Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-27
GERARD PREDICTS LONG
WAR AGAINST GERMANY
Former American Ambassador TO
Berlin Is Confident There Will
he No Revolution.
URGES UNIVERSAL SERVICE
In Speech Before American News
paper Publishers Association, He
Says That Teutonic Military Caste
Hates the Very Name, "America."

gNEW YORK. April 26.-"Thc Ger
man military caste hates the very
name. America | know that if we
had remained out OF this war, We would
have been attacked by Germany if the
war had then ended in either q dra w
or Il German victory"
This emphatic statement was made
to-niEht by James w. Gerard. former
American ambassador 10 Germany. at
the annual banquet OF the American
Newspaper Publishers Association in
tho WaIdorf-Astoria. Continuing. MIR.
Gerard said:
Knowing tho mine and might of
Germany. as have. for the past two
and Il half years. | appeal to tho entire
country. not only as n patriotic duty,
but as an absolutely necessary meas
urc OF self-prcservation, to stand by
the President and urge the passage OF
tho administration bill for universal
obligatory military service.
w arc At war with Il government
possessing the greatest military ma
chine the world has ever seen, and
which believes Irrespective Of .Amcri-
can opinion on the Subject). not only
that the only effective way to wag
modern war is by universal obligatory
military service. but that force is to
he the only Thing regarded.
UNIVERSAL SERVICE WILL
STAGGFR THE ENEMY
10 auopI at II OulScl III e Sill
obligatory military. service would be
to deal the morale of our enemies Il
staggering blow and demonstrate at
tho outset that We are in the war to
win. And do not forget that to deal
this blow at once may save countless
American lives.
ION the other hand. TO hesitate. to
discuss. to dispute. or to reject uni
vcrsal service and adopt the volun-
teer system is to give aid and comfort
to the enemy by convincing him that
we are not in earnest.
There isn't any chance Of a revolu-
ton in Germany. There may he riot
ing, but no revolution. The caste sys-
tenn is so strong that the people don't
realize the real situation"
MIR. Gerard then stated that. with few
exceptions. the war was largely due
to the activities OF newspaper corre-
spondents in Berlin. lie said that they
misinformcd the German officials ot
the attitude Of this country and acted
as OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
lie said that the feeling toward the
United States was crystalltzed In an
interview with Admiral Won Tirpitz.
which was circulated throughout the
empire. In this interview the father
OF the ruthless C-boat warfare" urged
the capture of the British navy. its
absorption into the German fleet and
then Il grand offensive against the
United States to make America pay
for the war.
81 predict a long war continued
MIR. Gerard. Il am confident there
will he no revolution in Germany. The
Russian situation is serious. II any
accident should befall the British fleet,
we would have Il serious situation to
face"
Maior-Goncral G. 7. NJ. Bridges. OF
tho British high commission received
an ovation when he rose to speak.
He declared:
There is q fine old military axiom
which says: When in doubt. march tn
the sound Of the guns And il is
We should like To sec tho manhood
of your nation and To see the Stars
and Stripes fly beside the Tricolor and
the Union Jack
General Bridges then declared that
our friendship with the French has
Referring to the British and French
soldiers. he added: These men under
stand each other. They have been
forged alike in the fire and hammered
ON the anvil OF war. They have the
courage and fortitudc that makes them
such men. OF. If YOU did, they would
never know H."
Mayor Mitchell, Irwin Cobb and Job
+, Hedges, who acted as POSTMASTER,
also spoke. There were 900 diners and
about 500 more sat in the Sallcries.
The banquet hall was draped in the
flags OF the allies.
Mr.. Gerard arraiEned Speaker Champ
Clark for his advocacy OF the volun-
teer system. He said he had support
cd Mr.. Clark In his campaign for the
Democratic nomination for President
in 1912. but thank Heaven" lie en-
claimed. some bencicent Providence.
which keeps the American people from
putting forward their ncar-statesmen.
Interviewed"