Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-15

continued from flrSt PaEc.)
| send 10 their death any Of our people
who ventured TO approach the coasts
of Europe. What great nation in
such circumstances would not havo
taken up arms? Much as we had de-
sired peace. IL was denied us, and not
OF our own choice. This nag under
which We serve would have been d s.
honored had we withheld our hand
GERMAN PEOPLE IN GRIP
OF SAME SINISTER POWER
But that is only part OF tho story
We know now rs clearly as we knew
before we were ourselves engaged that
we arc not the enemies Of the German
people, and that they are not our enc
mics. They are themselves In the
grip OF tho same sinister power that
has now at last stretched it's ugly
talons out and drawn blood from us
The whole world is at war because the
whole world is in the grip of that
power and is trying out the great bat
tie which shall determine whether it
Is to be brought under it's mastery or
fling itself free.
The war was begun by the military
masters of Germany. who proved TO he
a y
These mon have never regarded nations
rs 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 service
able organizations which they could
by force or intrigue bend or corrupt
TO their own purpose. They have re-
5-p "a ho ~,
! and the peoples who could he over
whelmed by force as their natural
tools and instruments OF domination.
Their purpose has long been avowed.
The demands made by Austria upon
Serbia were mere single step in n
plan which compassed Europe and Asia.
from Berlin to Bagdad They hoped
those demands might not arouse Eu-
rope, but they meant to press them
whether they did or not. for they
! issue OF arms.
DREAM COULD HAVE HEART
NOWHERE SAVE IN BERLIN
Their plan was to throw a broad
belt of German military power and po-
! iit!cal contro! across the very center OF
! Europe and beyond the Mediterranean
| into the heart OF Asia: and Austria
! Hungary was TO be as much their tool
and pawn rs Serbia or Bulgaria or
! Turkey or the ponderous states OF the
east. Austria Hungary. indeed, was &c
become part of the central German En-
pre- absorbed and dominated by the
same forces and influences that had
originally cemented the German states
themselves. The dream had its hear,
at Berlin. 1t could have had a hcar r,
nowhere else! :. 1t contemplated bind
ing together racial and political units
which could be kept together only BY
force-Czechs, Masyars, Croats, Serbs
Roumanians. Turks. Armenians - the
proud states OF Bohemia and Hungary
the stout little commemorative Of the
Balkans. the indomitable Turks. the
subtitle peoples Of the east These peo.
pies did not wish 10 be united. The,
ardcntly desired to direct their owr
affairs. would BIO satisfied only by un.
disputed independence.
And they have actually carried the
greater part OF that amazing plan into
execution! Look how things stand
l. From Hamburg TO the Persian
Gult the net is spread
rs 1t not easy TO understand the
eagerness for peace that has been
ma infested from Berlin ever since the
snare was set and sprung? Peace