TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-01-11

Empire Fighting for Life.
Was Looking For Nothing but Con.
tinuance Of Prosperous Peace
When Assailed.

NaP'es. Inc hauno puDiishcs al
interview with the Bavarian prim,
minister, Count Hertling. obtained BY !
correspondent sent to Munich fol
the purpose and telegraphed kere.
The minister president Of the king
doni which, next to Prussia, ranks q.
the weightiest in the German empire
ia described by the correspondent a. .
venerable man Of small stature, mild
gentle and serene Not a single word
which he spoke during the long inter,
view was unfriendly, bitter or excited
Against all the evil things said and
written about Germany, against tue
flood OF horrible charges poured by the
civilized world over his country, this
little great man had no word of an
ger or resentment, says his interviewer.
He told him that Germany was trust.
ing in the future rather than In the pre-
sent time, and he believed that the day
was not too far off, and he hoped to see
IL, although his hairs were whitehall
day when the whole world would re.
turn 10 it's former views and trust once
more in the humaneness OF the gentle
and moderate German nation. q trust
justified by a hundred years Of glorious
German history.
IAN the allegations that have been
made a. TO German atrocities and bar.
barous acts" Count Hertling said. "ars
tissns Of falsehood. and lies. Re-
member that tbese allegations are
made against a country that is attacked
by seven fierce bioodhounds. The rage
Of the feeblest nations has forced that
country To defend its national lie and
glory. 50 TO speak, with claws and
teeth. The enemies Of that country are
not ashamed to hold it up 10 contempt. |
But fortunately neither newspapers
nor news agencies are writing history,
and time, that grand old Judge. keeps
watch and works above national pas
sion and prejudice. The people OF to-
morrow are sure ~ know whether we
really were cruel barbarlsns and want
ed TO wage . war OF destruction. We
did not wish this war After our en-.
pire was founded AZ Versailles the task
and future before Us entirely differed
from what might be- the result of sons
fortunate war. The trade routes OF the
,xtorl1 L. fr.a a,a oyan - $50 x.sf...
that ventured on them. There was no
reason why we should have looked out
Tor another promised land The keels
of our ships and the samples OF onr
goods were quite sufficient. The forty
years peace that the empire has
,ronght about for Germany hound us
together with such close links as no
var could ever have forged. And wealth
thich our sons sought In all four guar.
ers OF the sky was poured out over our
iation abundantly.
Everywhere We fought with peace
ul and loyal arms and had on our side
'nly one real and gigantic force =
lamely, boundless patriotism, an at
achment lwhicl brooked no opposi-
ion) 10 our hearth and homeland. We !
ursued no personal ends; our only
osi was the general welfare. We ex-
ended all our strength for that only
nd, the welfare of our empire. Fate
,as propitioas and kindly toward us.
Germany, borne along on. the strong 6
rms OF her sons, became great and
lightly and feared abroad. Before our I
erseyering and honest work old races 3
nd old civilizations reluctantly had 10 4
scede and take back seat. And then 0
big cloud Of hatred arose over the i
-aek OF our Victorious progress. 4
"We became a danger, and il was 81
Fought necessary TO dash out the II
rains OF the inconvenient competitor. G
ut is quite useless, IL seems 70 me, Z
} inquire into the causes and preterts Z
this war critics search secret let Il
RS and public documents in vain in q
der to learn who Il was that spoke U
'e fatal word The truth is that war Y
gainst us became an inexorabIe neces b
ty to all those who saw q constant Il
niger in as We have been compelled "a
put up with this war, which, like 4 a
'cesssry crisis, was forced upon us. lr
e shall see il through to the bitter Ici
ID. safely trusting in the strength OF nj
II cause and Of our muscles. We hate ii
'ne OF our adversaries. The French %
,bt against us under a suggestion er
ID the Russians under pressure. But =
, have only one real foe. and that is e
lgland. The English alone are dis m
ieted by our prosperity. Once smore ~
gland gathers against those that put Esf
T in the shade hundreds OF scattered Z,
rces, hundreds Of people who have no Ii
ason whatever TO hate us. The focus
this awful world coniIagration is on De
e other side OF the channel. On that if
sty isle beyond the sea is the hand TIC
At is the leader and guide Of this ter ae
'le tragedy. G,
The English cay OF have IL said on
1t they do not fight the German peo- Ipe
I, but Prussian miIitarism. And Why Inn,
they say 500 Simply because they y.