Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-06
Inc Kaiser's War

Throughout the diplomatic exchanges IN
the latest preliminary stage of the pres
at European war. and the subsequent
declarations of himself and his ministers
the German emperor has sought to create
the impression that he is merely defend
ing himself in this campaign. in which are
now arrayed against him Russia, France,
England and Belgium. He bases his claim
upon the alleged bad faith of Russia i'll
mobilizing against Austria while seeking
Germany's good offices to induce Austria
TO suspend operations against SerVia. He
contends. too, that he was obliged to de-
clare war against France because that
power was engaged in violations of the
frontier by sending scouting parties into
Alsace and flying airplanes over German
territory. He asserts that Belgium in
vitel war by refusing to allow German
troops to cross her territory, information
ally declared to be neutral. when he knew
that France intended to use that same
territory for the purpose of attacking
Germany. He melted England to a decla-
ration of war by refusing to guarantee to
respect Belgian neutrality. although him
self party to the treaty assuring that
neutrality. meeting the British ultimatum
with a declaration of war against Bel
GUM.
1t is impossible to have followed the
course Of the kaiser without feeling that
he has from the outset challenged the
world. He must have known that unless
Russia was willing to surrender her posi-
ton as the protector of the smaller Slavic
states and thereby yield her rank viz
tualy as a first-class power. the govern
ment at st. Petersburg would resist the
Austrian aggression upon Servia. He
must have known that to check Russia
In the inevitable campaign against Aus
tria in the event of persistent Austrian
attacks upon Servia meant the involve
ment of France as Russia's sworn ally.
He knew perfectly we'll that IL he at
tackled France he had but two routes
available. one through the wellnigh i'm
pregnable line Of forts along the short
Franco-German frontier and the other
across the neutral territory of Luxembourg
and Belgium, which he had solemnly by
treaty promised to respect. He. of
course. knew that England would re-
gard the invasion Of either Of these indie
pendent states as an unfriendly, even a
hostile, act. which must be met by Brit
fish resistance II the government at
London expected to retain its prestige
and to protect its security.
Thus from the beginning the kaiser has
invited attack, and now seeks to appear
rs the object Of the bad faith of the pow
ers which are resisting his advances.
The neutral world will reject his claim
of innocence Of intention to agrees. And
therefore a sentiment Of intense antag-
onism toward Germany in this crisis has
developed. and regardless Of nationality,
save on the part of Teutons. the desire Is
frankly expressed that the allies give
thorough beating to the Austro- German
forces.
It is not difficult to ascertain the mo-
tive for this partisanship against Ger
many in the present crisis. The general
feeling is that the kaiser has been rat
Ting his saber long enough and has
reached the point where he must be
checked in his career as the war lord of
the world. His unbounded ambitions have
carried him far afield. He has caused
the maintenance OF enormous ornaments
on the part Of other European powers.
He has earned the enmity of England by
trade aggressions and menaces against
British colonial possessions. He has kept
alive the hostility of France by jealous
insistence upon the German prerogative.
TIC iidS Heiu TuSSid ana tHe smaller
North sea states in constant apprehen-
sion regarding the possibility of terrific
rial extension. He has made no friends
and has deepened enmities while MAIN
tanning and increasing his land and naval
forces to such a point that Europes war
burden in time OF peace has become enor-
nous.
Thus he stands today confronted by
r,ii,
throughout the world, faced by practically
all the rest Of Europe save his Teutonic
neishbor and ally, Austria. unable even
TO secure the assistance of Italy. his ally
OF record. arousing a new foe with every
fresh move in his war game. II he wins
against this combination he will be the
master of Europe. perhaps of the world
II he loses he will have fallen to the
rank OF secondary state, without prestige
or influence in international affairs