The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-20
ESPERANTO

Ever Since the time (1887) when
DR.. L. D. Zamenhof of Warsaw, Pol |
and gave Esperanto to the world the
propaganda was in the hands of in |
flusmtial scientists and publicists OF
the great European nations, men
who, by tnetr important positions,
were enabled to present for the study
and observation of their several gov
ernn1ents the salient features of the
new language, those points upon
which are based its claims as per-
feet international medium. Govern
ment officials of Britain, Germany,
France, Austria, Russia, Italy, Spain,
China, Japan and latterly of the Uni
ted States, Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
etc, acquired the language and by
their respective governments were
officially authorized to attend and
take part in the annual international
congress held regularly since 1905
excepting in 1914 when the meeting
which was to have been held in Paris,
was prevented by the outbreak of the
war.
None of the great governments
had, prior TO 1914, manifested more
than this tentative interest in Es-
peranto, as was to be expected, there
not having developed up to that time
q sufficiently general demand for Off
cial recognition for such a language,
but it is to be assumed that at least
one nation was already convinced of
its practicabilty, for the war had
not proceeded more than two or three
months when seTni-ofhcia4 bulletin
began to be issued in Berlin the pur-
pose of which was to convey to the
people Of neutral nations land prob
ably beIligerent as we1) Germany's
point of view on the various phases
Of the contest itself and on the dip
lomatic crisis leading thereto, and to
combat the published statements OF
her enemies regarding the many de-
batable incidents that have followed
In qpAek succession since the open.
ing of hostilities. Germany's use OF
Esperanto is not confined to this bull
letin, however, for many pamphlets
as wen as reports Of the progress OF
military operations on the various
fronts have from time to time been
issued
In time other beIligerent nations
became alive to the value of Ger.
mahy's propaganda in support of hel
cause and as a result France begar
to issue similar literature to coun.
teract the effect of the German ma.
tsrial upon neutral peoples doing Sc
in behalf Of all the entente allies
Thus quite lively use of the Ian.
guage has developed from the war
very much to the gain Of Esperanto.
In this connection it is well to nott
that the International Red Cross So
ciety, the headquarters of which il
IN Bern, Switzerland, has an Esper
anto department devoted especially
to the soldiers and is not the leas
successful of that organization
many departments. It's ramification
cover with singular ease every local
ity immediately affected by the wa,
from Siberia to France. One read
In the continental journals Of prison
ers who find friends in enemy coun
tries through their knowledge of tn,
international language resulting il
the amelioration Of their otherwis,
unhappy condition. The war has ais,
emphasized the need of an interna
tional language in another manner.
In most of the prison and inter-
camps classes for the study of Els
peranto have been instituted and ar
flourislYing, thus in comparativel,
short time enabling persons who be
gan as strangers to each others Ian
guages to rapidly comprehend on
another to their mutual advantag
and comfort.
Many say "my language is goo
enough for me-" So it is when asso
ciating with those who speak tn
same language, but be brought i
contact with those of another ton
que and then one feels the need of a
international language. If those o
the Anniral Aube could have spoke
Esperanto, also the Pensacolian