The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-04-27
Former Ambassador Gerard
So Declares in Address
to Publishers
THIS IS EVERY ONES WAR
Solemn Warning From Man
Who Was on the
Inside.

NEW YORK, April 27.-James W.
Gerard, formerly American ambassa-
dor to Germany appealed last night to
the entire country to stand by Presi-
dent Wilson and to urge congress to
| pass the administration bill for univer-
sal, obligatory military service. He
declared that he knew that IL Ger
many had won either a draw or vic
tory in the war, she would have attack
ed the United States, regardless of
whether America had entered the war.
| Mr.. Gerard was speaking at the an
nual dinner of the American News
paper Publishers Association. He
said:
Let no man, be he rich or poor
! laborer, farmer miner, manufacturer.
business man, or whatever his occu-
patton, or in what interior part of the
country he may live, believe that this
is not his war. The lives and safety of
himself and his family and the preser-
walton of his property and the right
to enjoy the fruits of his labor or in
dustry depend upon its successful out
come. There is no outrage that would
not be perpetratcd upon us if we lost;
and no citizen or section would be
| immune.
I'VE are at war with a government
possessing the greatest military ma.
| chine the world has evern seen, and
which bellies Crresptive OF American
opinion on the subject) not only that
the only effective way to wage mod.
ern war is by universal obligatory mil.
I itary service, but that force is the
only thing to be regarded.
ITO adopt at the outset universal
obligatory military service would be
to deal the morale OF our enemies a
staggering blow. and demonstrate at
the outset that we are in this war to
! win.
And do not forget that to deal this
! blow at once may save countless Am
J erican lives.
ION the other hand. to hesitate, to
discuss, to dispute, or to reject uni
versal service and adopt the volun-
teer system is to give aid and COM
fort to the enemy by convincing him
that we are not in earnest.
THE President made every effort
to keep the peace, but peace or any
thing else in this world is worth moth
ing If bought or kept at the price of
honor.
THE German military caste hate the
very name of America. ! know that
If we had remained out of this war
we would have been attacked by Ger
many If the war had then ended in
either draw or a German victory.
II have heard that people in the in
terror of our country, in our great
middel west are apathetic-do not be-
lieve that war with a European power
would affect them. 1 do belle this:
The people of the middle west are too
intelligent to believe that, If German
submarines ruled the seas. their pros
perity would not be touched, that If
German army landed in Mexico
and armed and led force to the north
that the middle west would get off
scot free. An army which meets no
opposition can go far and tribute
levied on blockaded country must be
paid by all.
Knowing the mind and might OF
Germany as have for the past two
and half years, appeal to the entire
country, not only as patriotic duty
but as an absolutely necessary meas
ure of self-preservation, to stand by
the President and urge the passage of
the administration bill for universal
obligatory military service