The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-14

[ONOIo NOSo-N0toU0 IL OoHOrs
the we'll known professor Of his
tory In Washington university at
ct. Louis, has spent several years
In thorough study Of the political
and economic conditions Of
Europe. The conclusions TO
which hs has come are described
with extraordinary clarity and
force In ! volume entitled "Pan-
Germanism." This remarkable
volume gives American readers
more comPiets understanding OF
the causes and conditions OF the
present war than any other book
with which we are familiar.
The Palladium prints this re-
sumo with the hope that its read
ers may have the benefit Of Prof.
usher's illuminating analysis.
Needless to say, Il makes no COM
ment on the arguments advanced
but glves them to the reader for
Il what they are worth.
The present European war is the
inevitable outcome of the great
scheme which Germany launched
about generation ago and which is
known as Pan-Germanism. Accord
Ing to this plan, "The Germans aim
at nothing less than the domination
of Europe and of the world by the
Germanic race" AS the emperor said
In speech, Germany must every.
where impose herself" He believes
that he has been appointed by divine
right to lead in this gigantic scheme
and that German civilization is divine
1y ordained to be the civilization of
the modern world. This pride of race
q n NJ oh 10 oPt 1n Art
ing forces behind the German empire.
But that alone would not have led
Germany into this vast undertaking.
She Is determined Ito expand her ter
ritories, to increase her wealth and
power" not for the sake of conquest
alone but because "she has built up
one of the most powerful states in the
world and one of the most populous
and prosperous. But she has reached
the boundaries of German territory:
further expansion means the acQuisit-
ion of what other nations now own"
Russia to the north and France to the
south are exerting tremendous pres
sure upon her. "Pan-Germanism is
a defensive movement for self-preser-
walton, for escaping the pressure of
France and Russia, both bent on her
destruction"
If Germany is to exist at all, she
must expand. Every really available
spot is held by England, France or
Russia. Germany can, therefore, obtain
colonies suitable for her purposes
only at the expense of these last"
I Germany's population has outgrown
her territory, her financiers have ex-
plotted to the limit all her resources,
she has reached the point where she
S~ oh %@ <nSv xr,S< !,
her present area and she is conse-
quently driven by an internal neces-
sity to expand her limits. That means
war.
The greatest obstacle in the way OF
Pan-Germanism is the British Empire.
Therefore, the Germans have made a
most careful analysis of the British
situation and have laid elaborate plans
for the demolishment of King Georges
realm. .4
Great Britain's supremacy, the Ger
mans believe, is almost wholly due to
fortunate geographical position.
Before railroads and improved high
ways were built, all commerce was
transported in wooden sailing vessels.
The great majority of European ships
were obliged to pass through the
English Channel This enabled Eng
land to levy tribute on the world
commerce and gave her an extra
ordinary advantage in competition
with other nations. So long as naval
warfare was between sailing vessels,
England was practically immune be-
cause of the dangerousness of the
strip of water which separates her
from the continent. The English were
always able to depend upon the wealth
er to protect them from enemies from
oversee. bring this time, English
men controlled the Baltic forests, al
most the sole source Of supply for
ship building and thus were able to
prevent the building of large navies
by other countries.
Owing to the fact that the inven.
ton of the steam engine was hers
England had a full generation of in
dustrial development before power
machinery was adopted by other coun-
tries During this time, she gained
the domination of the worlds COM
merce and reaped those enormous
profits which enabled her to extend
her empire.
At the same time, she had the ad-
vantage of geographic unity. Her own
territory is compact, we'll protected
by nature and arranged in such way
as to enable her to concentrate her
whole forces at single point in a
short time.
In addition to these natural or
fortuitous advantages, she long had at
her service the cleverest diplomatic
corps in the world. She never won
her position by her own strength but
by launching confusion among her
enemies. 1t has been their weakness,
rather than her own power, which has
enabled her to expand herself about
the globe.
In this way, believe the Germans, the
British empire has been built up, but