The Washington herald., 1915-03-14
SAYS HIS BOOKS
Cannot Offend
Bernhard Claims They Have
Been Mistranslated to Pref
udice Americans.
BLAMES WAR ON BRITAIN
Asserts She Made Efforts to Check
Cemany's Growth and Tried to
Alternate Kaiser's Allies.

New York, March l3.-In his first writ
ten utterance since the outbreak Of the
war Gen. Friedrich Won Bernhard. the
noted German writer. today publishes
the first of series of articles in defense
| OF his much discussed books, Germany
and the Next War" and Our Future, -
which he declares have becn maliciously
| people of the United States in favor of
| Great Britain and against Germany.
Bernhard asserts with emphasis that
| he never had the least intention of init
| mating that the Germans and Irish In
America might unite to dominate the
foreign policy of the United States in
favor of Germany when he casually re-
marked that the Germans and Irish to-
gethcr have sufficient political strength
| to demand serious consideration by the
government
Never Advocated Domination.
Bernhard defends himself in copy
riShtcd article i'll the New York Amcri-
can. The most interesting features of
the article are his statements that he
never advocated the idea that Germany
should dominate the world. that Britain
to destroy Germany as hCr chief rival,
and that he still believes war is ncccs-
sary.
The author denies that he shares in
III" guilt for the war and declares his
10 show taht he thoughtleSsly urged Wal
TO Show that he thOCChilcSsly urged was
painted wars Of conquest in pretty col
orS. advocated attack against Britain
and rails world control by Germany
as the chief aim Of Gcrmany's leaders.
He asserts a truthful person could not
md such statements or limitations in
his books
Bernhard qualities his contention
that .e has proven war to bc ncccs-
sarN by declaring il necessary only
when all efforts TO obtain peace are
futile and whca tie ideals of a pcopIe
are At stake. He Uses the word dc
SpiCable' in describing useless wars
and wars that are waGrd for merccn-
airy or other vile gains. lie says
nation has just right /" pick up guns
and hight for the things it considers
holy and high.
Defend. German Military SDirjt
Americans descended from the men
who fought against England for free
dom of Tho colonies ana the men who
fought in the civil war should have a
very clear conception oil the right Of
a nation to risk its life in fighting for
what II believes to he right, Bernhard
holds
He inquiries what Americans would do
If the precious Monroe doctrine was out
Ia ged. American colonies seized or tn,
right o. the United States to control the
Panama Canal questioned. Bcrnhardi IS
SUI = that !"cp in The American hear: isa
sincere H%Unathy for Germany. Struc-
Cling h"rolcslIy against almost over
VII 'lmiTC o0ds. II" defends Gcrmanv'S
m!ittrisin as weapon of defense on!y
that never was intended for offensc
Bernhard AVS Germany tried to dc
'clop and grow with Great Britain. and
not against Great Britain. lie charges
that history shows Great Britain as the
master PLAYER. using the European states
as pawnS. so they would always be hurt
NJ each other while she remained un-
1urt. supreme. II" points out E,ngland's
Development Of the greatest fleet on the
-eaS as evidence that she intended to
ontrOl the seas always.
Would Check Development. /
Bernhard charges that Great Britain
las made the most strenuous efforts to
heck Germany's natural national devcI-
'pmcnt and that she even tried to alien
ate Germany's allies Always asserts
Sernhdrdl. Germany has retreated be-
or" this overbearInS offcnsivencss
" hen Britain found herself unable to-
heck Germany. tho writer declares, she
"rn"d the entente with France and
Russia with the idea Of using brute
strength against Germany
Bernhard points out tina, his books
lave him on record As being fully coynj-
ant OF the fact that a German attack
Sainst Britain miSth Sanely be thrown
nto the category of the impossible
lie cites the military reasons why
Iermany never would have attacked tho
british and shows how that country
nth her great feet has injured Ger
Many injuriously by cutting off the Ger
IAN high sea trade. while she herself has
uttered but comparativ little. These
acts. proven by war. were known TO
i'm and to all Germany ore the war.
avs Bernhard.
Bernhard reiterates that the Triple Al
ance was formed for defense Just as
l" Triple Entente was formed for Of
'nse and he asks when and where Ger
anv ever made an offensive step. COM
ercially. diplomatic. or otherwise to-
ard Britain. He said that while f,e
erman people may have felt sorry for
lie Beers in their fight for freedom,
le German government officially main
lined neutrality so strict that it actu-
!y operated TO the great benefit of