Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-12-31
WHY WE ARE AT WAR

Some tnoughtless people in tie
country are still insisting that the
United States could have avoidea
crossing words with Germany. Those.
however, who have watched Teuon
arrogance for many years were long
ago convinced that mighty struggle
between the English-speaking ma
tons and Germany was inevitable ami
that it was liable to be precipitated
as soon as the Kaiser supposed the
objects Of his vengeance We're unprc:
pared. Conquest and hultrr.' one
IF the books published by the Conf
:nittee OF Public Information, gives
extracts from speeches and ppbllca-
Ions Of prominent Germans. which
al Americans should read.
"TEe nost dangerous foe OF Ger
many IN this generation will prove
q ). ibe United States said Dr..
Otto Hotsch in AlIdeutschc klarEcr:
Aug. -. 1902. Hctsch is really speak
n" mere OF commercial war. put &c
i'm political war was q natural sc.
1uence Of commercial. HotSch Is plro-
.cssor OF history at the royal aca-
lemy III Poser and At The war aca-
Jenny in Berlin.
treiherY ELeisheim, III his Opera
ions Upon the Sea- written az III"
beginning Of the present cenldrE
says:
"Operations against the United
states of North America must By
,utircly different. With that country
n particular, political friction, na'i-
est IN commercial aims, has not bean
ackiug in recent years, and mas IN.
il now been removed chiefly througa
!cquiesccrce OF our part, ifcwe+ec
y this submission mas It's limit. &c
question arises az 10 what means we
,an develop TO carry out our purposT
/; With force IN order to COMBAT the Ell
.roachments OF the United States
lpon our interests. Our main factor
: our feet. $ i = it is evident. then,
.hai :; naval war against The United
States can not be carried on Win
success without at the same time ~
,usurating action on land. F" !" 1t i
Almost Il certainty, however, That :
Notorious assault on the Atiart:c
coast, tying up the importing pnd
,Sporting business Of the whole coIn-
y. would bring about such an annoy
nc situation that The Government
would be willing TO treat for peace
"If the German Invading fore
Yero equipped and ready for trahs-
>ortinec the moment the !,att!e flee
j: despatched, nader average Hcndl-
ions. these corps can begin operation
Il American soil within al least foar
weeks. i The United States q
his time (19Ol) is not in 8 position
Q Oppose our troops with an army
IF equal rank. = y
THE fact that one ur two pt nc:
provinces arc occupied By Tie III
.a.lcrs would not alone move the
americans tosue fer peace. 70 ne
.ompiis, This end the invaders would
AVE to i,lhict real material damage
= inilr:us tho whole country through
hs successful seisurs Of inany OF t!'f
\t:antic seapcrts IN which the threads
u the entire wealth Ct the Nation
meet. It should be SO managed that
, line Of land operations would be ID
lose juncture with the fleet, through
yl,:cl, We would he IN Z position CoI
eize il. a, short tine many u these
important and rich cities, to. !ntes-
.upv their means Of supply, disoG-
>-ari.s al governmental etFairs, .s-I
-p,ne control Of I'll useful buildings
,onfscete FL war e.:d transport sup
lies, and lastly, to impose heavy IN
len!?,!t!es.
las z matter Of feet. Germany IS
h. Only great power which IS n :
position to conquer The United
STAKES,
The COST OF WAR.