The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-02
Local Citizens Still Hoping That General Conflict
 May Be Avoided
LOOK TO GERMANY AS
 DOMINANT FACTOR
F. B. Riser Suggests Meeting Between Nicholas and William, the Result to Decide Difficulty-Darby Prays
 for Women and Childrep

Intense interest is being taken in the threa tening hostilities in Europe by the citizens of Birmingham, as the crowds
 that assemble around The Age-Herald bulletin board will show. While a great many are of the opinion that the general European war that has been predicted for sometime is about to occur, yet there are those who believed that the rulers and governing bodies of the countries n- volved will yet manage to settle the present dispute through diplomatic chan nels
 Opinions are divided as to the outcome of conflict between the great powers but the general impression is that Ger many holds the key to the situation and that with her allies, Austria Hungary and Italy, she can maintain her present posi- ton and standing as military power. The attitude of England has also called for much comment and that in the event she is brought into the conflict her su- premacy on the sea will be put to the test.
 As was the case with the Balkan war, many of the natives of the countries in volved who live in the Birmingham dis trict have announced their intention of returning to the land of their nativity in the event their services are needed. The following expressions were made yes terday
 Looking to Germany
 Capt. E. J. McCrossin: "The situation in Europe is very serious and may re- suit in the bloodiest war in the history of tba nfol l, for some years past been an armed camp with each nation striving as far as pos sble to keep up with the other in mak ing preparations for war. The whole world was astonished at the preparedness of Germany in the Franco-Prussian war. She literally swept France off her feet by the directness and .swiftness of her attack, and before France could recover from the crushing blows of the German forces the war was over. Since that mem orable conflict, every nation of Europe has followed the example of Germany and tens of thousands of men have been trained in the art of warfare and bill lions of dollars expended for munitions of war.
 Tt is possible that war may be averted as I am loath to believe that even the power directly involved will not do every thing in their power that Is possible with out a sacrifice of national honor to avert a war that they know will be terrible in it's consequences. But if 1t comes it will be a grappling of giants and of short duration for when millions of men take the field and when the fighting na- tions border each other one must neees- sarily crush the other. In my opinion Germany has the most efficient fighting
 machine the world has ever known and
 will be the predominant factor in the
 coming struggle should if materialize."
 Would Have Kings Fight F. B. Riser, Sr.: "I cannot conceive a
 more deplorable thing than a general war
 among the European nations. The cost in
 blood and money is too frightful to con-
 template. The sufferings of the great
 masses of the people of the nations in- volved would be untold for on them would fall the great burden of war. In the
 name of suffering humanity, sincerely hope 1t will be averted. To a friend this morning l suggested plan that might
 save much suffering and woe. It was to have the <kaiser and the Cxar, or the En- peror and King engage in single combat and let the result decide the difficulty. Of course, 1t was said in fun, yet I be- lieve if the officials wLo clamor SO loudly for war had to take the front there would be more ready willingness to submit to arbitration in the settlement of interna- tional disputes."
 Capt. J. Lawler Darby: My hope and prayer is that q war involving the great nations of Europe will be averted. War Is terrible thing and brings endless suf- fering on women and children who are in nowise responsible for the quarrel. But 1t seems that under our present civiliza; tion that the decision of the sword Is the most accempted way to settle disputes between nations.
 Tt seems to be inevitable. Those Of us