The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-08-08


It war with Germany. mentioned N
previous articles of this series, would
De sufficient justification for this ma
don taking up arms. Only extreme
pafiepce, coupled, often. with complete
failure IL recognize the seriousness OF
the German menace TO America and
the world, kept the United States out
Of the war fol nearly three years be-
fore it finally decided 10 join In. In
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed years before the conflict
in Europe was begun.
Ii has been shown that Germany.
for years, had been plotting within our
borders, encouraging immigrants to
became citizens and at the same time
remain faithful to the kaiser. She
filled our land with spies and agents
Of disorganization when. to all out
ward appearances, relations between
America and Germany. were OF the
most friendly character.
From evidence supplied by the Ger
mans themselves, ii has been shown
that Germanys doctrine that might
alone Is right would menace the very
independence Of the United States just
as surely as II destroyed that OF Ser
bia and Belgium, just as soon as Ger
many felt herself strong enough TO
make "A formal attack. German lust
of conquest knew no bounds.
Events OF the last year have proven
that Germany, having split the world
in half by her creation of n Mitteleu-
ropa, extending from the Baltic almost
to the Persian gulf, was planning to
deyUur the halves separately. The fnct
that our half of the world was being
reserved for dessert was all the more
reason why we should enter the war
while part at least, OF the other haif
was still making resistance.
Finally, when the collapse of Russia
revealed the fact that Germany was
fighting. not war OF self-preserva-
ton, but one of conquest pure ana
simrle, and that the freedom Of the
entire world was menaced, any Ques-
ton of why we are fighting seemed
supertluous.
The military party In Germany start
ed The war because IL believed the time
ripe for conquest.
Proof that ambition. and not consid-
Grafton Of its own safety, prompted
Germany to begin the war Is given by
the fact that Serbia and Belgium. two
helpless little nations, were the first
attacked.
Germany had under no comnulxon.
signed solemn treaty TO protect the
neutrality OF Belgium. When she
branded this treaty n scrap of paper.
she gave proof that all her treaties
would be so considered when her in.
terests demanded. In other words.
Germany's invasion of Belgium meant
the tearing up Of every treaty which
existed between Germany and other
nations. Ii was ample justification for
America going TO war ut that msment.
This did not spur America at the
time, but Germany's cruelties in Bel
GUM, surprising anything ever before
known in modern history. gave further
evidence that the world was not safe
as long as such government existed
in IL.
Then came Germany's conduct on
the sea. With her battlefield cravenly
seeking shelter behind the defenses OF
the Kiel canal, Germany sent out her
submarines and began q war on I'm.
armed merchantmen. Women and chill
dren were her victims. American citt.
Gems by the score went down to death
on the Lusltania. The United states
made protest. and Germany promised
to mend her ways. This she did. for
a time, until she could build q feet Of
bigger and better submarines. and then
her pirate sea warfare broke out with
fresh vtgor. How could We keep out
Of war when Germany. after ruthlessly
killing our citizens, deliberately closed
the sea to usf
German plotters and spHs, under
the direct leadership Of the German
ambassador TO this country. worked
almost openly, blowing up industrial
plants, sinking ships In our harbors
and menacing railroads and canals.
Germany, spurred by successes
openly began to announce plans fol
disciplinlng the United States. Shit
scoffed at the Monroe doctrine. and
tried to create German state II
Brazil which. In time would be stront
enough 10 bring about q revolution ant
overthrow democratic government
there.
BY her huge ornaments. her disre
gard of treaties, and her evident re
lance on force alone, Germany wal
rapidly making the world an unsafe
place in which to live. forcing all 9th
er nations to adopt the military sys
TEN. or be at her mercy.
The German ambition to force Ger
man kultur ON the remainder of thu
world was well exploited. Kultur, b
the German mind, was not what cul
ture Is to US 1t was the whole Ger
man system. of government, of com
mercialism and Of life. There wa
no place for democracy In worlt
which bore the stamp Of German kul
n - .s~w>