The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25


Assuming that Homer Lea repre-
sents the soul and mind of the English
people Frobcnius warns Germany to
prepare for the hour Of destiny when
she must fight for life. He has about
as much right to take Homer Lea and
Others OF like sort as the full express
sion Of the soul and mind Of the Eng
fish nation as the world has to take |
Won Bernhard and Won Treitschke as
the full expression of the soul and
mind of the German nation.
There are and there have always
been millions OF Germans whose habit
nal mood II express in a recent arti-
Gle by Prof. Schuecking Of Marburg
from which I quote some summarized
opinions: These are not glorious
times. The world has never
seen 40 sad Christmas. II war had
been avoided for another ten years II
would have been impossible.
This war must be to secure a lasting
peace. but not by the establishment of
the absolute dominion Of Germany in
Europe: such peace can only be Sc
cured by the establishment OF the rule
OF right. 1t is only because
the Kaiser has put Germanys might
at the service of right that Germany
can win, and her objective Is not to
establish the rule OF might"
In the third place many OF these
German apologies are marked by
violence Of expression which echoes
and exaggerates that found in the
French and English polemic.
1t is facile to call the Kaiser bad
names. but the sincerity with which
he holds his strong opinions puts him
into the class OF men who ought never
TO he vituperated even by those who
condemn them. When the Germans
are called barbarians a well Informed
man knows. no matter what he SAYS.
that they are not barbarlans but a
nation which has done great things
for our common civilization.
The venerable DR.. Haeckel charsc-
terizes England az that member Of
the accursed band of robbers" tthe
Allies) who must bear the guilt of
blood, as the greatest criminal in the
, history Of the world" Well. DR..
I Haeckel has seen the death Of those
+ he loves. We have not, and to imi-
tate such expressions from either side
is to forget that We are not sitting on
this case as a court-martial but as a
court Of the neutral mind. However
strong and we'll founded our opinions
may be the terrible nature OF the pres
ent crisis demands that they lie eX-
! pressed with grave restraint.
As Germany declared war on Russia
and France and began the invasion Of
J Belgium the German apologies see
the need of making plain the reasons
for their conviction that war was
, forced on Germany.
The first reason given was that Rus
STA "set the torch 10 the house" by is
suing an order for mobilization on
July 81 (thc Chancellors speech. Au-
gust ~. The so-called German White
Book issued az the same time by the
Foreign Ot'icC sustains this thesis In
an argument later printed under the
title How Russia Deceived Germany
and Unclaimed the European War"
In the supplement there arc printed
such pieces from the German diplo-
matte correspondence "a seemed TO the
writer apt TO sustain his argument
They are twenty-seven in numbe-
The argument Is as follows:
Germany knew that an Austrian
war against Servla might bring Russia
into action, but considering the vita
interest OF Austria Hungary the Gov
eminent could neither counsel her tc
yield nor refuse support to Its ally
especially since. II Servia continued &c
threaten the existence OF Austria, the
subjugation Of all Slavs under IN,
Russian sceptre would make untenabls
the position Of the Teutons IN centra
Europe. Therefore the same day Aus
, tria sent her ultimatum to Servia Ger
many gave notice 10 all Europe tina
, nobody had any right - interfere be
tween Austria and Servia CWhit'
Book and annex one. pages 4 and 34)
, Russia on the next day sent wor
to all the Powers that she could no
be Indifferent In any conflict between
Austria and Servia. Germany REPLIED
that II Russia mobilized German,
would fght. But while standing firm
on the position that II was nobody
business what Austria did to Servia
especially since Austria had PROMISE
, not TO take Servian territory, German,
i did everything she could to brin
l about an understanding betweel
y Russia and Austria. Austria replie'
y that II was too late, because she ha
already DeRuH di'tlNt NdI asa
Q Servia. Nevertheless, Germany con
d tlnued her efforts for reconciliation.
Russia modified. At the same tim
n the Gar telegraphed the Kaiser, 81
$ Is far from us to want war. / CIV
y you my word OF honor that so Ion
3 az Austria Is willing to discuss tn
$ Servian affair my troops will under
. take no provocative action" whit
4 Book page 10). Germany demande
= decentralization in twelve hours, and q
d the same time demanded that Franc
II should declare in eighteen hours tina
n she would remain neutral in Russo
8 German war.
No answer came from Russia exceI
i a telegram from the Car repeatin
:, his assurance that mobilization di
y not mean war and begging a simlla
: assurance from tho Kaiser whit
IL Book. page lD. The Kaiser answere
r. referring the Gar to the German ult
q matum that Russia must disarm {
IL fight (wThite Book. page 12). A fe
hours later Germany declared wa
Before this declaration OF war Russia
- troops had crossed the border. "S
=. Russia began the war against us. tt
- morning of the next day France bega
~ hostiRties,"
:, The last two statements OF fact al
:, put in the White Book az the china
ID II the argument. and undoubtedly the