The menace., 1917-04-21

IW Is helping Germany--asslsting
kySI her In establishing credits and
IHRI furnishing her with untold
N millions of gold? England?
France? Italy? Japan? Mexico?
No. The United States?-possibly to
a limited degree Germany has pro-
cured some financial aid in America ;
but where is the one big banker that
is supplying Germany today and to
which she has looked and still con-
stantly looks for aid?
Whence comes the endless stream of
gold that enables her to finance her
immence schemes of intrigue in Amer
lea, in Mexico, in Spain, in Cuba, in
the Philippines, in India and in every
country where sne feels there is a
possible advantage to be gained for
German arms by internal rebellions
or labor troubles either of which
she is ready to support with ample
funds? Through her multiplicity
Of interests she Is able to accom-
plish these things to a degree cor
responding exactly with the lack of
vigilance exercised by the various
governments and the peonles intrigued
against.
The Demand for Gold
Add to this the cost of the actual
process of her war in Europe with its
dirigibles, its submarines, its gas
bombs, and it's countless modern bar
barous machines that make of this
war the most stupendously wealth.
demanding adventure ever undertaken
by world powers and then consider
that in addition to this the Austro-
German alliance Is carrying forward
the most gigantic, well organized and
seemingly omnipresent system of es-
pionage and extensive warfare ever
known in the worlds history. Only
by unlimited funds drawn from some
hidden well spring can the Austro-
German alliance cope with such a
monstrous situation. Having consid-
cred the sovereignties with money to
lend who would extend her credit
but one remains from which money
can be procured. To be brief, that
power is the vatican. Peters pence
which filters into that intriguing dis
pensary from the hands of the Cath
olics, of Ireland, France, Germany,
England, the United States, Mexico
South America and other countries, if
placed at the disposal of the Austro-
German alliance for two years would
be equal to the aid in bonds, cash and
credit of many nations. But what evi.
dence, substantial, indisputable or
otherwise Is there to in any way es-
tablish with any fair degree Of GER
tainty that the vatican is in alliance
with the Austro- German powers?
Who Started This War?
The hastily written histories of the
great war now being carried on take
no cognizance of facts earlier than
the assassination of Francis Ferdi-
nand, heir apparent to the throne OF
Austria and his morganatic wife, by
Serbian patriots. If there is any rea-
son for attaching any significance To
the assassination of this crown prince
certainly the cause of the assassina-
tion must have some bearing on the
war. The archduke's assassination
occurred on June 2Sth. On June Oath
a secret treaty, or concordat had been
consummated between the Serbian
government and the pope in which the
archduke's ambitions cut no small
figure.
This secret diplomacy--which would
further the dream of the heir appar.
ent for Slavic union of southeastern
Europe to be attached to Austria Hun.
gary and ruled by him when the agec
emperor, Francis Joseph had passed
on--in the form of a concordat with
the holy see contained twenty-five
articles which meant death blow tC
the free schools and the liberal ideal:
of Serbia, while on the other hanC
II had for its purpose a unification oi
the Roman Catholic church with tn,
government in a country admittedly
Greek Catholic, the same in religion
as Russia. '..
Such was the sinister event pre-
CCulilk ILlC dbSdSSlildLlOH WHICH HeWb
paper dispatches and early historic.
of the war include as the first act il
or prelude to the supreme tragedy
the world is now enacting.
After the Assassination
Following the assassination, Aus
tria's almost immediate declaration O
war on Serbia; Russia's alignment il
the interest of Serbia, and Germany
immediate answer of war on Russi;
are events that transpired will
startling rapidity. In our haste I,
follow the action many of US have fol
lowed the events to the end withou
first following them to the beginning
and thus have we lost sight of Ger
many having aligned herself wit
Roman interests when she became
partner with Austria, the one mill
tant and powerful Roman Catholi
nation of the world, which was deter
mined to enforce papal decree on Al
unwilling people.