The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10
SIDELIGHTS ON THE WAR
BY HARRY J. BURNEY

Congressman Bartholdt of Missouri
and Congressman vollmer of Iowa have
made speeches in the House OF Repre-
sentatives in which they expressed the
belief that should the United states at
ence take radical measures to forbid
the expectation of all war supplies &c
the belligerent nations the terrible con-
flict now raging in Europe would come
to an end in three months. Congress-
man Bartholdt has long been active in
movements looking to the guarantee of
peace. and has made many
notable addresses in condemnation of
war. Congressman vollmer also has
always realized the horror and the
futility of nations resorting to arms,
and each of the Representatives un-
immediate cessation of the carnage anI
destruction
II the plan advanced by the tive
congressman appeared logical upon It's
face. there is not the least reason
In the world to think that Congress
would fail at once to adopt the meas
Lres they advocate. But to many per-
sons 1t appears that the zeal of Messrs
Bartholdt and vollmer has been allowed
to outstrip their reasoning. Some
months ago, in order to assist IN the
removal of Victoriano Huerta from
further participation In Mexican affairs
the United States removed the en-
barge which had long been maintained
against the expectation of arms from
this nation to Mexico. The plan was
effective. The Carranza faction, witt
Villa as Its military head. WAS en-
abled to replenish its stocks Of ammu'
milton and come into possession of mod
was not long before Huerta was u flu
gitive.
Right now the allies are in compile t.
control of the sea, and all arms ano
ammunition sent from this country sc
to them. German shipping has beer
wiped out, and there can be no trad,
in contraband articles between thai
country and this. Therefore, the stop
ping by this nation of the expectation
of war supplies would be entirely il
favor of Germany, Austria, hungary
and Turkey. OF course, American
manufacturers would just as soon sci
to those powers, but there is no way
of delivering the purchases.
This 1T seems to be the argument o.
Messrs. Bartholdt and Vollmer that the
estoppage of all shipments of contra
| hand material would enable Germany
| Austria-Hungary and Turkey to Wiz
over England France. Russia, Japai
Servia and Montenegro. This implies
| that the facilities of the three nation.
| combined upon one side are grsatly II
| excess OF those of the six nations al
| lied upon the other side; with Amer
| lea refusing to sell war materials o.
all kinds to the allies, as the English
| French, ETC.. combination is known. tbs
resources of Germany, Austria Hun
gary and Turkey, for the manufacture
| of powder. rifles, cannon and othel
death dealing articles, are greatly
| i'll excess of six nations much wealthiel
| and much more populous. To reason
! thus would be to charge Germany will
preparedness and cold bloodednes:
! that any person would dislike to con
slider.
In the first of the Balkan wars, thu
Turkish army was equipped with thu
| best material turned out by the world
| famous shops at Essen, and further
more the Turkish armies were drilled
and Unanswered by German officers
At that time. Germany certainly con
sidered it no crime to supply bel
| ltgerent nation with all the war equip
ment 1T could pay for, and went turtle
| by sending men to demonstrate nov
the engines of destruction should o.
used.