Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-13
Lloyd Georges Speech

nspiratio was freedom. They conquered
at first othefs' freedom and they took il
home. and France became free.
This is the story Of Russia. Russia
engaged in this great war for the free
dom Of Serbia, Of Montenegro. of Bulga-
ria The Russians fought for the free
dom Of Europe, and they wanted to make
their own country free and they have
done it. The Russian revolution is not
merely an outcome Of this struggle for
freedom; It is a proof Of its character and
if the Russian people realize. as there Is
every reason they will realize it. that ma
tional discipline is not incompatible with
national Freedom. nay. that national dis
cipline is essential to the security of
national freedom. they will indeed become
free people.
Hindenburs and America.
II have been asking myself the ques-
ton. why did Germany deliberately, in
the third year Of the war provoke Am
erica to this declaration and to this
action? Deliberately. Resolutely! 1t
has been suggested that the reason was
there were certain elements in Ameri-
can life which they were under the inn
preston would make 1t impossible for
the United States to declare war. That
I can hardly believe. But the answer
has been afforded by Gen. Won linden
burg himself, in a very remarkable in
terview. which appeared in the press.
He depended on one of two things.
| namely, that the submarine campaign
| could have destroyed international ship
ping to such an extent that England
would have been put out Of business
before America was ready. According
to his computation America could not
be ready for II months. He does not
know America. He is confident in the
alternative that when America is
ready at the end of IL months with her
| army she will have no ships to trans
port an army to the field of battle. In
Gen. Won Hindenburg's words, America
| carries no weight He means that she
has no ships to carry weight. 1t is
! not wise always to assume that even
| the German general staff as has hap
pened SO often. have made calculations
that they have no right to make and
therefore it behooves the whole Of the
Allies. Great Britain and America not
ably. to see that the reckoning of Won
40 ldlSC RECKONING.
Victory in Ships
THE road to victory, the guarantee
or victory. the absolute assurance of
victory has to be found in one word
ships-and a second northumberland
third workshops. With that keen
ness which characterizes your nation
see that they fully realize that. and T
tO04y hn1 Lo,.
arrangements to build ships nv tho
.'ousand-one thousand '3O0O-tonners
Tor the Atlantic. I believe that the Cor.
mans ana their military advisers are
aiready beginning to realize that this Is
| aho'her OF their miscalcAIations. which
~ gong to lead them to disaster and
rum. You will pardon me for lust em-
phas'zlng that we are slow people-
SLOW and laundering. but we get there
lou get there sooner. That is whv
am slad TO see you in. We have bee,
IN inns business for three years. We
nave maze. as we generally do e,or,
oiuhder. In consequence we b,ya ~
through every blunder Now xe ora
flght out on the course. Nav
specf1ully suggest that It is WORT,
sosa zeal to study our bunders
10 pegin where we are now nat 49,.
we were three years ago. T, u,ar t;.
- everything, time has a tragic sisnin
cance "sic slsnl1l-
me step which we are taking TO-
uas may lead to sure victory: taking
'oiiiorro", 1t may avert disaster All
- 'He Alles have discovered tint !,
q" d ne" country. that 1t was track.
'e' ana mapless, but we found the
Wy ana am glad that you are send
ing your great naval and military eY-
leitS mere Just to interchange experi-
me- with men who have been all
ougn inc dreary anxious course of
me last three years.
Americas Aid
america has helped us even 70 win
the battle Of Arras. She has been mol,
ihs guns, making ammunition. SUMMIT
ing US with fuel, supplying lis with
sheli and she has got all of that orpan-
| iZatlon and has got that wonderfu,
iertile adaptability and resourcef,,lness
u the great people who inhabit that
great country 1t was a bad day for tho
ii.illtdfv autocracy in Prussia when n
claHenged the great republic of the
west. We know America and we also
know that now she has said it she
VIII do it. She will wage a strong and
SUCCESSFUL war; and there is sometime
more important, she will ensure
oenefic1ent peace. l am the last nav
IN the world knowing for three wears
what our difficulties have been what
our anxieties have been and what orr
FEARS have been-I am the last man
IN the world to say that the succor
which Is given us from America. Ia NOT
itself something to rejoice at and IN
rejoice at greatly. But also saw that
can see more in the knowledge that
America is going to win a right to he
at the conference table when the terms
OF peace are discussed. That confer
ence will settle the destiny of nations
and the course of human life for God
knows how many ages. 1t would have
been tragedy, tragedy for man
kind, If America had not been there
and there with all her influence and
her power.
Il can see peace, not a peace to no
beginning OF war, not a peace which
Will be an endless preparation for
strife and bloodshed, but a real peace
The world is an old world. You have
never had the rocking war that has
rolled like an ocean over E,uroro T.,