The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-08-20
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. TIE WkR SITUATION.
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lBy Herman Ridderj g..

Zeitung. . German paper published
in New York BY Herman Ridder, who
. is one OF the best known public men
in America. The paper is published
in German except one article b. NJ.
Rider, which IS in English, and in
which the editor sets out TO portray
as nearly as he can the situation in
\ Europe The article in English in
! the paper handed Us follows:
Il IL the intention Of the Stats
Zeitung to publish each day a column
Of news and discussion Of the news
relating 10 the European situation. So
much has been written regarding tie
attitude Of Germany which is based
upon sheer ignorance Of the conditions
abroad. and 50 much has been writ
4 ten in sympathy with the enemies OF
. Germany. that I intend to state a.
frankly and clearly a. can the Ger
man point OF view.
This column IS written in English
ior the purpose OF reaching those who
do not read German. realize that IT
is difficult 10 obtain a fair idea OF the
ireal situation by reading the English
( printed daily New York press.
II do not pretend that my viewpoint
/ Is entirely lpreiudiced 1t IS diff
cult in the heat Of battle TO assume
d wholly just and impartial attitude.
Ny sympathies are entirely with
! Germany and Austria. The Father
land was the home Of my ancestors,
and while ! am an American by birth
/ cannot forget my inherited love for
the Fatherland.
\ ] expect from time to time to dis
cuss in detail the causes that led to
this war. It can accomplish no good
purpose TO attempt to determine at
this time the question as to the just.
ness of Germany's attitude in this ter
rible war. Every Teuton knows that
Germany and Austria are fighting for
their very existence. II is quite clear
to the German mind that this is a
clash in which either the Teuton or
the Slav will impose his civilization
upon the greater part OF Europe The
struggle has been many years in com
ing
? Germany did not want war. During
, the last quarter century her indus
tries and her commerce have deyel
, Ioped under the regime of the kaiser
T who has always been "A sincere and
forceful advocate Of peace That all
these efforts of twenty-five years OF
, uninterrupted peace should be lost in
2 a few days must tell its own story
/ Germany whether successful or not
o. must make terrible sacrifices and
stand tremendous losses. When the
, diplomacy of Europe isolated Germa-
ny and Austria, it made certain the
day when all Europe would be aligned
against the Teutonic race.
To picture the kaiser as blood.
thirsty war-lord is arrant nonsense
} The kilograms that were exchanged
between the kaizer and the car show
how far the German emperor went
to preserve the peace of Europe.
Further to assume that the emperor
declared war in the present instance
against the will of Germany is an
absurd assumption.
, Germany is a military nation. Its
people are soldiers and the problems
! of Germany from a military stand.
point are known to every German cit
izen. When Russia modified her ar.
, my it meant war, and every German
knew and expected it. Had Germany
been under "A republican form of gov
ernment war would have been declar-
ed just as quickly, and just as Ger.
tainly, and just as surely.
The emperor is a part OF the German
national life. but by no means an all
important part. The role he plays in
the commercial, artistic and military
life OF Germany is in direct proportion
to his personal magnetism and to his
personal ability. In this situation,
however, the war spirit was abroad
in the land and no emperor or reich
stag could have controlled it for very
7 long. Russian mobilization spelled
danger for Germany and the nation
realized it and acted accordingly.
1t is my belief, which is worth as
little or as much as that of any other
p American who tries to keep in touch
with the situation abroad, that the
blow of Russia and France against
Germany has been delayed many years
through the moderation and peace
loving nature of the present German
' emperor An ambitious war lord
would nave plunged Europe into war
at the time of the Morocco crisis.