned To Berlin N July 2G it was on
tircly on his own initiative and rather
to the displcasure of the Foreign Office
at Berlin ,as Is expressly stated in the
English White Book No. 33). which
feared that his presence might give the
impression Of more serious situation
than the Foreign once believed to he
the case.
1t is therefore obviously unjust to
represent Germany as being in "A bel
lccrcnt frame Of mind. ready to snap
at the first opportunity to get at Rus
sa. France or England, or at all thrt @.
Moreover, az a signal proof OF her pa
cihc Intentions. Germany can point with
justiilable pride TO the fact that she Is
the OHiD one Of the great Powers that
has not had a war since 1871. Enrland.
France, Russia. Austria-llungary. Italy,
Turkey have been involved IN hosili-
ties. and even we have had our war
Germany alone has clear record.
Surely this is most significant fact
which ought not to be- overlooked in an
estimate of the situation. Indeed. the
cN olutIun IN the character of william
~. from a war lord.' AZ which he was
Justly REGARDED on mounting the throne.
to become the promoter Of German
commerce and industry and ~ such
tn" strongest advocate Of peace in Eu-
rope. is a most remarkable transforma-
Il n, testimony to the unusual cali
bre of the man who can pass throuyh
such process Of ethical ana mental
growth. The transformat on - so thor
ouGh as to have gained for the Emperor
the designation of "Gu!l.aumc 10 timide"
at the hands OF French journalists. The
sincerity of the Empcror's frequent
declarations that he regarded II as his
mission to preserve the peace OF his
empire can hardly be questioned in
ways characterized his uttcrances and
which often brought him into cmbar-
~ssing difficulties. As recently as two
years ago in the Agad.r Incident.
which threatened the outbreak OF hos
tl.tics between France and Germany.
the Emperor. as VIII be- recalled threw
all the weight Of his influence on the
side of peace and won the day. The
presumption Is therefore against tho
view which throws on the supposed
bcllgerent attitude Of Germany the sole
responsibility OF the war.
why indeed should either the Ger
man people or the German Government
hay" desired war? Germany has be.
come Industrially great and CONNER A
cially powerful through the peace poll
icy that she has pursued during he
past forty years The growth OF Ger
many I'm this respect is So astounding
as 10 appear almost miraculous when
one mentally compares the rich and
Germany Of to-day with the
simple COnd tons OF life a generation
ago. She leads in all departments of
science, she maintains her position I'm .
art and music, she has become Eng ,
lands rival in the sphere of commerce
and In some respects has outdistancod .
her. Her merchant marine brings hor
in close touch with all the markets. Of
the world; she Is comparatively free
from strikes and internal Disturbances
and until this war broke out she alone
among the great Powers was enjoying
peac" within as well as wi hout Eng
land was struggling with the Irish uues-
ton. France was passing from one Min
isterial crisis 90 the other, Austria and