South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-20
What
Rp Prof. John A. WaLz
Professor Of German Language and LIT
al Harvard University.


-uE present anti-German feeling in our
country is to a considerable extent Que
70 the fear of a German victory.
The Germans. we are told, are aiming at
world dominion and a German victory Will
establish a German Overlordship in the Worlo'
threatening the independence or all otheT ma
lions great or small is there any basis IN
fact for snch a view There have been world
empires before and there are two at the pres
ent time the Russian Empire and the BRUSH
Empire. 49, -.
The Russian Empire developed along It's
eastern boundary because 1t, had as nelgh
bors only inferior Asiatic tribes; in the west
however. IL grew chiefly on account OF the
political disorganization of Central Europe.
But the Russian Empire has physical oasis
OF power such as only the Aslatc empires oi
the past have had, the vast territory OF central
and northern Russia an ineXhausu0le reser'
voir Of soldiers. The expansion of Russia has
been by massive force, through quantity not
through quality
r,eud of the sea It's physical basis IS repre-
scented by the .geogrs phicai position OF Eng
land i'm the midst Of the ocean. COMMAND OF
the sea has enabled the English TO conquer
india Egypt and South Africa. But Just as
Russia owes her western expansion 10 the dis
organization OF Central Europe. so Great BTU
ain owes her mastery Of the sea to the dis
aapsions OF the continental powers.
How is the German Empire situated? IL has
200 GOO square miles. not quite four-hfths or
the single State Of Texas. Its population is
sirtv.seven millions as against $50 millions
IN tho rest Of Europe. 100 millions in the Rus
sian Fmpire. ITO millions on the North Amer
Tan continent nearly 400 millions in the Brit
isb F,mpire Moreover the rate OF Increase OF
tbs DOpulatiou mas not been as large In Ger
many as in Russia or on the American CONT
nent How is II conceivable, in our age OF
democracy and nationality. that nation OF
sixtv-seyen millions shOulu lord II over SSV
millions of other Europeans, not TO speak OF
the peOples OF other continents! Ana thoush
there are great differences in the culture ana
civilization Of the countries OF Europe they
belong in general 10 the same race ana the
same sphere OF civilization the Germans
Can a victorious Germany ever nope 10 De-
come mistress OF the sea? Here, too, every
physical and geographical basis is lacking Inc
German coast line is not made TOT sea mono
polv. And even II a victorious Germany were
TO control the coast OF Flanders, the dominion
III the sea would never be hers we are tolu
that sea power is indivisible and that one
country must always dominate the sea, that II
England is defeated Germany viii take her
place as mistress OF the sea The teaching OF
history is very different. England acquired
her absolute dominion OF the sea during the
Napoleonic wars. through the surprise attack
on the Danish feet and through the battle OF
Trafalgar
Else how would Il have been possible for a
French feet 20 cross the Atlantic and bring
effective aid TO the American colonies? How
could Il have been possible for the maritime
powers 20 unite in 1850 20 force upon England
the recognition OF neutral rights. All neutral