Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-20
A MOST SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

| The most alarming situation of many
alarming weeks arrived with the sink
ing of the three American ships as re-
lated in yesterdays news dispatches.
| The. crisis is most acute. What has
been probability of war has taken
on the terrifying aspect Of certainty.
Hope as We may that it may be
averted the fact stands out that the
holding ground of that hope is scanty
| and slippery and that we are on the
leeshore OF a conflict whereof none
may safely predict the close.
If war is declared argument ceases.
1t is then too late to criticise ante
oellum policies and condemn mistakes.
| When war comes there will be but one
duty and one policy--to wage our
| battle as a united people, in such
fashion and with such force that the
memory shall remain as warning
against future offense.
Let us not minimize the forces
declaration of war would loose. War
is a maelstrom wherein the rules and
| motives that guide in peace are help
less as the rudders of a boat in
Niagara. 1t sweeps everything into
it's current
Those who fondly dream that the
war with Germany, If such a contest
shall come, will be incidental and in
dividual clashes of ships on the high
seas are not unlikely to meet rude
awakening. The war may mean Of
tenstve and defensive alliance with the
entente. That Is the logical outlook
If Germany is canvassing the world for
alliance and assistance, tempting
Mexico with territory promised from
the conquest of this country and
soliciting South and Central America.
holding out bats to the orient, the
natural trend of American diplomacy
would be toward an alliance with such
powerful allies as England and France.
The tendency would be toward all the
allies and friends we could find. A
British alliance would commend itself
as protective of our northern border
and the coast lines north of our
boundaries. British friendship and in
fuence with Japan would naturally
enter the thoughts and designs of |
American state craft. Perhaps Ger
many IS not 10 be blamed for seeking |
aid Of Mexico and other nations In her |
desperat ton. War makes strange al |
lies as misery makes strange bedfsl-
lows. In conflict this country would |
seek its own advantage and |
hold It as bitterly as any bulldog Of |
war
The one thought will be present VIC
tory and future safety. 1t will be
argued and with reason that if we are
to hide behind the greater conflict the
treaty of Ieace between the European
nations would find us without a voice
in the final settlement, involved in
war with nation still powerful. our
selves without friends and alliances
and alone TO defend ourselves against
it and such allies as that nation might
secure perhaps thru further pledges of
L. $. territory Only those who fight
can win. Only winners may dictate
terms
Let US pray to be delivered from the
coming calamity of war: but let US also
understand that II this nation is led
or forced into war that battles are not
fought with feather busters and that
once in war we will wage it as savage
ly and seize to our own advantage as
do other nations, use dreadnoughts,
machine guns, submarines, mines
shells and make such alliances as may
appear to our own advantage against
common foe.