Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-11-08
GERMAN M|L|TAR|SM
Barred BY EYEWITNESS

Inc war VIII all lIS dIIeHudnL HOi-
rors, the ruthlessness of German
militarism, the methods of a govern
ment who has made its subjects be-
lieve war. was profitable, these and
more of that great conflict overseas
were told an immense audience in
the Christian Church Tuesday even
ing, when Lee Merriwether, of st.
Louis, special Ambassador to France,
gave the testimony of an eyewitness
in so telling a manner that even those
in the audience who believed their
mind held a deep and lasting impress
sion of what was cover there" through
study of current history, found that
even their most sanguine recollec-
tions faded before his telling descrip-
tions of what he had seen of the Hun
and his effort to conquer the world
! through frightfulness and murder.
In his opening remarks, Mr.. Mer-
riwether related the early history Of
Prussianism in which the rulers were
educating their subjects to believe
war was profitable; that in the past
territory and indemnity had repaid
Germany for her aggressions and af-
ter but few weeks fighting,
This and the government control Of
school instruction and newspapers
with a constant and successful effort
to have the people delegate their
thinking to others and accept their
decision as final he presented as his
proof that the German people today
w.re behind the kaiser under the i'm
preston they are fighting in self-de-
fense, because the powers that be
have told them France and her allies
are the aggressors.
He gave testimony from his own in
vestigation and observation that the
people Of Germany as well as her SOL
diers were not given the news of the
outside world, except such as the
heads of the Government desired and
this arranged so as to best suit their
purposes. They were led to believe
they were nearing victory day by day
and the Allies would soon sue for
peace.
He gave the fearful experiences of
Belgian citizens during the German
invasion as he learned them from the
lips of the victims, men who were
the citizens of the highest standing
in their community and who told their
stories in the presence of others Of
equal integrity.
He did not speak in bitterness. He
dwelt upon the virtues of the German
people, but bemoaned and condemn
ed their subservance to false ideals
and teachings, he had to say, COM
ing from an official of this gov
ernment, who had every facility for
investigation and for a time as the
representative of the German Govern
ment in France, until the United
States entered the war, his story of
incident after incident illustrating the
unquestioned disregard of moral laws
by the Germans, gave weight to his
statement that search history as we
would, even to that of the early bar
barans, parallel of such atrocious
methods could not be found.
He gave some interesting informa-
tion on the purposes of the German
government with regard to this coun-
try had they succeeded IN reachlng
Paris and which he said was common
knowledge among the diplomats
abroad. Had it not been for the
British navy, Mr.. Merriwether took
pains to stress, this country would
never have had the opportunity it
is now utilizing to prepare for the
conflict which it will win.
E. A. Shannon, Chairman of the
Audrain County Y. M. G. A. fund
campaign committee, presided. Mr..
Merriwether closed with an urgent
appeal for both the Y. M. G. A. and
the Red Cross work.