South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-11

emperor and practically the whole eff
fective German navy.
us it possible that in such circum-
stances the emperor was lending his
influence or consent, directly or indi-
rectly TO a general European conflict
that risked an immediate and over
whelming disaster to the armed
strength of his country, to say nothing
of his personal safety? Such an idea
IS mere insanity.
mo, at that time as in every hour
up to the very beginning of the armed
struggle, the emperor worked for
peace with all his soul and all his
strength. He worked against the war
like a man filled with some great re-
ligious emotion.
Expression Changed BY Strain.
THE inward strain of his night and
day effort TO save the peace Of the
world, to save not only his own people,
but the other peoples of Europe from
general war, even changed the ord
mary expression of his face"
The chancellor seemed greatly
moved and his great eyes softened as
he spoke OF the kaiser in the days
when the peace of the world hung
trembling in the balance.
II can speak with authority upon
with him practically all the time. Ever
since he assembled the German throne
he used his power and his intelligence
TO save Europe from war and to keep
his own country on a constantly
broadening and rising peaceful prog
ress.
Trying to Prevent War.
'In the past 40 years practically all
the other great nations had been at
war, Germany alone had preserved
the peace. Other nations had reached
out for great colonial possessions, add
ing empires TO their territory. Ger
many continued to bend her whole
mind and strength upon the peaceful
development of the resources of civ
ilization, leading all nations in scien-
tific, industrial, commercial progress;
adding year by year TO the productive
powers of her people, and demonstrate
ing to all nations the true path of
civilized progress. making the means
Of life cheaper and the ways of life
better and simpler and nobler.'
Again the sound of a regiment
marching TO the front came family
into the uiet room.
The chancellor leaned back in his
big chair and knOtted his powerful
hands on one knee.
$50, when the spirit of war seemed
TO be pressing upon Europe again,
when the lives and fortunes and
homes OF millions OF men, women and
children were threatened by those in
whom Germany's unparalleled prog
ress had stirred up a desire TO wreck
the existing order Of things, the
emperor knew neither rest nor sleep
while he could do anything TO prevent
such a frightful calamity to the hu-
man race and TO his own beloved peO-
pie.
I'VE sat at the table together. work
ing. working. working for peace.
saw him change word after word in
his Geographic appeal TO the car.
I saw him show absolute mental
agony as he hesitated between one
word and another. seeking with an
eagerness impossible 10 describe TO
select the very word that might most
influence the car to save Europe
from the horrors CT war
Then. Mr. Chancellor" I said, you
hold Russia primarily responsible for
the world war %
NO. England stands responsible be-
fore the whole world and must so
stand in all human history. Ii is true
that the support given by Russia to
Serbia in her criminal attacks and
propaganda against Austria furnished
the first incentive 10 a breach OF the
peace of Europe. But when the de-
cisive time came il was in England's
power 10 say whether there should be
a general European conflict or not"
The chancellor spoke very slowly
and very distinctly. His eyes were
sterner and the lines in his face deep
ened and hardened. He balanced
one hand before him
Had England served notice upon
France and Russia that she would not
support them in making a general
European conflict out Of the quarrel
between Austria and Serbia, there
would have been no world war. At
that time the question of war or peace
was entirely in the hands OF England.
THE English government fully I'M
derstoOd the grave responsibility rest
ing upon X knowing fully that the
encouragement and support which she
gave 10 France and Russia meant alb
sOlutely certain war at time when
the German emperor was working lit
orally night and day and exerting