The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-06
If Germany Won.

(By casper whitney of the Nlgllantes.)
Do YOU realize what would happen
to us in America if Germany defeated
Great Britain and France9
You think of us as separated from
her by 5000 miles of water, but oceans
in these days of electricity and air
ships and submarines, are barriers no
more effective than mountain brooks.
You recall the German U-boat which
suddenly appeared last summer at our
very door to sink several cargo and
passenger steamers off our New Eng
land coast?
Within six months after q victory of
Germany in Europe, German warships
and German troop-ships would be on
their way to our ports to levy the
great tribute upon this rich country
which is part and parcel of the German
war plan.
That's what the triumph of the Kai-
ser would mean to America and to YOU
billions of dollars of tribute of which
you would have to pay your share
through oppressive taxation 1t is on
| the Pan-Germanic program
Officers, merchants, educators said as
| much to me in Germany, Belgium, Po-
|
man lines on relief work And YOU
have probably read the corroborative
evidence of their purpose in the Kai-
RS threat to Ambassador Gerard,
America had better look out after
this war;
In Brazil, Chill, Venezuela, promi.
nent German merchants, frankly con
fded to me the intention of Germany
lone day to make an cover seas
Germany of South America. And an
elephant catcher from Hamburg told
me years ago in the jungles of Lower
Siam that 1.-The day was coming when
Germans would not need to ask nper
mits of England or France or Siam
for a free hunting hand in Siam OIL
Malay. AS a German officer at Their
Great Headquarters in northern France
said to me once at the close of dis
cussion as to where the war was lead
ing the principal belligerents-Grea
, Britain, France. GERMANY" worlt
power or complete defeat German,
wants no half way result
\ German victory would at once pn
in jeopardy all the principles for whicl
. we ever fought:-freedom on land il
: l'16, liberty at sea i'll 1872, the RICH
of frontier lines in lS47, the re-atfirma
ton of the freedom of the white ma
through giving freedom to the Necr
: IN 1861; and the rights of little nation
I in 1898.
: A fortnight ago, German victor
: seemed the widest improbability. Sine
then the situation has changed. Tn
q German armies are pouring into nortl
g ern Italy. Italy may not be able t
g stop them. Germany may force her (
make peace. With Russia and Itai
. both out of the war, Germany and Au
= tria would be able to send PRACTICAL
! all their forces against the allies O
. the western front
The chances are that Englan
France and Belgium alone could NJ
ie hold them. The United States mu
A. leap to their side, the American De
r pie must leap to their side. Not Anne
- lean soldiers only, not American shil
only, not American guns only, bl
American men, women and childre
IT from Maine to Texas, from Texas
l. Oregon, must in one way or anotb
consider themselves fighters at the 81,
Of America s allies on the battlefront
{ If they cannot hold gun. tn,
i9 must support those who do. TIL,
o must save food and save money. TIL,
IN must talk war They must think wa
If they don t, Germany will win.
~ And then-