The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-12
TAFT TO SOLDIERS
OF UNITED STATES
FORMER PRESIDENT TELLS AM.
ERICANS THAT HUN DISHONOR
MUST BE DEFEATED.

TURNER PRESIDENT TELLS AM
ERICANS THAT HUN DISHONOR
MUST BE DEFEATED.
Fort Riley, Kan, Feb 12.-The part
which Americans must play in the war
was discussed here yesterday by ex-
President Taft in the first of a series
OF addresses which he Is to make at
training centers in the central depart
ment Of the army under Y. NJ. c. A. aus.
plces. Mr.. Taft arrived here from Camp
Pike and was escorted at once to his
waiting audience Of soldiers lie said.
in part:
"The war has not been won. Ger.
many is in possession of Belgium and|
part Of northern France. She holds
Serbia and Rumania, Poland and the
Baltic provinces Of Russia. Peace now,
even though it be made on the basis of
the restoration Of the status quo with
out indemnities and without annexa.
TONS would be a failure to achieve the
great purpose for which the allies have
made heartrending sacrifices. Arma.
ments would continue for the next year.
and this war would have been fought
in vain.
He who proposes peace now, there.
fore' either does not see the stakes for
which the allies are fighting or wishes
the German military autocracy stin to
control the destnies Of all of us as to
peace or war Those who favor per.
manent world peace must oppose with
might and main the proposals for
peace at this juncture in the war.
whether made in sociaistic councils. i'm
pro-German conferences, or by Pope
Benedict.
Fight for Principle
THE allies are fighting for a prin.
ciple' the maintenance Of which affects
the future Of civilization. If they do
not achieve it, they have sacrificed the
Mower of their youth and mortgaged
their future for a century. The allies
cannot concede peace until they CON
quer it, When they do so, it will be
permanent. Otherwise they fail.
Germany alone is responsible for
the incalculable destruction Of this
war. She led on in the armament of
the world that she might rule it, She
promoted therefore the armament Of
other nations. Her system was fol.
lowed, though not as effectively, by
other countries in pure defense of their
peace and safety.
Intrigue, dishonor cruelty, have
characterized the entire military policy
Of Germany The rules of international
murderous submarine has sunk without
warning the non.combatant commercial
vessels Of the enemy and drowned their
officers their crews and their passen.
gers, men, women and children. Not
only has this policy been pursued
against enemy commercial vessels, but
also against neutral commercial yes
sells We find a German diplomat tele.
graphing from a neutral port to the
German headquarters advising that if
the submarine be used against the YES.
sells Of that neutral power it must leave
no trace Of the attack. In other words
the murder Of the crew must be com.
plete-'dead men tell no tales
Having violated the neutrality of
legations to that country and her people,
it Is now enslaving them by taking
them from Belgium and enforcing their
labor in Germany. This is contrary
to every rule of international law, and
IS in defiance Of the plainest princi.
pies Of Justice and honor. All these
things are done for the state. The
in
perate desire to win, has allowed no
consideration Of humanity or decency
or honor to prevent its use of anv
means which in any way could by hook
or crook accomplish a military purpose
Will End Military Power.
president Wilson says the allies are
fighting TO make the world safe for
democracy Some misconcepton has
been created ON this head. The allies
are not struggling to force a particular
form Of government on Germany Ii
the German people continue to wish an
emperor, it is not the purpose Of the
allies to require them to have a repub
lie. Their purpose is to end the mill
tary policy and foreign policy Of Ger.
many that looks to the maintenance of
a military and naval machine, with its
hair.trigger preparation for use against
her neighbors. If this continues il
will entail on every democratic gov
ernment the duty of maintaining a
similar armament in selfdefense, or,
what is more likely, the duty will be
wholly or partially neglected Thus the
policy Of Germany with her purpose
and destiny will threaten every democ.
racy. This is the condition which it
the determined purpose of the allies,
as interpreted by President Wilson, to
change.
"How is the change to be effected? BY
defeating Germany in this war. The
Germanys have been loyal to their EN-.
peror, because his leadership accords
with the false philosophy of state and
German destiny with which they have
been indoctrinated and poisoned A de.
feat Of the military machine must open
their eyes to the hideous futility of
their political course. The German gov.
ernment will then be changed as it's
people will have it changed, to avoid
the recurrence of such tragedy as
they have deliberately prepared for
themselves.
But now we are at a danger point
England and France and Russia since
1914 have been fighting the battle Of
the world and fighting for us in Amer