South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-15
GERMANS DISCUSS
CAUSE Of BIC WAR
Large Meeting at Turner Hall
Has Discussion of European
Situation AS Leading Fea-
ture-Defend Kaiser.

Turner hall wss packed to its ca
pacity last night. The attraction was
a delightful musical program and ad-
dresses in German and English by two
well-known South Benders.
The exercises began at o'clock.
Simon Greenebaum presided and Of
ticiated as master of ceremonies. In
a few well-chOSen sentences he eX-
planned the purpose Of this demonstra-
tion-that of rendering aid TO the
wounded and suffering of the German
and Austrian-Hungarian armies now
engaged in a titanic struggle with the
allied forces of England, Russia,
France, Belgium and Japan.
Greatly enjoyed were the renditiOns
of Thorind Bierne, Hans Roeder and
Kave Mast on violin, cello and piano.
Patriotic songs by the singing section
of the TUrn-Nerein were rapturously
applauded.
AS first speaker of the evening
Chairman Greenebaum introduced the
Rev. Martin GOfeny. pastor of the,
Evangelical church on the East Side.
In an exceedingly interesting and in-l
structive discourse of a half hour the
reverend gentleman explained the
causes of the terrible war now in prog
ress on Belgian and French soil. He
fixed the responsibility of the present
conflict chiefly upon England, Russia
and France. England'S hostility he
declared to be due to jealousy and
envy engendered by Germany's mar
velous progress commercially and in
duStrially. RusSia's inOrdinate ambi-
tion to extend its power territorially
accounts for the dubious course Of
that cOuntry's diplomatic force. AS
for France, it was governed wholly by
a spirit of revenge for. the drubbing
it got at the hands of Germany in
1870. The plea that France is justi-
fed in seeking to regain .AlSace and
Lorraine Mr.. Goffeny held TO be wholly
without reason or justice. Both Of
these provinces were part OF Ger
many for 1000 years. They were
wrested from the mother country by
the French and practically held in
bondage for $50 years. BY methods
outrageOusly unjust every effort was
made TO make the inf abitantS of
Alsace and Lorraine French instead
of what they wanted TO be. He spoke
from personal knowledge on this sub
ject. having himself been born and
raised ID that part Of the world. His
closing tribute to the noble cause
championed by Germany's brave and
determined defenders was greeted
with enthusiastic applause.
The second speaker was John =.
StOu, who, Mr.. Greenebaum said,
needed no introduction 10 south
Bend.
Mr.. Stoll said he was grieved to see
the cause in which united Germany is
enlisted SO grossly and unjustly mis-
represented by part Of the American
press. Those of German birth or eX-
traction living in this country and
composing SO important an element Of
the national makeup have just cause
for complaint over the manner in
, which war news has been served in
American newspapers. The cutting
of the German cable by England was
an act of vandalism for which no
| other excuse can be offered than that
/ the French and English censor bureau
did not want the American people 10
/ be correctly advised of what is going
on in the old world. NotoriOusly false
| rs have been shown a vast majority
| of the dispatches printed in this
| country. their offensiVeness was aggra-
| waited By the biased. prejudiced and
/ IN many instances ignorant headlines.
! The allegation that the German
/ kaiser Is responsible for the present
/ conflict in Europe Mr.. Stoll declared
/ TO be unQualifiedly false and utterly
| without foundation. Proof TO the
contrary is at hand in abundance.
/ Official documents given publicity
make clear that the kaiser earnestly
| pleaded for avoidance of a conflict al
arms. Pointing 10 Germany's pre-
paredness for war as proof that war
CONTINUED on PAGE TEN