Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-06-21

The demands made by Austria upon
Serbia were mere single step In a
plan which compassed Europe and
Asia. from Berlin to Bagdad. They
hoped those demands might not arouse
Europe. but they meant 10 press them
whether they did or not. for they
thought themselves ready for the final
issue of arms.
Vast Empire Planned.
Their plan was TO throw IL broad belt
of German military power and political
control across the very center of En-
rope and beyond the Mediterranean in
10 the heart of Asia; and Austria-Hun-
gary was to be as much their tool and
pawn as Serbia or Bulgaria or Turkey
Or the pOnderOus states OF the East.
The dream had its heart at Berlin. II
could have had a heart nowhere else
II rejected the idea Of solidarity Of
race entirely. The choice of peoples
played no part In it at all. They ar
IDENTIFY desired to direct their own af
fairs. would he satisfied only by undis-
pnted independence. They could be
kept quiet only 10y the presence or the
constant threat Of armed men. The
German military statesmen had reck
oncd with all that and were ready TO
deal with 81 in their own way.
And they have actually carried the
greater part of that amazing plan into
execution. Look how things stand.
Austria is at their mercy. 1t has acted.
not upon its own initiative or upon the
choice of it's own people. but at Ber-
Inns dictation ever since the war be-
gan Its people now desire peace. but
cannot have it until leave is granted
from Berlin. The so-called central
powers are in fact hut a single power.
Serbia is at its mercy should its hands
he but for moment freed. From
Hamburg to the Persian gulf the net
is spread.
Why Berlin Seeks Peace.
Is ii not easy 10 understand the Gag
erness for peace that has been mani
Tested from Berlin ever since the snare
was set and sprung? Peace. peace.
pence has been the talk Of her foreign
Office for now year and more: not
peace upon her own initiative. but up
on the initiative of the nations over
which she now deems herself TO hold
the advantage. Through all SORTS of
channels it has come to me. and IL all
sorts Of guises. hut never with the
terms disclosed which the German gov
eminent would he willing TO accept.
That government still holds a valuable
part Of France. though with slowly re-
laxing grasp. and practically the whole
of Belgium. II cannot go further; II
dare not go back. II wishes to close
its bargain before it is too late and II
has little left TO offer for the pound of
flesh it will demand.
The military masters under whYm
Germany is bleeding see very clearly
10 what point Fate has brought them.
If they fall back or are forced back
an inch, their power both abroad and
u home will fail to pieces like a
house of cards. If they can Sc
cure peace now with the immense Hd-
vantages still in their hands which
they have up to this point apparently
gained. they will have justified them
selves before the German people; thfy
will have gained by force what they
promised 10 gain by it: an immense
mense enlargement of German indus
trial and commercial opportunities. If
they fail. their people will thrust them
aside: government accountable 10
the people themselves will he set mp
In Germany as IL has been i'm England.
in the United States. in France. and
In all the great countries of the mod
ern time except Germany. If they sue
coed they are safe and Germany and
the world are undone: If they fail Ger
many is saved and the world will he at
peace. II they succeed. we and all
the rest of the world must remain
armed as they will remain. and must
make ready for the next step OF az
gression; If they fail the world may
unite for peace. and Germany may be
of the union.
Seek to Deceive World.
The present particular aim Of the
masters of Germany is to deceive all
those who throughout the world stand
for the rights of peoples and the self
government of nations; for they see
what immense strength the forces of
Justice and of liberalism are gathering
out of this war.
The sinister intrigue is being no less
actively conducted in this country than
in Russia and in every country in Ell
rope TO which the agents and dupes of
the imperial German government can
get access.
United States in War for Freedom.
The great fact that stands out above
all the rest is that this is n Peoples
war. war for freedom and justice and
government amongst all the ma
items of the world. Il war to make the
world safe for the peoples who live in
ii and have made 1t their own. the
German people themselves included !:
and that with us rests the choice to
break through all these hypocrisies and
patent cheats and masks of brute force
and help set the world free. or else
stand aside and let il he dominated n
long age through 10y sheer weight nf
arms and the arbitrary choices of self
constituted masters. ny the nation