Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-23
NO AMERICAN SHIP Will
SINK UNLESS BY DESIGN
SAYS british ADMIRAL
Lord Charles BeresfOrd, EnglnRs Best Known and Best
Loved Sailor Gives Interview 10 Keen on Germanys
Reasons For Wanting United States in COnfECt--TwO
TheOrys Advanced by British Admiral

regardless Of the time II win take 10
end the war, or the toll Of men and
money to be exacted, Germany must
ultimately lose, 1t is obvious that
Germany's resources, in test Of en-,
durance, cannot equal the combined re-
sources of the allies.
Under circumstances, Il is not un-
reasonable to suppose that Germany 10
already giving serious considerable TO
the factors entering into tho peace
negotiations. Sitting at the peace
conference table, America, with her
great commercial demands for an early
settlement and her relatively lesaer
grievances, undoubtedly would he q
valuable asset to Germany
But with this so obvious why
will not the United States avoid
clashl" was asked.
"Young man, Lord Beresford an
swered, "your nation is democracy.
The weakness Of every democracy is
that it desires peave above all else.
In its determination to maintain peace
it often goes to absurd lengths A.
democracy is always more Jealous Of
its honor and quicker to resent quea-
tion involving its safety than any
other form Of government. Coineidente
ally, democracy loves strong, firm
handed leader in times Of stress and
80 long as that leadership Is successful,
it will follow unquestioningiy to tho
end Of the situation.
@ In this trait Of democraeies is the
explanation Of the British confidence
in Lord Kitchener. have noted
American press references to the sur
render Of the government to Kiteh-
ener'. Nothing could show a greater
misunderstanding of the situation.
There is not dictatorship here, but once
a democracy like ours enters a gigantic
struggle, there 10 as much need Of in
tensified efficiency as in q country
which has bowed its head TO the yoke
Of military despotism. To obtain this
efficiency, firm hand, vested with
full authority is necessary. Instead
Of reflecting upon democracy and Prov
ing it failure, Englaud's 3 accomplish
ment in seven months Of what cost
Germany forty years OF effort Is tho
highest, final tribute to the success OF
democracy.
Certainly, If proof were needed Of
the baselessness OF the charge that
England wanted war, 1t is found in tho
situation which Lord Kitchener and
the admiralty have met and overcome.
England was never more unprepared on
land or sen. Had we expected war the
mining Of the North sea trade routes
would never have been possible.
g Deceived by the intensity Of our
desire for peace, we were, at the out
set, caught off our guard, Hence Ger
many was given the greatest naval
opportunity she will ever enjoy. But
she failed to grasp it, Ready, determ-
ined upon war, as her military activi-
ties had shown Germany had an oppOr-
tunity before the declaration Of war to
rush cruisers and armed merchantmen
along all the British trade routes
!, where, upon the opening Of hostilities
she could have sunk thousands on our
merchantmen before we could have
protected them.
, ''The extent Of the opportunity Ger.
many lost is best illustrated by the
damage done by the Emden and the
: Karlsruhe
"This failure leads me to believe
: that, at the last minute, the kaiser
y rushed into war without giving the
naval end the consideration und0ubted-
ly given the army, II seems, that had
-, Admiral Won Tirpitz obtained the
kaisePs ear before the break, the re-
suit might have been different"
-