The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-02

SAYS WAR
IS UPON Us
ProvOcatiOn Is Great,
Declares Former
Secretary
GIVES TALK IN
COMMERCE BOARD
Points Out Real Peril
of Invasion By
TeutOns

More than 200 prominent De-
lreit business men filled every
available inch OF space in the De
troit Board Of Commerce a. 1 o'clock
Monday 10 hear Henry l. Sunson
discuss the issues OF the war. Fred.
oric r Coudert. one OF the most
noted international lawyers In the
y orld, also spoke along similar lines.
Mr.. Stimson was form. erly secre-
taTy OF war and has always made a
careful study OF military matters.
He Is as well equipped as any man
in the country 10 discuss the Ques-
TONS The two noted orators ap-
pear under the auspices OF the Ma
tionAl Security league, with head
quarters in New York city. They
will make tour OF the Middle west
before returning 10 New York
we are On the threshold OF war.
began Mr.. Stimson. Our country
has been ordered off the sea and
cur government refuses 10 obey. As
result We must meet our duties
and obligations. sixteen OF our
ships have been attacked or sunk
because We insisted upon exercising
the right OF free men upon n free
ocean. Nearly geo Of our men, wo-
men and caildrcn have lost their
lives for doing what they had =
right 10 do under laws which have
existed for 500 years Never in any
Of our five great WAITS. or in all
OF them pu- together. has there been
for proYocntion such an appalling
Inst OF atrocities a that which to
day We Law as an indictment against
the German Empirc."
Mr.. StimsCn said that back 81 this
there was the struggle between au-
tocracy anil democracy. Into such a
struggle. he insisted. man or =
nation may well go with lofty faith
and a burning andor.
The speaker admitted that Il was
a serious thing 10 60 TO war with
the mightiest military nation OF the
world, and yet. he added. We sit
here discussing what we shall do,
whether we shall prepare our whole
strength or only portion OF H.
My friends. We should not sit here
so calmly but for a single cireum-
stance. IN a sheltered haroOr OF
the Hebrides. half hidden by mists
OF Scotland. lie some so grim YES.
sells In their gray drab OF war. So
long as that neet Is intact We can
take our time. Should II fail or
should the coalition OF nations be-
hind IL fall apart We should not be
holding mass meetings We should
be scrambling for our lives as help
less a. naked children before an
armed man
Mr. Stimson~Said our fleet vas not
| sufficient TO protect our coast. aud
there are very few places where an
invasion could not land with per
feet ease. lie then showed how
simple IL would be for Germany tc
establish a line from Chesapeake "a
Lake Champlain. line little Longer
than IL nov holds In France. Be
hind that line would be the grea'
railroad terminals. nearly all the
great munition plants, the capitals
OF several states and the nation. the
richest cities on the continent and
$4,000 600 Of helpless people In a
few weeks ~ could he fortified ~
that II could probably never be re-
gained
The speaker went on 20 paint an
appalling picture % American un
preparedness from every point o
view. ending with an appeal 10 gel
busy and assist IN preparing M
country for the inevitable struggle