The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-02-20
Let Us Play a Mans Part in
the Great War and End the
Agony as Soon as Possible

: II seems certain that the United States and Ger
many cannot stay in the twilight zone" between war
and peace which they have occupied since the breaking
of diplomatic relations That they have been able to
stay there long they have, considering the crcum
stances that forced them there estabSheS>a precedent
In International relations.
For nearly two years preceding the break il was
with the greatest difficulty that what passed for friend
y relations maintained, with experienced dplo
mats at both capitals and the leading statesmen OF both
nations reSong TO every expeden to smooth over the
many points of irritation caused by the refusal of the
Prussian military caste TO give the slightest considera
ton to the rights of peuas when those rights conced
with their plans of 'frightfulneSS"
1t is safe to say that at least dozen times in those
two years almost Superhuman efforts were required on
the part of President Wilson and his advisers and the
few sane statesmen in Germany who sincerely desired
peace with the United States to prevent an open rup
ture which almost certainly would have led to war.
The rupture was avoided because it was always
possible for Washington TO deal directly with Berlin
without delay thru the regular diplomatic channels.
Now those channels are closed and whatever COM
municaton there is between the two governments must
because of its indrection be slow and unsatisfactory
1t seems at this writing as tho war with Germany
is inevitable, as inevitable as fate.
Every scrap of information that comes from Ger
many indicates that government and people are deter
mined to carry out their announced policy OF frighttu
mess TO the limit
out of the twilight zone" into the war zone may occur
TODAY or tomorrow or next week.
The time is of relative unimportance. What is
of vital importance is that this act is certain to
II is the duty of every American to take stock Of
his mental physical and financial equipment with ref
erence to how he most effectively can play his part in
the war.
!. For we could make no greater mistake than to de-
lude ourselves that with Germany will simply mean
another phase of diplomatic situation.
War with Germany will mean fighting. II will
mean in the first place that we use every ounce
Of naval power have and create to rid the
Of submarine pirates and protect ships and citizens
& II will mean that we must begin at once to create
GREAT CITIZEN ARMY, and to manufacture the arms
munitions and the thousand and articles necessary
for its equipment.
We must prepare to throw into the scales against
Germany by sending an army to Europe if need be
whatever force is necessary TO make certain the crush
ing of Prussian mitarism for it would be suicidal
for this country to permit Prussian mlarsm to be vic
torious either land sea- after have gone into
the war.
In the end it will be economical both of life and
i now the zenith of her powers; that she is going
defeat Great Britain on the sea, thereby releasing the
German fleet for an attack on u.s. and that our future
safety depends upon the speed with which bring
to the assistance of the allies the full power of naval
military and financial strength
We shall have been forced into the war against
our will and desire, but being in, let us play mans
part that the agony be ended possible.
Senator Overman says there are 100000 spies in the
United Bet the whole tribe of EN- couldn't dis