New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
DERNBURC BLAMES
ENGLAND FOR WAR
Her Desire to Rule Seas
Caused 1t, Says KaiSer's
Privy Councillor.
DECLARES GERMANY
FIGHTS FOR u. 5.
Strives to Relieve All Nations OF
DictatiOn. He Tells New
Rochelle Audience.

Asserting the cause of the European
war was the desire Of Great Britain 10
dominate the seas, Dr. Bernhard II.
Dernburg, formerly Secretary of State
for the German Colonies and a mem
Der Of the KaIser's Privy Council, in
addressing $500 persons IN the Peo-
pies Forum. at New Rochelle, yester-
day afternoon, said:
1T Is struggle between Germany
and England. We Germans love the
French and the BegIans, who were
forced into the war. We would nave
respected Belgian neutrality If England
had promised 10 remain neutral, but
she would not promise. Two days be-
fore war was declared, England gave
written assurances to France that she
would stand by her.
England wants absolute dominion
over the seas, and believes the sea Is
hers to the tkree-mile limit of every
other country. She has fortified the
sea, and has six or seven naval stations
nearer to the Panama Canal than the
United States. Germany did not intend
to submit 20 British dictation on the
seas, as the United States Is doing
now. Germany is fighting for liberty
of trade on the seas. She rs fighting
not only the cause of Germany, but
of the United States and of mankind. ~
Forum Is Neutral.
In order 10 keep the Forum neutral,
Justice Martin J. Keogh, of the Su-
preme Court, who founded it, thirteen
years ago. and has maintained II since,
has invited Frederick w. Whitridge,
president of the Third Avenue Rail-
way system. to speak on the cause OF
the Allies on JanuNy "a.
George W. Schurman, member OF
the law firm of Rounds, Schurman &
Dwight and a brother of President
Schurman Of Cornell University, pre-
sided yesterday The theatre in
which the meeting was held was so
crowded that the audience completely
filled the stage. which IS the largest
in Westchester County. DR.. Dern-
burg was applauded at frequent in
tervals. After his address he sub
mitted to heckling. The speaker re-
lated events that led to the formation
of the German Empire, and stated that
Prussia and Germany had refused to
recognize Belgium as a neutral coun-
try when the latter country was sep
arated from Holland.
In speaking of German militarism
DR.. Dernhurg said: "Since the seven
teenth century Germany mas been the
battlefield of all the wars between for
eign nations in Europe, and the coun-
try has been torn asunder. When BIS
marck welded the country together we
began to develop an army That would
keep any nation from our borders. as
we are doing now. We had mllltarlsm
because we had TO have it, but militar-
ism in Germany is limited to per cent
of the population. Germany was more
prosperous than Great Britain and
would not 20 to war for the fun OF II.
Bound to Stand by Austria.
A man in the audience asked Dr.
Dernburg why Germany had not pre-
vented Austria's declaration of war on
Servia.
DR.. DernburP said that by her treaty
Germany was bound to stand by Aus
tria. and Is she did not know the text
Of the Austrian note to Servia she de-
cided it Was a matter between Austria
and Seryia.
1.-THE question whether the United
States had n right to take Vera Cruz
because of sniping was matter be-
tween the United States and Mexico,
and President Wilson would have been
offended If Germany had interfered.
Russia. as the big brother Of Servia,
wanted TO punish Austria, and Ger
many said no."
Another question was asked: "Why
did the Socialists in Germany rally to
the cause as one MANI and Dr. Dern-
burg answered: Because they are
Germans first and politicians after
ward"