New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-22
ENGLAND'S VICTORY MEANS WAR
Danger to America Is Not from Ger
many, Declares a Reader.
e Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The victory of England is a
step TO a war with America. Whom
the gods would destroy they first make
blind or-stupid. Facts enough are now
before us in regard to the causes which
led up to the war in Europe for clear
Drained America TO see through Eng
lands veil of lying, which she calls "di-
plomacy." The term militarism has been
worn to thread, and the neutrality
of Belgium can be proved TO have been
a farce. even ii il existed at all, having
been signed in 1889, before Germany as
an empire existed. But England learned
early in the tragedy that the terms
militarism and neutrality were strings
which awoke echoes of horror in the
hearts Of peace loving Americans. So
they were rung out every quarter OF
an hour. like the chimes at Antwerp.
And. just like those bells, one finds
them a bore; or one ceases 10 hear
them at all.
England has been eXpending more on
her army and navy than Germany, ac-
cording to the statistics, and for no
visible reason. As il was not for de-
fence. il must have been for offence.
But, granting the point that Germany
sought supremacy on land. which will
be finally disproyed, how is that more
criminal than to demand supremacy on
the seas? 1t is laughable 10 talk Of
German militarism when England has
spent so per cent more on her arma-
ments than Germany, and France has
increased her time Of military service
from two to three years term.
The tire-eater Bernhard was but
little read in Germany, according TO the
publications. while the book by Homer
Lea, an Englishman, had a wide circu-
lation. He writes in 1912:
at is the first duty of the English ma
ton TO arrest and destroy the German
power; and again. ITO have peace in
Europe the German navy must be wiped
cut" Again, whenever it becomes
apparent that one European state or
racial coalition is seeking the overload
of Europe, il at once becomes the I'M
perative duty of the British nation to
destroy this. power and the means
which made it possible And in the
Army and Navy Gazette" we read:
Before now we have had reason 10
wipe out of existence fleet which
might be used as weapon 10 our
hurt"
Is the world not large enough for US
all, or is it for England TO dictate who
shall exist and who are TO be crushed
out? Or why should she demand SUI
premacy on the oceans or the sole ad-
vantage in industries and commerce?
And even to-day December 24th) Sir
Wilfrid Laurier says: Let this war
progress in this way for two years
more, and the result will be not simple
victory. but the complete exhaustion
of Germany And this, and this alone,
is the aim to which We must all look
forward" Who is 10 benefit by this
brutality? England has destroyed, or
attached 70 herself. the commerce Of
Spain, Portugal, France, Holland and
America. In the hour of need these
countries were not defended by suf-
icient army and navy.
And to-day we stand calmly by and
see the peaceful and legitimate COM
merce of another swept ruthlessly from
the Pacific by England and her confed-
crate, Japan, 10 be claimed by herself
later on, or TO be used TO harass some
other aspiring nation. Her excuse will
be the same as given when she invaded
the neutrality OF Holland and destroyed
one OF the most beautiful cathedrals in
Northern Europe: 1T doesn't matter;
we must have slice of the Dutch COM
MERGE"
We know that in 1911 the English fleet