Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-18
THE GERMAN VIEW
Times Republican:

Tlme0.SepuDllC0ns N
Believing that you are trying - he
just to everybody In regard to the
European war, permit me to state Ger
tain facts for publication. Quite few
who do not read enough and who do
not study the history Of the past, put
the blame entirely on Germany and its
emperor-they ought to consider the
following:
England's demands were not only the
neutrality Of Belgium, which Germany
is now accused by England of having
maliciously violated. 1t would be self
evident that the signatory powers.
England Germany and France, con-
templated merely that neither of them
should ever try to annex any part OF
Belgium. The German ambassador In
London gave repeated assurance that
Germany did not intend to annex foot
of Belgian soil but merely wanted the
right to peacefully transport its SOL
diers thru one province Of Belgium
with the further guarantee that Ger
many would pay for everything which
| it took from Belgium for its army
needs, but war at any price was the
| cry of some of the leading statesmen.
| That is why two of the best officers OF
| the English cabinet resigned. Ger
many's positive guarantee did not sat
| isfy the war party. Quite to the con-
trary, England made demands which
| Law in a different direction; demands
that NAV perhaps be made upon de-
| feated country.
| These English demands were that
Germany's warships should remain In
active during the war with Russia and
France Not in the North Sea, or in
! the Baltic or even in the Kiel Canal
should German warships be permitted
to assume an unfriendly attitude made
such preposterous demands. No ma
ton which possesses national honor
can accept such humiliating conditions
| In order to purchase thereby the
neutrality Of ever so powerful an
enemy.
war at any price with our COM
petitor." Germany was the slogan
England really did start the war with
Germany because OF the violation OF
| Belgium neutrality. then she surely
| lighted the torch of war in very
! thoughtless mood. for, according to all
| International laws and treaties. mil
tary necessity reduces treaties TO the
value Of the paper upon which they are
| written: besides the mere Transporting
| OF German troops over Belgium soil,
| would not have violated even the spirit
! of the treaty covering Belgium neu-
trality.
/ Furthermore French troops have en-
tered Belgium land before war was de-
clared and this same England must
| have forgotten that the Germans got
ahold Of the treaty England had with
| France In the year 1911. According to
this treaty England promised France to
land 100. 900 Englishmen on belgium
soil to march against Germany, II Ger
many would declare war on France.
England backed France. England
wanted Germany crushed. England de-
manded that the German warships be
reduced helpless cripples. while Its
foes be allowed the full and free use
of their navies. These English demands
disclose the most sinister and brutal
/ policy that our civilization has ever
heard of
one more fact must be added:
Not prior 10 Aug 3 did Germany
break with France and England de-
/ clared war on Germany on Aug, 4. But
we were told on Aug. by dispatches
via London, that 35, coo men were busy
under the direction of French army
Officers digging trenches and throwing
up breast-works near Liege in Belgium.
More convincing evidence need not
be produced that England desired
war with Germany. and now by deceit
and falsehood, is endeavoring to throw
from her shoulders the responsibility
for the terrible results of her shameful!
policy. Karl Rest, Marshaitown. Iowa,
Aug. IS.