Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-08-25
ABOUT TTME TO WAKE UP.

When at the outbreak of the
European war Great Britain started
to interfere with our oversee trade
the German Correspondent repeated
ly called attention to the danger OF
it for the future of our country. We
pointed out that it was Great Brit
aims aim to ruin Germany's oversee
trade and at the same time keep the
United States from becoming a dang
erous rival in the worlds markets.
How well Great Britain has succeed
ed to keep down the oversee trade of
our country everybody can see who
wants to see. We have not been
able even to extend our trade with
our sister republics in South Amer
lea. According to the report of our
Department Of Commerce our inter-
change of goods with Latin America
has not been greater in the fiscal
year 1915H'16 as it was in the fiscal
year 1913A'14 when Europe was
still at peace and Germany was still
in position Of her full share of the
South American trade. Great Brit
ain has managed to get hold Of Ger
many's trade in that section of our
continent while we have been barely
able to hold our own.
Under the caption: about Time
to Wake Up" The Fatherland will
say in its next issue on the subject
of our trade and the future Of our
trade:
"You dyed-in-the wool American
of Revolutionary stock-you, who
rejoice in your prostration before
Great Britain and applaud the sub
servience OF the administration to
her rule of the seas because you
fancy that it is helping England to
conquer Germany-do you ever
reflect what your supine attitude
means to the future of your country?
How will England's dominance Of
the sea by which she can rob the
contents OF registered letter of $3.50
sent by lot OF poor people to their
relatives in Europe, or spy into the
trade secrets of American merchants,
not to speak OF greater ills which
involve the very life blood Of Amer
lean independence-how will her
dominance of the seas affect the
United States?
Have you ever thought how long it
will be, If the American merchant
marine keeps building up, before
Great Britain will seek to crush us
as she seeks to crush the Central
Powers?
Will she watch our developing
commerce in all parts of the world
and across her trade routes with
complacent eye as we go in and en-
croach upon her trade?
Won't the ruler of the seas true
to her time-honored practice toward
Spain, Holland, Denmark, France
and now Germany, counteract our
growing shipping industry both by
honeycombing our legislature in
Washington and by highhanded ac-
tion on sea, even to the extent Of
war, if we do not l6nuckle down to
her demands and get out of her way?
Are you going to be blind all the
time simply because you have con-
ceived an unaccountable dislike for
Germany, though she is fighting the
only battle in which we as a people
are interested--th freedom Of the
seas?
The civilization Of a continent
5000 miles away does not concern
us. But the right to sail the ocean
and have our ships carry our mail
and the things we grow and manu-
facture without asking England's
leave does concern us vitally. II
Germany spreads militarism all over
the European continent, what's that
to us? Attack us? England can't
attack Germany, right across mar
row channel an hours ride OF her
ports. 1t would take 800 vessels to
transport a million soldiers alone,
not counting guns, horses, ammuni-
ton and supplies. 1t took England
a year to transport her troops to the
Dardanelles, and the Turks hadn't
single warship to dispute their way
while we have the second largest
navy in the world.
If by helping ourselves we inciden-
tally help granting such
q thing-isn't 1t better than to help
England to confirm her grip on the
seas and rule us off the trade routes,
destroy our industries and hamper
our commerce with Europe, Asia and
South America? If we don't wake
up to our opportunity now and make
a friend Of Germany, the time will
come when we shall have to fight
England sngle-handed without
friends, and in all probability with
the Jap to attack us on the Pacific
while Great Britain attacks us in the
Atlantic.
If every simon-pure American
patriot who loves his own country
more than he does England will take
these suggestions into serious con
sideration he will be doing some-
thing for his country, something far
more patriotic than nursing an
imaginary grievance against a coun-
try that has never harmed us"