New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-05
GERMANY is BEATEN"
A Conclusion Held to Be Contrary
to Fact and Reason.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your leading editorial Of Thursday
last, together with other editorial comment
since, is quite interesting, but do you think
that 1. Is justified by the facts
Where is the evidence that Germany's re-
sources are failing or that she lacks men
She is holding the western front and what
she has gained in Russia and has now de-
tached two hundred and fifty thousand men
for the Balkan campaign, and there Is no
evidence of serious lack Of either food, arm'
or ammunition. The American Coniederacy,
when il sued for peace during our Civil war
was in desperate straits. This was under
stood in Washington just as well as it was in
Richmond. Germany, in the beginning
claimed that she did not want war, but that
the war was forced upon her. Is not her at
ttude Of receptivity toward propositions for
peace in entire harmony and accord with
this claim of hers made at he time the war
began?
The Allies, also, in their varegated diplo-
matte books, claim that they did not want
the war, and only went into 1t to deIend
themselves against belligerent Germany. ~
this is true, why are they not willing TO talk
peace? England says that she will not con-
slider peace until militarism in Europe IS
destroyed for all time. That Is, until the
militarsm of Germany is crushed by the
military forces of England. France and Rus
sa-and then what? Is the domination OF
the high seas by Great Britain's navy any
more to be desired than the spirit of miltar-
ism in Europe; and does any one for mo-
ment suppose that the statesmen Of the AL
lied nations expect to produce any result in
III how vii ne
than to substitute for German militarism
English or French, or Russian militarism !?
And again, let us see if the facts warrant
the trusting faith and belief that Great
Britain, in refusing to consider peace, is
moved only because she considers herself In
honor bound to wipe out the dlshonor of
Belgium.
Her present position in the war is much
better than that of either OF her allies. She
has lost hundreds Of thousands less men in
the war than has either Russia or France.
Great Britain's territory has not been In
vaded. Great Britain has now in her posses
sion (see contemporary newspaper accounts)
detailed records, taken from the Germans
during the war. showing the methods OF tie
Germans in obtaining foreign trade, espec-
ally in South America; and the Board of
Trade invites British merchants to call there
and be instructed along this line from these
records. So long Great Britain can keep
Germany's merchant feet from the high seas
she can continue by force to thus take over
Germany's foreign trade. She vas not able
to obtain this trade in time OF peace b. ordi
nary and legitimate business methods.
In passing ! might call attention to the
fact that while Great Britain is doing these
trade things to Germany, she unwsrrantably
and illegally obstructs our legitimate trade
with neutral nations, and when VIC protest
accuses US Of being mercenary and looking
only to the dollar and not to higher things.
Is this pleasantly, sarcasm, or just plain
hypocrisy?
No good or righteous cause for this war
existed. There is therefore no reason for us
to take sides. The attitude on our part
which viii! best serve the situation and hu-
mainly is that of strict impartiaity. Permit
me to say that these editorial utterances of
yours, not being justified by known facts,
create an impression contrary to this idea.
am writing this because like your paper,
not because I dislike il. and because in the
matters referred to you seem TO have been
misled by an excess Of enthusiasm, into sub
stituting personal wishes for fact and reason.
In the seat behind me in the train recently
heard the following scrap OF conversation,
the speaker apparently under stress OF strong
feeling slightly raising his voice at this point
above its normal pitch
81 am Scotch-Irishman and don't believe
have a drop of German blood in me, but ]
believe in fairness, and how you believe
anything the newspapers say when they print
things against Germany that you know are
lot true?"
Naturally interested paid some little at
tenton to the talk, which lasted for two or
three minutes longer. The execution Of Miss
Cavell was referred to in these words: "All
the papers play up the shooting of Miss
Cavell and have given pages TO the report
of the British about this matter, but in Eng
land they shoot spies without even giving
their names or stating whether they are men
or women, only reporting that II. G. or ID. F.
has been executed, and our newspapers give
three or four lines TO the report
This is sample of the way the mind of
the average citizen is affected by a conviction
that his newspapers are not treating him
fairly. ANDREW COLVIN.
New York, Nov. 1. 1915.