The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-06-04
By DR.. G. R. Mente, Grangerburg
Continued from last week)

sH@ \NOHuHu6u ITOIn ldSL week.
German historians point with falls,
pride to the many ovations accorded
to the king on his return trip to Ber
lin; yet in the light of present fact:
we know this was not so much the out
burst Of patriotic sentiments, but the
natural inborn hate Of the French peo-
pie, and the fear, superinduced by the
mighty arm Of militarism. How full
of meaning. the address in the Reich
stag: We and our brethren of the
Southland are united to invade the
lands of our common enemy; down
with France.
Does not this show that even at that
remote day there existed in Germany
the desire to destroy if possible the in
dependence of the French people ?
This same spirit moves the German
people in this present campaign. It
is true all German newspapers would
have us believe Germany cared little
for France or Russia, it was England
which deserves punishment, for her
so-called perfdy; for did not England
demand observance of strict neutral
vim Belgium /? And did not this very
much disturb the Kaiser's plans? /? The
destruction Of. France, the vandalism
committed in the destruction of her
famous cathedrals, the, admiration of
the world; all these facts are tokens
oflthe burning of the old spirit of vim
dictiveness in German hearts.
France under Louis Napoleon had
no desire to disturb the peace of Eur
ope; her army was in no condition to
take the field on short notice; her com
missary department was in deplor-
able condition; her armament in no
way match for Prussia. Prussia
well armed, equipped and drilled to
take the offensive at a moments no
tice. .
] am glad that the spirit Of aggres-
siyeness is not a French invention,
but belongs to the Teutonic race. Like
a thunderbolt from clear summer sky
the news flashed across the Empire
that French territory had been invaded
by German troops and that the first
battle would be fought upon home
SOIL This plan was to be carried out
inl'this campaign, but failed. AS soon
as it became evident to the German
warlord that France might enter the
strip, German troops were thrown
into neutral Luxemburg and Belgium,
for the purpose Of assailing France
on her exposed frontiers in Belgium.
Germany knew her inability to attack
on the Franco German frontier.
Did Germany have right to thus
trample upon the sovereign right of
that little kingdom? My heart bleeds
for poor Belgium; everybody knows
that Germany was party to the con-
vention guaranteeing to Belgium her
neutrality, only to break her word and
sacrifice her honor on August 4, 1915.
Even the most rabid o-German must
in justice to all parties acknowledge
the injustice Of the invasion of that
little peace-loving kingdom.
If you still insist Germany was justi
fed in her invasion Of Belgium, let me
call attention to the speech by the I'M
perial Chancellor at Berlin, in which
he says that neutral lands have been
invaded, and while this is contrary to
the London convention, yet it became
needful, for strategic reasons, and
after the war Germany would make
amends. Amends for what? Out
ragged womanhood, destroyed man
hood, crippled industries, burned cit
les? Do you blame Belgium for de-
Tending the nations honor and at
tempting to stem The flood Of the in
vading host? / think the crime
against the people of neutral nation,
helpless, unprepared, at the mercy Of
an enemy well drilled and prepared
by sheer force of numbers to crush
the independent spirit Of its citizens,
is deplorable and should be condemned
BY every fair-minded, liberty-loving
American.
This breach of neutrality calls for
vengeance, is an everlasting stain upon
the German escutcheon, because Ger
man so-called culture attempts to rule
the world.
Look ct the cOWardly denial OF
guilt, when Germany attempts to
throw the blame upon poor Belgium,
saying that really France and England
as well as Belgium had cOnspired to
disrsgard Belgium HepttaIity; Ger
many WIN ~ branded and stand chal-
Ienged forever for her unwarranted
invasion, her brutal treatment Of Bel
aian ioncomBatants, her criminal DE-
strIetion of Belgium. We can not tell
which way the scale will tip III this