Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-03
CANDID FACING OF FACTS
TO GUARANTEE VICTORY
President Nelson, of Smith College,
Says America Must Surpass Huns
Strength Without Their Faults.
DESCRIBES GERMAN VISITS
Government So Directs Education as
to Make People Believe Other Ma
lions Seek Expansion Monopoly.
Press Also Follows Constructions"
IBy Associated Press.

NORTHAMpTON, MASS. December 2.
Victory Is to be gained. not by
denying all virtues to Germany and
50 Understanding ner power. but By
surprising her i'm her characteristic
points OF strength, and keeping our
selves free from the faults that have
lost her the friendship OF the world"
said President William Allen Nelson,
OF Smith College, speaking tonight to
the student body.
The effectiveness of the German
army and the behavior OF the German
people," he said, lis sufficient proof
there can be no such complete rotten
ness at the heart Of the nation as some
OF MS believe. Nothing is to be gained
by shutting our eyes to tho formidable
vigor OF the enemy we have set out to
defeat. Only n candid facing Of tho
facts. and an unsuitable determine
ton to win on the facts. can save tho
world from the unspeakablc calamity
Of a German victory"
President Nelson was exchange pro-
fcssor from Harvard to the University
Of Paris In 1914. at the time OF the
outbreak OF the war
What ! have to say" he told tho
students. IT offer not as the evidence
OF an expert. but as the result OF per-
sonal observation during many visits
TO Germany during the past twelve
years. and especially during the first
year OF the war. These observations
we're made chiefly In South Germany.
EXPLAINS ACaUIESCENCE
OF GERMAN PEOPLE
They tend to make me believe that,
however we may lament the acquies-
cencs OF the German people in tho
policy OF the German government. that
acquiescencc can be explained without
supposing that nation hitherto en-
dowed with many fine qualities has
suddenly become q horde of criminal
barbarians. Some OF the facts sup
porting this view may be summarized
thus:
For a generation education In Ger
many has been directed to magnifying
Germany's claim to play a great part
IN the world. while history and gcoGra-
ply have occn so taught as to create
the belief that other nations have UNI
fairly monopolizcd the means Of ex
pans!on, and 81 deprived her OF her
chance
Recent political history has been
cxpounded in the press to make tho
measures taken by other countries for
their own protection appear as con-
spiracies to stranglc Germany.
ION this prepared basis. the govern
ment prctensc that the war was for
self.defense was easily built UP.
INVASION OF BELGIUM
4 "BIrTER NECEsSITYn
1.-THE invasion Of Belgium was at
first admitted to be matter OF bit
ter necessity but for three years the
pcrs have taught that Belgian neu-
trality had already been violated by
France. England and Belgium herself
ITO the German people the phrase
Belgian atrocities means atrocities al
legged TO have been committed by
the Belgian civilians on the German
wounded.
THE Lusltania was oficially do
clared to be an armed cruiser mount
ing fifteen guns. and this Is still
believed in Germany. Hence the
largely excused.
Instructed from headquarters, and no
indication OF ccnsoring appears on the
surface, so that the ordinary man
thinks he is getting all the news.
Add to all this the inclination Of
every man to believe his own govern
m ent. rather than the enemy's. and one
can understand why Germans can sup
port the general staff without being
either simple Idiots or constituencies
or minals."