TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-11-17
The German Nation and
Militarism.
BY THOMAS c. HALL. D. D.

and democratic progress against Ger
man militarism and Caesarism." Th'
phrase has been put into our mouth
by an English stump speaker, and th'
. public has accepted it without iookini
up the facts or really weighing the sit
. uation.
Let us try to determine the actua
!, force OF this popular phrase. What i
German militarism in it's actually
Considering the subject from thu
standpoint of history, we find that gen
eral military service was the outcome
OF the disastrous defeat inflicted b,
Napoleon upon Prussia, which was ther
not only crushed, but dismembered anc
permanently occupied by French troopi
and drained to the last drop Of its re
sources by their predatory exactions.
After the Russian campaign OF 1917
the entire Prussian nation rose in arms
against the hated usurper and threw of
the intolerable French yoke. 1t was
the same nation in arms that won the
battle OF Waterloo in conjunction with
the English, led by Wellington. Prus'
sia maintained the system OF obliga'
tory service to which she owed her re
generation, perfected it and, through
the victories achieved by il in 1865 and
1870, attained the unification Of the
German nation. Having reconquered
Alsace and Lorraine, the provinces sto.
len by Louis XIV. in time Of pro-
found peace, Germany considered her
self content. All she wanted was to
keep what she had and to check French
schemes OF revenge.
As long as Germany found herself
confronted with France alone the peace
Of Europe was not endangered. But
at the congress of Berlin Prince Bis.
marck, supported by Count Andrassy
and Mr.. Disraeli, successfully opposed
the Russian scheme OF expansion in
the Balkans.
From that moment Germany found
herself facing the deep resentment OF
her eastern neighbor. who began to cul.
tivate intimate relations with France,
which eliminated In q treaty Of ALI.
ance with the republic. Russia's per-
petual efforts at expansion in Asia and
at domination over the Balkan states,
with the increasing panslayic agitation
in all the Slavic provinces Of Austria
Hungary, began to foreshadow the inn
minent approach Of the long dreaded
clash with the dual monarchy and Its
ally, Germany.
Germany was exposed to two fires,
10 two frontal attacks. On the west
ern frotier the hostile force was strong.
On the eastern line 1t was well nigh
overwhelming.
It became q matter of vital impor-
tance for her to keep up powerful
army at the highest point Of efficiency
and equipped with the latest technical
and scientific implements Of defense.
The central geographical position of
Germany also makes IL imperative for
her to keep her army always prepared
for lightning like action, for rapidity
OF movement alone can counterbalance
the numerical superiority Of her com.
bined. enemies.
Does any one even speak OF the ex-
cessiye "nayalism'' OF Great Britain be-
cause Of her efforts to maintain the
two power standard. which means the
possession Of navy as strong as the
navies of any two powers likely to
combine against heri Great Britain
relies for her supply of foodstuffs and
OF the raw materials for her industries
exclusively upon the power and eff
cheney OF her fleet. with which she aims
to secure the absolute rule OF the
seas and Of all trade routes. The com.
prebensive measures which Great Bri-
tain takes in her determination to
dominate the high seas appear TO most
people perfectly legitimate, whereas
similar measures undertaken by Ger
many with view OF self preservation
By means Of her army are condemned
by the same people AS excessive mill
tarism. Is the maintenance Of her
territorial integrity against a two
sided attack not question Of lie and
death to Germany
II the numerical standard is applied
France deserves the reproach OF mill
tsrism in higher degree than Ger
many, as she keeps peace establish
ment Of 100000 men exclusive Of Of
fieers. 81 per cent Of her population.
as against German peace strength Of
500, 900 or IL per cent Of the popula-
tion. Again, in France everybody, even
the most accomplished scholar. must
serve in the army three full years un-
der the new law Many distinguished
Frenehmen objected 10 this lack Of dis
erimination--a discrimination which
would have been amply warranted by
the greater relative usefulness Of the
most cultured youth when compared
with the unlettered son Of the peasant
Gl..4t...