Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-11

ably brought the srereotyped answer.
Because you are trying 10 get some
OF the worlds foreign commerce."
Professor Smatl's observations recall
an actual plan for the invasion Of
the United States by q German force,
published in 1901 by the German
War college itself. This plan. which
was contained in a report entitled
Operations Ceber See" Corporations
Beyond the Sea'), by Baron Won Ed
| etsheim of the German general staff,
told how the Germans might cir
cumvent or destroy the United States
navy, make landing on the Atlantic
coast, seize and rayage the larger cit
les ana exact Il heavy ransom or in
demnty.
Actually Favored Invasion.
Baron Won EdelShem's report,
published with the official sanction Of
the War college. contained the follow
ing significant paragraph, dealing in
no way with the problem at hand, but
expressing an opinion that an attack
on the United States would and should
some day he made:
at is principally with this nation
(America) that in rccett years Ger
many has had considerable political
friction, the causes underlying the
same having, rs rule, been of com
merciai nature, and the smoothing over
Of which was uniformly due 10 Ger
many'S forhcarance in the premises.
lnQuestiouahly the time will come
when there must be n limit TO all such
forbearanCe on our part in matters Of
this kind, in which case we shall find
ourselves confronted with the ques-
tion as 10 what means of force we find
at our immediate disposal to combat
the cncro0chmrnts by the United
states against orr interests. and in
this case if necessary back up sue
ccsSfully our demands with force Of
arms
German plans for conquest in Eu-
rope are now well known. Most Amer
leans now realize that Germany forced
the war that she might extend her do
minonS from the Baltic TO the Persian
gulf. and from the English channel to
the Black sea. Germany knew that
such war Of conquest would be cost
~. She knew that ravaged territories
would not be Immediately able to pay
the cost of 1t. She knew that defeat
ed enemies, despoiled Of their choicest
possessions. and with their man power
dead or crippled, would never be able
to meet indemnities Of sufficient size
TO reimburse her.
To Make U. S. Pay.
SO what did Germany do? She
calmly made plans TO force the United
States 10 pay a huge indemnity to de.
fray the cost Of the war. She was
not then at war with this country but
German official newspapers were pre-
pairing the people for war by arousing
their hatred of America in regard to
the sale Of munitions to the allies.
In View Of all this evidence can there
be any question as to why the United
States is IN the war? Can anyone
doubt for Il moment that an attack on
the United States was planned as the
next step after victory over thermany's
enemies in Europe? Can anyone think
that this hostility was due solely to
Americas attitude in the present con-
tlict after reading the evidence taken
years and years before anyone on this
side of The Atlantic ever dreamed of a
world conflict? Can any loyal Ameri-
can talk OF peace on any terms other
thhn Il victory so complete that Ger
many, for all time to come, will never
he IN Il position to revive her dreams
OF Conquest and ruthless world do
minunr