The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-16
WRITES ON EUROPE'S GREAT CRISIS FROM
 GERMAN VIEWPOINT
(Continued from Page Five)

their home life and feeling is German, if the little which have seen of their itera- ture is criterion. And there always has been a German university in Strassburg which was the alma mater of Goethe. Should not this province be a part of the fatherland? It is true that France would like to occupy Alsace-Lorrainea again because the Alsacian was the best, the most reliable and loyal soldier they could muster. lacking perhaps in "elan" (dash), but having all the staying quality of the Teuton. And this desire of France was one of the reasons why Germany strength ened herself by an alliance, which she faithfully kept, with Austria Hungary. 1 believe the reason why Italy joined the al- liance was the prestige she could gain and the help she might enjoy in furthering her own aims. The notes she might play in the European concert (discord now) would be sustained and carry better. All honor be to Crispy, though; this great man, who entered first with Bismarck into solemn compact and who surely purposed to stick to it. But Crispy is gone, and it seems now as if Italy thinks that her ends are perhaps better served by not opposing England and France, and she remembers at this season (and how the seasons change, that her people have race affinity with the French, and that her interests and those of Austria might clash. If Ger many and Austria-H Hungary really put much trust in Itay's succor, they made great mistake. History might have taught them lesson. In olden times Italy was Germany's mentor. To the German of old-dreamer that he was-Italy was the land of his longing, crowned with a halo. There on the sunny side of the Alps he found culture-yes, and cult; he found art--yes and artfulness-but loyalty very seldoml It Is a story which makes me sad today, the holy Roman empire of German peoples seeking it's ideal in Italia.
 The Triple Entente
 Now, to the triple entente; As I view it. the high contracting parties, despotic Russia republican France and liberal England. strange bedfellows. indeed, have one common motive-hatred and envy of Germany, which, though bristling with arms and armament, has been forging ahead in the peaceful paths of civiliza- tion, in agriculture, industry and com merce, and in general enlightenment Rus sia claims that she has grievance, be- cause Germany outtraded her in tariff agreement, and she feels so bad about 1t that sine has hinted that she would forbid the peaceful invasion of Germany by her subjects, who swarm into Germany every fall to help the Germans with their crops
 And the bitterness still ranking un- justly in the hearts of Frenchmen against Germany is an obvious fact What a pity it is, because I have noticed when Germans and Frenchmen become &C., Quainted personally they like each other Instantly, unless the topic turns to poll tics. l was in France once, and I shall always remember gratefully the way in which I, total stranger, with the feat ures. and clumsy pronunciation of a Ger man, have been treated. I had thought that French polteness was only on the surface, but l found out that I was mis- taken. Their kindness to me came from the heart.
 Policy an Enigma
 The English and the English world pol fey, I must confess, that taking both to- gether. they are an enigma to me. The Englishman is a likeable and very com potent fellow, with the noblest sentiments his love for liberty and his sturdy insist ance on his rights is very much like that of his nether-Saxon brother in north Germany, whose honest, frank and to-the- point language he has developed in his own way, and which he bluntly uses with out much admixture of Norman French or high flown Latin, whenever he is in earn est.
 That he should come to blows with his elder brother in Angein and nether-S Sax ony is a great pity But the English