The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-16

impudently denied us the use Of the
high seas and repeatedly executed
their threat that they would send to
their death any of our people who
ventured to approach the coasts of
Europe What great nation, in
lsuch circumstances, would not have
taken up arms? Much as we had de-
sired peace, 1t was denied us and not
of our own choice. This flag, under
which we serve would have been dis
honored had we withheld our hand.
But that is only part Of the story.
We know now as clearly as we knew
before we were ourselves engaged
that We are 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 its
ugly talons out and drawn blood from
us. The whole world is ut war be-
cause the whole world is in the grip
o. that power and is trying out the
great battle which shall determine
whether it is to be brought under it's
mastery or fling itself free.
1.-The war was begun by the military
masters Of Germany, who proved to
be also the 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 had
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.
"The demands made by Austria
upon Serbia 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 of arms.
Their plan was to throw a broad
belt of German military power and
political control across the very CEN
tire of Europe and beyond the Medi-
terranean into the heart Of Asia; and
Austria Hungary was to be as much
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 forces and
influences that had originally cement
ed the German states themselves. The
dream had its heart at Berlin. 1t
could have had a heart nowhere else!
= 1t contemplated binding to-
gether racial and political units which
could be kept together only by force.
l-Czechs, Magyars, Croats. Serbs, Ru-
manians, Turks. Armenians-- the
proud states of Bohemia and
Hungary the stout little COM
monwealths of the Balkans. the
Iindomitable Turks. the subtle peoples
of the East. These peoples did not
wish to be united. They ardently de-
sired to direct their own affairs, would
be satisfied only by undispUted inde-
pendence. And they have ac-
tually carried the greater part of that
amazing plan into execution! Look
how things stard! *"* From Hamburg
TO the Persian Gulf the net is spread.
/ is IL UOI easy W UiuCioS 'iAS
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
, her foreign office for now year and
more; not peace upon her own initia-
) tive. but upon the initiative of the ma
, tions over which she now deems her
self to hold the advantage. A little
of the talk has been public. but most
r of it has been private. Through all
, sorts of channels it has come to me,
r and in all sorts Of guises, but never
= with the terms disclosed which the
l German government would be willing
( to accept That government has 9TH
e CT valuable pawns in its hands be-
= sides those | have mentioned. 1t still
] holds q valuable part of France