TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1914-11-14
'sRomantic Germany.

cessity for Germany to unsheath her
sword or whether the great calamity
which aflicts the world might have been
avoided, the New York Evening POST
brushes all disputants aside for being all
in gross error and explains the causes Of
the war by theory which is both novel
and amusing. According to the view oil
the New York print the cause OF the
war is to be found in the romantic
strain Of the Germans. The emperor,
it is said, did not consider consequences,
would not stop TO count the costs or
the possibility to avoid them, "but went
impetuously forward in fine romantic
dash" andd SO on to the end OF the
romantic chapter.
To those who consult the pages Of
history as they open themselves in di-
plomatic correspondence, it Is clear that
the war was not begun with hght
heart, that the risk was carefully con-
sdered and that no effort was spared
on the part of Germany to avoid the
war, and that it was only begun when
the alternative presented itself OF dull
submission to q conspiracy for the de-
struction OF the German nation or
manly determination to save the empire.
The strange theory Of the New York
Evening POST arises from suppo-
stion peculiar to people unframed IN
historical research and lacking In
philosophical grasp Of great historical
events. To these untutored minds
war, even Of such immense proportions
AS the one we have lived to witness,
is the outcome OF mere personal
notion, or an accident such as collision
OF two railroad trains or the blowing
ND OF a steamer, while in fact 1t Is the
elimination Of long train OF preceding
events. The foundations Of the war
were laid when Edward VII Joined the
Entente between Russia and France.
The intent was obvious. Russias in
domitable desire OF aggrandizement, the
yindictiveness Of France for the loss oi
Alsace. Lorraine and the envy OF Eng
land at the growth Of German sea
commerce and sea power which might,
as was feared, eventually depose her
from her throne as the absolute SOW.
ereign Of the seas. were the causes that
made this war only a question of time.
He Is an utter novice In history who
does not know that the war was in the
air for more than ten years, and that
Il was STAYED off by the peaceful dispo'
sition Of the Emperor until forbearance
ceased TO be virtue. The sparl; that
brought on the explosion came from the
guns OF the assassin that ended the life
Of the Austrian heir apparent. The
conspiracy was hatched in seryia, and
this was not occidental, for servia was
the hotbed Of the pan-slaric agitation
directed against the slav countries Of
Austria. The demand was made on
Seryia that she furnish guarantees for
nm honest trid OF the conspirators and
that she cease her agitations which
were a menace to the peace and even
TO the safety OF Austria. Seryia was
about to comply with this request when
she was stopped by Russia. Her mo-
tive appears clearly from the note oil
the English ambassador in st. Peters
burg TO his home government that
Russia could not allow Austria to crush
eervia and become the predominant
power in the balkans, and II she feels
secure OF the import Of France, she win
face all the risks Of war"
The truth is that Austria had express
ly declared that she had not the least
intention to impair the integrity o'
Servia, she wanted nothing more than
definite promise securing peace and
quiet in her own domains. But Russia
would not allow Servia to come 70
terms with Austria for the reason
stated that Seryias compliance might
impair Russias position as the doninat
ing power in the Balkans, and to save
that prestige ste was determined 10 &C
10 war vita Austria Subsequent
events have shown what was at no time
hidden from the well informed German
government that Austria was in danger
of being ovei whelmed by Russia, and
when the Gar began TO mobilize, il
truth he had done so In secret man,
months before, the Emperor made hii
counter preparations. His aim was t
eonfine the war within the narrowes'
limits possible and to this end he mad'
supreme efforts to keep France ant
England out cf the war, but be failed
for the reason that the war had beer
contemplated Tor years by the enemie'
OF Germany.
This plain statement Of facts reveals
no romantic dash and no quixotic i'm
petaosity hut manifests stern beces
sity to take up the sword for the de
fense Of the German nation.
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