South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-05-20
a German

seo nowers today humbly submit to the British
orders in council. victorious Germany Will
break the British monopoly of sea power but
she cannot replace it by monopoly OF her
own. She cannot change nature nor unmake
history.
Germany lacks the physical, material and
geographical basis for world dominion on lano
or on sea- The Germans with their clear sense
of realities have seen that perfectly well No
German statesman and reputable German
publicist has ever spoken or thought or world
dominion as the goal OF German amDltlon
Why did Turkey believe her future to be
bound I'D with that of Germany? For over
fifty years Great Britain was the protector OF
Turkey not because she loved Turkey, but be-
cause she feared Russia Some ten years ago
Great Britain made peace with Russia at the
expense of helpless Persia Turkey saw what
was In store for her. But the Turks are not
Persians. and they preferred fighting TO the
fate of Persia Cor Poland).
When Great Britain lost her interest In Tur-
key Germany stepped in. 1t was the German
policy TO strengthen Turkey from within oy
military reorganization and by the develop
ment OF the country's economic resources A
strong Turkey was IN the interest OF Germany.
a weak Turkey IL the interest OF RUSSIA anu
Great Britain.
When the Young Turks were victorious the
British press triumphed in the supposed fall
ure Of German policy, but the Young Turks
saw very soon that Germany, after all, was the
only honest friend of parliamentary Turkey,
as It had been Of despotic Turkey. For the
Turks knew that Germany was the only great
power that did not aspire to Turkish territory,
but the first duty of every government. demo
cratic or despotic, is the safety and indepen-
dence OF its nation.
But German victory will not only mean
the regeneration Of Turkey. IL will mean
new era for the peoples OF Asia. Japan has
shown te the world that an Asiatic nation is
able to govern and TO defend itself
II Turkey with the aid of Germany, can
maintain her independence against the armies
of Russia, Great Britain aud France, why
should not Persia aspire To independence why
not the nations of Central Asia. why not In
dia with her ancient civilization IL is this
which to-day fills thoughtful Englishmen with
fear and trembling. Germany can never hope
TO rule Persia or India. but she may be able
TO help both countries TO gain freedom and
help both TO establish stable government. The
longer the war lasts, the more likely II Is
that the Asiatic nations will achieve indie
pendence.
And here we come to the true meaning OF
a German victory. Nature and history have
denied to the German people the physical
basis for a world empire II II were not so,
they would doubtless have tried long ago TO
found a world empire. the English ana
Russians have done But they know the hmi-
tations that memorable fate has placed upon
them. They have accepted them from neces-
sity, and they have been shaping their ma
tional policy in accordance with them
Germany. from necessity, stands for the in
dependence Of nations. and German victory
pires, based upon conquest, and will estao-
lish the democracy and cooperation OF ns-
tons In this, Germany is not guided by al
truistic motives, nation IS: but by
enlightened selfintereSt. Il is 70 the interest
of Germany that the Balkan states enjoy