The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-02-16
GOVERNOR GlLcHRiST ON PRES
EMIT CRISIS AND WAR IN
EUROPE
Waycross, Ca, Feb. 8, 1917.
To the Ocala Banner:

Waycross, Ca, Feb. 8, 1917.
To the Ocala Banner:
There is much talk about war and
peace. Having served as governor Of
Florida from 1909 to 1918 and there
fore having been commander-in-chief
of all the military and of all the naval
forces of the state, and having served
also as private to general in the mill
tia, and as private to captain in the U.
S. Volunteer Infantry in Cuba. feel
as though | am in a position to some
what aeroplane or submarine the sit
uation. President Wilson in 1915,
having informed the Central Allies,
that the Z. S. would omit no word or.
act" necessary to inforce our posi-
ton with reference TO our rights on
the seas, did exactly right in break
ing off diplomatic relations with Ger
many had just announced her inten-
tion of disregarding our contention.
Ninety-nine out of every one hundred
American citizens concur in the po-
sition of thepresident However l
think it would be suicidal for the
smaller neutral European nations to
follow the presidents suggestion in
breaking off diplomatic intercourse
with Germany. The breaking off of
diplomatic intercourse with Germany
by the United States is reiterating the
proposition that we will omit no word
or action" in maintaining our rights
on the seas. If these rights are now
willfully violated, war is necessarily
the next "act." l hardly think that
Germany will formally change her
position Private orders can be is
sued to submarine commanders to
consider the word or act" of the
United States.
Suppose Holland were to follow the
suggestion of the president, breaking
off diplomatic relations. The sinking
then of Dutch boat by a German
Holland in war The American ma
ton would not be willing to go to
war in behalf of Holland, which has
simply followed the presidents sug-
gestion. Germany would simply eat
up Holland alive, as she did Servia,
Montenegro and Roumania. | have
heard some people say that if practi
cally all the neutral nations were to
follow the presidents lead that the
moral force of such would produce
peace"
In reply to the presidents peace
note, the entente allies stated in sub
stance. that restitution, reparatiOn,
and guarantees for the future" were
necessary as a basis for peace. They
practically stated that Alsace and
Lorraine Should be returned to France,
that Germany and Austrian Poland
would with Russian Poland be made
a separate kingdom under the sover-
eighty of Russia, that Roumania, Ser
via, and Italy would get parts of
Austria and that Russia would swal-
low up alive the 'unspeakable" Turk.
Germany's army and navy were to be
disbanded Belgium was to be re-
stored. The amount of cash indemn-
ity to be paid was not stated. What
England was to get was delicattely
omitted The foregoinging were prac-
tically the terms of peace offered to-
the central allies. 1t will be remem-
bered that the central allies had con-
quered Servia, Montenegro. Rumania,
Belgium, a good slice of France, and
much territory in Russia 1t will be
remembered that the entente allies
y had permitted Servia, Montegro,
and Rumania to be conquered in de-
tail. 1t will also be remembered that
during the year 1916 there was a great
military drive for the British and
French. In France and the North Sea
to the end of the battle line near
Switzerland the distance is about 500
miles. From Combles to Peronne the
distance is about 9 miles. Between
Combles and Peronne. in France the
RIE TRA RztlIa