Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-08-17
LOUIS kRAFFT's LETTER !:F|
Former Resident Sends His impress
aons of Present Conditions
In Germany

To- the Editor of the Alexandria
Gazette:
Dear: Sir
You would accomplish a favor by
publishing the following in reply to
YOUR editorial of June 26th, headed
"Peace Element in Germany"
In your issue of June 18th, you
state editorally that the German peo-
ple are firing of the war and that a
strong move for peace has set IN
since it has became evident that Ger
man soldiers are not superior to those
of other nations. There is no doubt,
that Germany is a peacefully nation
and it is a fact that it maintained
the peace of Europe for over thirty
wears, Notwithstanding the many pro-
yocations Of the members OF the
triple alliance, but, with exception
of a very few radical socialists, like
Liebkneckt, who are not even back
ed by their own party, the German
people are a unit to fight this war.
which. was forced upon them by Eng
Ilish greed to finish, particularly
since it has become moral certain
tyy that Germany can not be conquer
ed by sill her combined enemies.
! The talk of peace at the present time
! is Soneidered by. ninety nine per cent
! of herr people as very untimely. If
you think that the enthusiasm, which
prevailed in Germany ten montha
ago, has diminished .yoY certainly
are very much, mistaken. Just the
! contrary ! is the, case. The writer Of
;; this living in a city with a garrison
,, of 5000 soldiers and on an average
of about 500 we'll drilled men are
sent to the front from here every
week, all eager to defend their father
land against a world of enemies.
They go to the front with a light
heart, singing patriotic songs. Two
men. who had been quartered at my
house at the beginning of the war
have been back here wounded, one
of them twice and the other three
times and both Of them were very
anxious to 60 to the front again as
!, soon as they were we'll enough. You
speak of the Kaiser and his warlike
hordes, which is an unjustlhable
slur of Germany and her people
Germany has. no hordes but has the
most democratic army the world has
ever seen Since military duty is
compulsory, everybody is a soldier
and we find in the lines Of this coun-
try the millionaire fighting side by
side with the pauper, as well as we
find the scientist fighting the same
way with the laborer, thorough,
spirit of good fellowship prevailing
in this vast country Of nine million
of men. Events, that have happened
since you wrote this article have per-
haps convinced you by this time,
that at least the leaders of the Ger
man army are far superior to those
of her enemies and that her soldiers
are at least as good, as any of the
enemy. In military and naval circles
of the United States big change OF
opinion has taken place about the
fighting qualities Of the German
army. Shortly after the outbreak OF
this terrible war the writer of this
remembers that thirty army officers
of the United States upon being inter
viewed as to the probable outcome
of this war, stated that Germany had
no chance to ever conquer her enc
mics and would be crushed, but /
read now: in the Army and Navy
Journal of June, that competent
Judges Of military affairs in the
United States insist now, that Ger
many can never be defeated in this
war. If there is one thing certain, it /
is the fact, that Germany having been
deliberately attacked Tor the purpose
of destroying her commercially will
never have to ask for peace and will
wait until her enemies are ready to-
ask for it. You still seem to think
that Germany provoked this war and
I will not attempt to argue with you.
on this point, for it would be loves
labor lost; but you should remember
that English greed for gain has wag-
ed two wars upon the United States
or do you believe, that in the revolu-
tionary war the thirteen colonies
we're the agresssors, and again the
United States the aggressor in 1872?
For the same reasons England has
attacked nearly every nation on the