The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-06-19

OIL our OWN CuOlCS. AS nag uAc0a
which we serve would have been dis
homo: I'd had we withheld our hand.
Unly Part of the Story.
Bat that is only part OF the story.
We know now as clearly as we knew
before we were ourselves engaged
that We were not the enemies of the
German people and that they are not
our enemies. ~ They are
themselves in the grip of the same
sinister power that has now at last
stretched it's ugly talons out and
drawn blood from US. The whole
world is at war because the whole
world is in the grip of that power
and is trying out the great battle
which shall determine whether It is
to be brought under its mastery or
fling itself free.
'The war was begun by the mill
tary masters of Germany, who proved
to be also masters OF Austria-Hun-
gary. These men have never regard
ed nations as peoples, men, women,
and children of like blood and frame
as themselves for whom governments
existed and in whom governments mad
their life. They have regarded them
merely as serviceable organizations,
which they could by force or intrigue
bend or corrupt to their own purpose.
They have regarded the smaller
States, in particular and the peoples
who could be overwhelmed by force,
as their natural tools and instruments
of domination. Their purpose has
long been avowed.
Only Step.
"The demands made by Austria up
on Servia were a mere single step In
a plan which compassed Europe and
Asia from Berlin to Bagdad. They
hoped these demands might not
arouse Europe, but they meant to
press them whether they did or NOT,
for they thought themselves ready
for the final issue at arms.
Their plan was to throw broad
belt of German military power and
political control across the very cen
ter of Europe and beyond the Medl-
terranean into the chart of Asia, and
Austria Hungary was to be as mucn
their tool and pawn as Serbia or Bull
garia or Turkey or the ponderous
States of the East. Austria-Hungary
indeed, was to become part of the
central German empire, absorbed and
! dominated by the same force and IN
! huences that had originally cemented
the German States themselves. The
dream had its heart at Berlin. II
could have had heart nowhere else!
IS 1t contemplated binding to-
! sether racial and political units which
! could be kept together only by force
F.; -Czechs, Magyars, Croars, SERBS, Ru-
manians, Turks, Armenians = the
| proud states of Bohemia and Hun
gary, the stout little commonWealths
| of the Balkans, the indomitable Turks
the subtle peoples of the East. These
people did not wish to be united;
/ they apparently desired to direct their
own affairs-would be satisfied only
! by undisputed independence.
| Plan All But Accomplished.
"And they have actually carried the
gerater part of that amazing plan in
i to execution! Look how things stand
! SIS From Hamburg to the Per
/ sian gulf the net is spread.
ait is not easy to understand the
eagerness for peace that has been
! manifested from Berlin ever since the
snare was set and sprung? Peace
peace, peace, has been the talk of heI
foreign Office for now a year and
/ more; not peace upon her own inltla-
tive, but upon the initiative OF the
nations over which she now deems
! herself to hold the advantage A lit
! tie OF the talk has been public, but
; most of it has been private. Through
| all sorts of channels it has come to
| me, and in all sorts of guises, but
| never with the terms disclosed which
the German Government would be
willing to accept. That government
has other valuable pawns in its hands
besides those I have mentioned. II
still holds valuable part of France
though with slowly relaxing grasp
and practically the whole OF Belgium
/ It's armies press close upon Russia
and overrun Poland at their will. II
cannot go further; it dare not &c
back. 1t wishes to close its bargain
! before it is too late, and it has little
j left to offer for the pound of flesh
! it will demand.
| Predicament Of Military Masters.
'The military masters under whom
| Germany is bleeding see very clearly
to what point fate has brought them
If they fall back or are forced back
; an inch their power both abroad and
! at home will fall to pieces like a
house of cards. 1t is their power at
home they are thinking about now
more than their power abroad. 1t is
that power which is trembling under
their very feet. and deep fear has en-
tered their hearts. They have but
F., one chance to perpetuate their mill
tary power, or even their controlling
political influence. If tney can Sc
ure peace now, with the immense ad-
vantages still in their hands which
they have up to this point apparent
lv gained. they will have justified