Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-14
ARMY MAN SEES PEACE,
BUT DERIDES PACIFISTS
Major Bigelow Sees a World
State at Peace, But Despairs
of Getting There

Major John Bigelow, retired United
states Army officer. in World Peace"
mitchell Kennerley. New York) pre-
sents the amusing spectacle Of man
steeped In the spirit Of militarism ad-
mttng that world peace can he realized,
but nt the same time vigorously denounc-
ing every means proposed to attain this
desirable end. II is very much like strain
ing at a gnat and swallowing camel
Every movement now on foot to end
wars Is characterized as an ILLUSION of
pachsm." Arbitration, a world court,
league of peace, growing antagonism TO
the brutalities Of war. and the realization
of the fact that wars do not pay, because
the results achieved are moro than bal
ancad by the losses, are stamped with the
Majors dlsapproval, Yet. In excellent
chapters on "A World People" "A World
state" and Conclusions he makes elo-
uucnt pleas for world peace. Even to one
who desires with deepest sincerity TO sec
the establishment OF the internationalism
which Major Bigelow forecasts, it seems
highly improbable that It can be attained
without passing through at least some OF
the intermediary stages he derides. The
keynote of the book Is found in this sem
tence
about il WIN be not by judicial, arbitrnl or any
other mode ot settling questions between
auestions by thcIr elimination from human
affairs; It will be not peace by arhltratign'
nor peace BY compuslon, but peace by govern
ment. which means for the world one people
one sovereignty, one country.
Major Bigelow has written book that
is particularly interesting because OF its
summary Of the history Of the peace
movement and its concise clear descrip-
tion of the governments of the different
European empires A number of appcn-
dlces. valuable to the student of inter-
national = included.
In "Ge~nany vs. civilizations Notes on
the Atrocious War" tHoughton, Mifiln
Company. Boston,. Mr. William Roscoe
Thaycr voices the supreme Indignation
against German methods and ideals which
is to be found among many Americans
whose svmpathies are not hyphenated. He
explains the actions of Germany I'm the
present war as the outcome of an attitude
which has been consciously developed
from the time when Bismarck became the
prime mover in Prussian ACKNOWLEDGMENT
until the present day. This attitude he
defines by quotations from the propaganda
of Bismarck, Frederick the Great, Treit-
schke. Nletsche Bernhard and Emperor
william further describing II by examples
drawn from European history during the
last 100 years. In the light of this
tablishcd German attitude he accepts with
out question the reports of "frightful-
administration of our own country for
failing to protest against Belgian atroci-
ties. This Is a conflict, according to Mr.
Thayer. between the barbarism of mod
ern Teutons, inherited from their despotic
ancestors. relnvigorated by the influence
of war, and democracy, the pride of mod
ern civilization.
Mr.. Thayer's modern historical studies
are extensive. including such publications
as The Dawn of italian independence"
Throne Makers" and others He is there
fore qualified to look at the present .5itua-
ton in the light of the past, fact which
should have more weight with his readers
than the unrestrained invective with which
he scores Germany and everything Ger
man.
Neglected Points in Auction Bridge"
by Carl Ehlermann, Jr.. is jewel for the
devotees of auction. II instructs, not ole-
mentarily, but in the real ntricacies of
the game. points that even the expert will
prize.