Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-06
GERMAN SWORD
WILL DEFEND THE
MILITARY POWER

Berlin. April 5, BY Wireless to Say
ville.-Chancellor Won Bethmann-Holl-
veg indicated in his speech today that
any suggestions of peace on the basis
of destruction of Prussian military
power would make possible only one
answer-the German sword.
The chancellor stated that if Ger
manys adversaries desired to continue
the slaughter Of men and devastation of
Europe the guilt would be theirs anc
that Germany would have to stand it
as men,
The Chancellor outlined what Ger
many wished that Europe should be
in the future.
For a Lasting Peace
This new Europe" he said, ''in many
respects cannot resemble the past. The
blood which has been shed will never
be repaid and the wealth which has
been destroyed can only slowly be re-
placed. But howsoever this Europe
may be. it must be for the nations that
inhabit it land Of peaceful labor The
peace which shall end this war shall
be a lasting peace. 1t must not bear
the germ of new wars. but must pro-
vide for all peaceful arrangement Of
European questions"
The chancellor declared that Eng
land wished an end to the war after
peace, but wanted then to continue the
commercial war with double violence.
adding: First, the British endeavor to
destroy our military and then our
economic policy. Everywhere there Is
brutal lust of destruction and of ami
hilation and impious will in an I'M
bounded lust of domination to cripple
a nation of 70.O00,000 people,
AS to colonial questions, the chancel-
lor quoted Bismarck to the effect that
the fate Of colonies were decided on the
continent. He asserted that Germany's
enemies were now actively engaged in
inventing new formulas in order to
maintain the spell Of illusion, hatred
and deception which binds them.
'Of all the nations in the war;" he
continued, "only Germany has been
threatened by her enemies and by their
responsible spokesman with annihila-
tion with partition of her realm, with
destruction Of her essential political
and economic forces. no matter wheth-
err they call them Prussianism, or mil
itarism, or barbarism. The forces which
before them are bound together :ke
anti-German coalition, new lust of
conquest, lust Of revenge and jealousy
against German competition in the
worlds markets. During the war they
have remained powerful with the gov
ernments Of our enemies in spite of all
defeats.
This is still the object and aim Of
the war alike in st. Petersburg Petro-
grad). Paris and London"
TO this we oppose that Germany in
this war had only one aim, namely. to
defend herself, to maintain her exist
ence, to hold her enemies back from
the German frontiers, and whenever
their lust for destruction had shown
itself to drive them back as quickly
as possible.
we did not want this war. We felt
no desire to change Our frontiers when
the war began against our will. We
threatened no nation with humiliation
OF her existence or with destruction of
her national life
The chancellor pointed out the roots
OF German strength saying: And what
SA~So VIC tIi1S loiC0 10 conquer anu
overcome the difficulties caused by the
interruption of our overseas trade and
on the front numerically superior enc
mics? Who can readily believe that
greed of land inspires our columns at
Verdun and makes them accomplish
every day new deeds Of heroism? Or
shall nation which gave to the world
SO many valuable int llectual and USE
full gifts. which during A years loved
peace more than all the others-shall
this nation overnight be transformed
into barbarians and Huns?
No gentlemen! These are the in
ventions of the evil conscience Of those
who are guilty Of the war and are now
fearing for their power and influence
in their own countries"
With respect to the intentions of
Germany in the case Of Belgium the
imperial chancellor said:
I'VE must create real guarantees
that Re1giuno noyor shall ha a E.ropno