New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-30

Cuban and Mexican wars, and brains
had not as rule gone into the army
since Wellington's day. And so be
tween the politicians and the military
incNperts and the astounding optimism
Of the Government, who always thought
the war was nearly over, our land
showing was not good at the outset,
despite the wonderful bravery OF Lord
Frerc chs "cortcmptible little army as
the Kaiser called Il.
Democracies are bad war makers.
But, though they have often proved 20
be bad war beginners, they have often
proved so be good war tnishers. The
character of free people, like that OF
France or the British Empire, does not
lend itself TO military service IN peace
time willingly. but when aroused by
injustice and ill-treatment is m re than
able to meet the calculations O. mill
tary oligarchy like Germany. And
thrs il is to-day that. while Germany
talks of nothing but peace, the French
and English democracies speak of moth
ing but a war to the finish.
The emptiness Of the German work
ing mans dinner pail has doubtless
added 10 the wesrying effect of an un-
expectedly long struggle. But | ques-
ton whether the Prussian brain and
Prussian character and Prusslan sys-
tenn are really adapted 70 the kind of
war that is now being waged.
INSTRUMENTATION"
There is such q thing as over-or-
ganization in business. All of US IN
the world Of journalism know OF news
papers whose mechanical equipment IS
in excess OF the brains in the editorial
sanctum. IL seems almost inconcelv-
able that Germany, with her army OF
spies, her consuls, ambassadors, com
uercial travellers and insurance agents,
should not have found out that the
British would certainly go 70 war IN
defence of British treaties. Never was
there so much clipping Of British news
paper files in the German War Once;
never so many thousand written re-
ports of German seml-SpleS as during
the FIVE years preceding the war The
Germans clipped from the wrong Brit
ish newspapers and their sples-Ieu-
ton like-were unable TO read the souls
of our people and based their reports
on the absence OF external signs OF
military preparation. They have the
same view of the United States to-day
as they had in the British Empire be
fore the war Dollarica, as they
call America. is from their point Of
view nation of degenerates, eaten up
with the lust of money grubblng, ex-
travagance, amusement and paclhsm.
Eager enough 70 copy and cheaper any
American invention, willing enough tc
make use of your aeroplane ana ma
chine-gun, they have not the peTcep-
tion TO realize that. when the necessity
arises, the better part Of the American
people, though no more aggresslNeiy
inclined than the British, will see TO II
that America is what she was IN ITO,
1912 and 1861.
Germany cannot understand that Mt
such time as this Americans can IL
dulge in a frivolous game like golt. or
that women in the United States should
be allowed 10 have voice IN the
household. The placing Of whole
nation upon a cardindeX basis Tor
several generations past in matters OF
education. soldering, Industry, civic
administration and the rest has merely
added 10 the obtuseness of the massed
mediocrities of the united German
states.
From time to time. as in 1S48, many
Germans have escaped TO other coun-
tries, and, as rule, ! find that these
escaped Germans have no sympathy
whatever with the Prussia which has
reduced the other German states to
the condition Of vassals.
As to Suppleness.
The CLINT and glitter of the Ger
man army, It's perfection of detail ana
the extreme orderliness of German
cities are apt to impose upon the
transient visitor to Germany. ASK
any American citizen who has resided
there number of years and see what
he thinks Of it. Ask him if he has any
faith in a governmental machine so
rigidly built that it has no suppleness
with which TO meet unexpected strain:
The unexpected strain has come and
the rigid machine is bearing the shock
badly. Germany ought to have known
that the horrors Of Belgium and Of
Northern France would arouse the
whole world against her
She ought to nave known that 1or
she had been warned by British exam
ple and British character. The viola
ton of the Belgian treaty put Great
Britain in the position OF instant aG-
ton or "back number" German cal
culations omitted the hearts and souls
of the Entente Allies.
When | look at these hard-faced
Canadians. with their elan and orlgi-
nality: tall, lean Australians, whose
indifference to death is almost Orr
entail: when | am among the dour,
determined Scotch and the gay and
dashing Irish. and compare them with
the dull monotony of the German pris-
oners we have taken in such a great
haul lately, | do not doubt the hnai
crash of the Teuton.
| do not wonder at the constant ell
forts for peace, news OF when reacneS
me privately from Germany, and OF
which REPORTS come out into the worIu
through Madrid and Washington. Ter
many dare not officially ask Tor peace.
because that would be revelation OF
the shameful imposture that has been
imposed upon the German people py
the Kaiser and his coterie-the colos-
sal deception that would bring about
revolution in Germany unless the facts
are handed out with great deliberatlon
and care.
Germany was beaten the day she
turned back from Creepy, outside Paris;
Since then every plan has miscarried
as badly as the first plan. Her best
friends are those who ask her 10 get
back home, hand out her indemnities
and reflect that when it comes to rails
ing armies the free nations Of the
Id have proved that they are quite
BILE to do so if called upon.
severe critic of our politicians,
am now sure that John Bull is putting
forth an effort the like of which the
English speaking world has never hith-
erto attained. The war may be long,
L.t ~ - nA.-