The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-11-29
Germany's INDUSTRIOUS Conspir-
acy and Its Defeat by Forces
of Civilization.
WORLD DOMINATION SOUGHT
Americas Entrance the Decisive Fac
tor in the Mighty Struggle in
Which Democracy Triumphed
Over irresponsible Auto
cratic Militarism.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.


Autocratic militarism, imbued will
an overpowering greed for worl(
domination, started the Great War.
Democracy, inspired with decency
and common sense, ended 1T.
"All wars are commercial" is a say
ing that is true of all modern wars
The greatest war of all time, just end
ed, was no less so than others, fol-
though 1t was made by the military
class of Germany, 1t was for the bene-
fit of commercial Germany, for the
conquest of the trade of the world.
Ever since the defeat of France in
1870 and, the formation of the German
empire the ruling classes of Germany
had been assiduously preparing for
the mighty struggle that began in
1914. Secretly at times, with brazen
frankness at others, they laid their
plans. built up their mighty military
machine. extended their espionage sys-
TEN to all lands with the aid of the
business houses and the diplomats.
Though warned by more than one stu
dent of affairs, the world in general
ignored all this or looked on 1t as
merely boastfulness and legitimate
trade competition.
Germany's plan was nothing less
than an enormous conspiracy to es-
tablish what the conspirators knew as
s'Mittel Europa" a dominion extend
ing from the North sea to the Persian
gulf. AS preliminaries, German
princes were placed on thrones of
middle Europe wherever possible, and
financial relations were established
that gave Germany virtual control
over the coveted countries. Then the
Hun autocracy impatiently awaited
1.-THE Day."
Excuse Was Ready-Made.
Merely an excuse was needed to
precipitate the conflict, and this was
afforded on June %, 1914, by the as
sassination of Archduke Ferdinand of
Austria and his wife in Sarajevo, Bos-
nia, by Serbian. That this crime
was inspired to serve as pretext is
evidenced by the fact that everything
was prepared few days in advance
for putting the German military ma
chine In motion. Austria, under or
ders from Berlin, made demands on
Serbia to which no self-respecting ma
ton could submit, and on July % de-
clared war on it's neighbor. Russia, as
ally of and sponsor for Serbia, mo-
bilized its armies at once, despite the
protests of Germany, whereupon the
kaiser declared war on Russia.
France, being in offensive and defens-
I've alliance with Russia, was COM
PEELED to mobilize, and the kaiser's
armed forces got into action at once.
The course of events SO far had been
foreseen by the German high COM
mand and 1t was In accordance with |
its prearranged plan, which was to
crush France by swift advance on |
Paris, and then to turn about and
make an end of Russia's military re-
,istance.
On August 2 German troops entered |
France at Grey and began moving /
through Luxembourg, despite the spir-
ted protests of the grand duchess,
md Berlin asked Belgium to permit
he passage of troops through that
country. This was refused, the king
# Belgium appealing 90 the powers
hat had guaranteed the neutrality OF
lis kingdom.
All this time Great Britain had
,een striving to avert the outbreak OF
general war, and Germany rested
on the information OF
sr spies that the British would not
inter- into the conflict. But Berlin
eckoned without the British spirit OF
air play and faithfulness to treaties,
nd when the kaiser tore up the
scrap of paper" and invaded Belgium
treat Britain jumped to the rescue.
Ter mighty feet was modified ana
err army, pitifully small, began NOV
,g across the channel. Then events
anne with dazing rapidity. One at
,r another the nations fell into line
gainst the Germans and Austro-Hun-
arians, but the Teutons were ready
nd the others, except France, were
OF.
Tho Invasion Of Belgium.
On August began one Of the most
CHAPTERS in the history OF
le world-fhe rape Of Belgium. King
lbert and his heroic little army re-
sted to their utomst, but the suppos-
ily impregnable forts Of Liege. Ma
ur and other Belgian towns were {
,eedily reduced by the Hun cannon /
ID the land and its people were made ]
,ptive. The atrocities committed by /,
e Germans, officers and privates /
Ike, will remain blot on the, name {
Germany to the end of all time. :
he world has been 80 well Informed Z
ncerning those brutal crimes that It | |
unnecessary to recapftulate them. G
Having overrun all but a narrow /
rip OF Belgium, the Hun armies be- Il
i what Berlin fondly believed was {
be a triumphal march to Paris &
,giand's little regular army was t
rown across their path and fought
d died almost to q man, and side BY .
l. With them the French Poilus con- '
~ svssy feot They were pushed >