The Detroit times., 1915-02-23

tation of being revengetul. You are
what shall / call it--easy, just as
1--we Britishers are.
There can be no doubt now but
that, regardless OF the time Ii Will
take to end the war. or the toll OF
men and money to be exacted, Ger
many must ultimately lose. IL Is OBJ
vious that Germany's resources, In
test Of endurance, cannot equal the
allies combined resources. Under
the circumstances 1t Is not unrea-
sonable to suppose that Germany al
ready is giving serious consideration
to factors entering into peace nego-
tiations. Sitting at peace confer
encep table, America, with great com
mercial demands for an early settle
ment, and relatively lesser griev-
ances, would undoubtedly be valu-
able asset for Germany"
"But with this so obvious, why will
not America avoid the clashT /
asked. Y
Young man." answered Lord Ber-
esford, your nation Ia q democracy.
The weakness of every democracy Is
that II desires peace above all else,
and in its determination to maintain
peace often goes to absurd lengths.
Democracy Is always more jealous OF
its honor and quicker TO resent any
question involving its safety than any
other form Of government. Coinci-
dentally, democracy loves strong,
nrm-handed leader In times OF stress,
and 30 long "a that leadership IL sue
cesful will follow unQuesttoningiy TO
the end OF the situation.
In this trait OF all democracies II
found the explanation OF the British
confidence In Kitchener. have noted
American pross references TO the sur
render OF the government to Kitoh-
sner.' Nothing could show greater
Misunderstanding of the situation.
There II no dictatorship here, but
once Q democracy like ours enters q
Gigantic struggle. there Is az much
need of intensified eftcioncy as In
country which has bowed It's head to
the yoke Of military dsspotism. To
obtain this eficiency, nrm hand
vested with full authority IL neces-
sary. Instead Of rejecting upon DEM
ocracy and proving II q failure, Eng
lands accomplishment In seven
months Of what cost Germany 40
years effort, 10 the highest and final
tribute TO the success OF democracy.
Certainly II any proof is needed
OF the baselessness of Germany's
charge that England wanted war, 1t is
found In the situation In which
Kitchener and the admiralty have met
and overcome. England was never
more unprepared on land and sea.
Had we expected war, the mining OF
the North sea trade routes would
never have been possible.
Deceived by the intensity of our
desire for peace, we were at the out
set caught on our guard. Hence,
Germany was given the greatest
naval opportunity she will ever en-
10Y. But she failed to grasp 1t. Ready
and determined TO have war az her
military activities have shown she
was, Germany had the opportunity
hefore the declaration to rush cruiss
ers and armed merchantmen out
along all British trade routes, where.
upon the opening OF hostilities, they
could have sunk thousands Of our
merchantmen before we could have
protected them. The extent of the
opportunity lost Ia best illustrated by
the damage done by the cruisers EN-
den and Karlsruhe This failure leads
me to believe that at the last minute
the kaiser was rushed into war with
out giving to the naval end the con-
alteration undoubtedly given to the
army. II seems that had Won Tirpitz
obtained the kaiser's ear before the
break, the result might have been
different"
At the mention OF Won Firpftz. the
conversation turned to the submarine
blockade From the fact that the
blockade Is chief topic OF CONVEX
sation of the British public, as well
"a thousands OF Americans here. IL
might have been supposed that the
reference OF this innovation which
Germany claims sounds the death
knell OF British naval supremacy.
would evoke heated answer. But, In
stead. II brought merely a laugh.
"The war already has exploded q
number Of Innovations, designed 10
alter the course Of history" said
Dsresford, "but know Of nothing
that has been more over-estimated
than the importance and value OF the
submarine, provided u 10 met with
precautions Of speed and screens Of
email craft protecting squsdrons OF
big ships.