Middletown transcript., 1917-06-23
GERMANY AS
FOE TO FREEDOM
Wilson Declares Germany Has
Left No Choice But War.
STERN WARNING TO TRAITORS
He Shows Up Germany's Scheme For
World Domination - Has Made
Puppets OF Her Allies, Whom
She Is Bending To Her Uses.

Washington.-Americ is at war
with Germany because that country's
Extraordinary insults and agrees
sions" left America no choice but to
defend itself in defense of its rights,
as free people, and of it's honor as
sovereign government.
Bare-headed, with heavy raincoat
buttoned I'D to his throat and with a
Secret Service man holding an UNI
brella over his head, with the rain
beating in his face and the wind at
times almost blowing the sheets of his
address out of his hand, President Will
son. in a storm such as this city has
not seen for years, stated the reasons
why this country is at war with Ger
many in a remarkable Flag Day ad-
dress which he delivered to about 1900
people at the grounds surrounding the
Washington Monument.
The Intrigue OF Peace.
His address had been very carefully
prepared, was marked by an aggres-
sive ring and an emphasis of attack
on the German government that has
never appeared before. Mr.. Wilson
repeated the suggestion in his recent
address to the Russian government
that Germany foresaw its coming de-
feat, saying today that the German
government wishes to close its bar
gain before it is too late, and it has
little left to offer for the pound OF
flesh it will demand" He sOlemnly
warned the American people against
the intrigue of peace" which Ger
many is engineering both in this coun-
try and abroad, and he gave notice to
the traitors in America who, having
learned discretion, now carry on their
intrigues within the law, that no man
or group of men will be permitted to
stand in the way of the vindication of
every principle that this country holds
dearest and makes secure the saliva
ton of nations
In Raging Storm.
Never, in the history of the flag, has
its birthday been celebrated as it was
here today Shortly after II o'clock
terrific hail storm, accompanied by
lightning, one stroke Of which killed a
hn oft 10
almost impossible to carry out the pro-
gram for the open-air meeting in the
Monument grounds Arrangements
were about completed to hold the
meeting at the building of the Pan
American Union, which faces the
grounds, but when President Wilson
heard of the proposed change of the
program he forbade it, stating that he
would speak on the grounds rain or
shine" Mr.. Wilson unselfishly sacri-
feed his own comfort, feeling that
many people who could attend the
gathering in the Monument grounds
would be disappointed If the meeting
were held in the Pan-American build
ing. Accordingly, shortly before 8
o'clock, he entered his car, accom-
panied by Mrs. Wilson, and drove to
the grounds. The rain was pouring in
torrents, but, undismayed, Mr.. Wilson
left his car and, protected only slight
ly from the downpour by an umbrella
held over him by one of the Secret
Service men, he walked to the stand
that had been erected, where Secre-
tary Lansing and a number of other
men awaited him, many
Of them in raincoats and all of them
trying to keep off some of the rain
storm by umbrellas.
Secretary Lansing Brief.
Secretary Lansing's introduction
under the circumstances was natural
ly brief, for conditions did not conduce
to oratory. Several thousand people
stood in front of the stand under UNI
brellas and several hundred more sat
IN automobiles whose curtains were
drawn to keep out the rain. At the
Presidents request Mrs. Wilson did
not leave the car. Mr.. Wilson smiled
yrimly as the rain beat into his face.
Mr. Lansing introduced him briefly. Il
nave the honor, ladies and gentlemen"
he said, Ito introduce the President
If the United States and the Com
nander-in-chief of the Army and the
Navy" Mr.. Lansing himself is
graceful speaker and he had prepared
! brief address for the occasion, but
his address must remain unspoken
Unless, indeed, some future occasion
'ffers.
1t is not improbable that the major.
ty Of the thousands who stood before
he President under their umbrellas
leard nothing Of Mr.. Wilson's address.
lie read it, nevertheless, word for
Vord, and was occasionally rewarded
y little outbursts of applause from
he ingenious few who, in some way,
ound 1t possible to clap their hands
nd hold their umbrellas at the same
ime. But Mr.. Wilson knew that he
7as addressing not the uncomfortable
ew thousands hidden from his eyes
nder the umbrellas that covered
hem, but the hundred millions of
americans who will read his address
nd will find inspirations in his words.
NAV I'D AAr Anhec-N ,1,>,,