The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-06
AN ATTEMPT TO ANSWER
Dix. Won ENGELKEN

The Star is always glad to receive
such communications as that of DIR.
Won Engelken, day before yesterday.
The doctor is probably more compe-
tent to write on the matters he al
ludes to than any other man in OcaIa.
He is we'll acquainted with Europe.
particularly with Germany. he has
served in the German army and is
therefore able to express himself
with authority on military affairs.
and he is we'll posted on other sub
jects, as may he expected of a man
who has Travelled widely and read
deeply
The Star agrees with Dr. Won En-
gelken in many, perhaps most, of the
points he makes. Germany, France
and Great Britain are with America
the most highly civilized nations in
the world, and it is tragedy beyond
expression that three of the four
are engaged in gigantic war, two
against one, instead of helping each
other in all that is best for human
fty, which they of all nations are
best qualified ito do.
Also, the Star thinks that France.
Great Britain and all western pow
ers. will rue the day they allow Rus
STA to crush Germany, for while Rus
STA is entitled ito expansion, it is not
INST or reasonable that cI,,o csbo,,15
expand to the westward, thus smooth
ering and breaking down nations
two hundred years ahead of her in
the worlds progress.
1t, however, is not little the
fault of Germany that she is in her
present trouble. If, after crushing
Austria at Sadowa in 1866, she had
entered upon a policy of friendship
toward France, instead of trapping
her into war, and taking away
Alsace-Lorraine, there would have
been no ''revanche,' and France
would probably be Germany's friend,
with a peaceable boundary line be-
tween the two countries, like the
one between Canada and America.
Also, if Germany in 1878 had back
ed Russia in that powers entirely
justifable claims, instead of aiding
Great Britain ito beat Russia out of
the fruits of her victory, and also
helping Austria to annex Bosnia and
HerZeg ovina, the trouble that has
ever since been going on in the
Balkans would not have been enough
to cause a small war, let alone a
| great one. The treaty of San StefanO
was the logical result of the Russo
ried out Russia and the little Balkan
| states would have been too busy in
working out their destinies to keep
all the rest of Europe in fret with
their schemes. Bismark and Beacons-
field passed for great statesmen, but
| each left a heritage of hate for his
people. Great Britain has seen the
error of her way, and acknowledged
she backed the wrong horse but
while William of Germany threw
| Bismark overheard he has kept the
ship of state on the same course,
till it is involved in the whirIpools
of war
It is even probable that had Aus
tria acted with wisdom and justice
toward SerYia in 1913, and allowed
that little nation to have the front
age it desired on the Adriatic, and
fought so bravely to win, this gil
gantic conflict might not have oc-
CURED. That the Servians needed
the harbor of Durazzo, and would
have put it to a better use than the
Albanians, no one can deny.
It is generous in any German tC
defend Austria, who lorded over the
empire. as long as she was able, re-
peatedly tried to crush and always
tried to thwart Prussia, and in 1913
would have sided with Napoleon il
the COrsican's colossal .egotfsm had
not prevented his bidding high
enough for Austrian friendship. A.
that time Prussia and all the smaller
German states were oppressed by
France
So while the Star can join DR.. vor