The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-03
GERMANY'S RESOURCES.
Again the Theory That She Is Trying
TO "Save Her Face"

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: n
question exists in every mind whether
Germany's resources are still such that
she can hold out indefinitely egainss
her enemies. There are two very In
teresting points to be considered which
seem TO Indicate clearly that. whatever
the outward appearance OF things may
be-. both England and italy must feel
hat Germany's strength cannot long
endure. This becomes apparent when
we consider the German offer to the
United States expressing willingness to
stop submarine attacks upon British
merchantmen IL Britain permits food
10 be supplied to the German people.
Assuming that Germany had food enough
for her people. her army and her pris-
oners, would IL not be folly for Eng
land 10 refuse the German offer? II
the German offer were based upon a
bluff, IL Germany had abundant food,
what would he the harm OF allowing ad-
dltional food supplies to reach her? Why
would Britain not call" this bluff. IL II
were a b,uff'
And twice to slay ;he slain" Ia II
not reasonable 20 assume hat the dis
ciples OF Machia velli, conversant with
the conditions now prevailing in Ger
many, waited before they declared war
until they knew which way the cat
would Jump? What a piece OF mex
press!ble folly would Il have been for
Italy to have abandoned her allies II
she had not had some reasonable ground
for belief that il was about all up with
her former friends!
Those who believe that there is TO be
seen the handwriting on the wall In the
two events TO which | have referred
must see another aspect of the German
note to us. which Is 10 some extent COW
cred in the admirable editorial In Tues
days SUN, which recalls the best ira
dltlons OF this great American paper.
IL Is the attempt on the part OF It's
authors to save their faces with the
German people. And what else Is to
be expected? Forty-iive years ago she
Powers which swept France into such
national disaster were summary dealt
with by the French people. History
alone will tell how firmly established
In Germany are the present leaders ana
CANA rtllas responsible for having led
the German people into their great ma
;ional disaster or responsible for not
having kept them out OF Il. For a war
whose issue rs likely TO be fatal FOR a
nation must at all hazards be avoided
by her diplomats.
We are all perplexed at what We be-
lieve to be the attitude OF tho German
people toward such events as the sink
ing OF the beautiful Lusitania or the
horrors In Belgium. II Is Incompetent
s!ble 20 uH. The abominable doctrine
that the end jus'if,es the means again
appears in the satanic writings OF Bern
hardi. A press muzzled by he strong
military arm cannot voice the peoples
sentiments. II II the glory OF England
that at all times In her history dissent
ing voices could be heard. during the
Boer war. those OF Morley. Goodwin
Smith ard James Bryce: and even now
the high pitched voice OF shaw. But a
nation which Is losing a war AZ tertih,
cost becomes petulant. and gaping grave
make IL forget the RICH : ana claims u
those who have inflicted the loss.
The Germans rail at us FOR supplying
Ammunition to their enemies, and their
leaders permit and perhaps encourage
such sentiments. thus celebrating ;he
fact 80 well known o them long before
the present war that the United States
would OF necessity become the ana
and arsenal for those nations who sue
ceeded IN controlling the Atlantic Ocean.
But how should she people know this?
And their rulers try 10 make us the
scapegoat for their own m~.sCalculatious
and blunders. Withholding from their
people the things they ought to know
les, they be blamed for their incompe-
'ence.
Since a campaign OF bloocshed Is hard
TO set In ecene at a distance OF fou-
thousand miles, might not Il campaign
OF enlightenment voice more truly tho
American sentiment, the Christian sen
t!ment. the sentiment OF our revercd
President. that here is 4 nation which
Is TOO proud TO fight" for vengeance's
sake? B. A. BEHRESp.
BOSTON, June 2.