The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-11-22
Germany's Monstrous Conspir-
aey and It's Defeat by Forces
OF Civilization.
WORLD DOMINATION SOUGHT
Ameriea's Entrance the Decisive Fac
TOR in the Mighty Struggle in
Which Democracy rriumphsd
Over irresponsible Auto
cratic Miiitarism.
By EDWARD w. PIckARo.

domination. started the Great War.
Democracy. inspired with decency
and common sense, ended 1t.
An 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. for
though 1t was made by the military
glass of Germany. 1t was for the bene-
ht 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
Tad 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 WINS nothing less
than an enormous conspiracy to es-
tablish what the conspiratOrs knew as
"Mittel Europa" dominion extend
ing from the North sea to the Persian
gulf As preliminariss, 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
The Day"
Excuse Was Rsady-Made
Merely an excuse was needed to
ntcipitate the conflict. and this was
afforded on June 2s., 1914. by the as
sassination OF Archduke Ferdinand OF
Austria and his wife in Sarajevo. BOs-
mia, by Serbian. That this crime
was inspired to serve as pretext Is
eSidenced 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 2S de-
flATeu WIZ OH It's ntlBuboI. NusSihs 40
ally of and sponsor for Serbia, mo-
biiized 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 kaisers
armed forces got into action at once
The course of events so far had been
foreseen by the German high COM
mand and II was in accordance with
It's prearrmged 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-
eistance.
On August German troops entered
France at Grey and began moving
through Luxemburg. despite the spir-
Ited protests of the grand duchess.
and Berlin asked Belgium to permit
the passage of troops through that
country This was refused, the king
OF Belgium appealing to the powers
that had guaranteed the neutrality of
his Kingdom.
All this time Great Britain had
been striving to avert the outbreak OF
q general war, and Germany rested
complacently OH the Information OF
her spies that the British would not
enter into the conflict. But Berlin
reckoned without the British spirit of
fair play and faithfulness to treaties.
and when the kaiser tore up the
.SsIrap of paper" and invaded Belgium
Great Britain jumped TO the rescue.
Her mighty fleet was mobilized and
her army, pitifully small. began NOV
Ing across the channel. Then events
cafne with dazing rapidity. One af-
ter another the nations fell into line
against the Germans and Austro-Hun-
garians, but the Teutons were ready
and the others, except France, were
not.
The Invasion OF Belgium.
On August 5 began one of the most
shameful chapters in the history of
the world-the rape of Belgium. King
Albert and his heroic little army re-
sisted to their utomst. but the suppos-
edly impregnable forts Of Liege, Ma
mur and other Belgian towns were
spAedily reduced by the Hun cannon
and the land and its people were made
ca,tiyp.. The atrocities committed by
the Germans, officers and privates
alike, will remain blot on the name
Of Germany to the end OF all time.
The wbrld has been SO well informed
concerning those brutal crimes that II
il unnecessary to recapitulate them.
Having overrun all but a marrow
strip Of Belgium. the Hun armies De-
gan what Berlin fondiy\Selieved was
10 he triumphal march to Paris.
England's little regular army was
thrown across their path and fought
and died almost to a man. and side by
side with them the French POilus con-
s....a ,x ,,.v foot They we're pushed