Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-11
FORMER PRESIDENT DELIVERS
FIRST OF SERIES OF ADDRESS,
Es TO NATIONAL ARMY MEN
PEACE NOW WOULD SPELL
FAILURE OF WAR AIMS
Sacrifices Of Allies Would Have Been
In Vain-Gernany Held Responsible
for IneaieuIabIe Destruction-ln-
trisue, Dishonesty and Cruelty Char.
aeterize Military Policy of Huns.

| Fort Riley, Kan, Feb. 1.-THE part
which Americans must play in the war
was discussed here late today by ex-
President Taft in the first OF series
Of addresses which he is to make at
training centers in the central depart
ment of the army under Y. NJ. c. A.
auspices. Mr.. Taft arrived here from
Camp Pike and was escorted at once
to his waiting audience of soldiers.
He 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 Roumania, Poland and the
Baltic provinces Of Russia. Peace
now, even tho it be made on the basis
of the restoration Of the status quo
without indemnities and without an
neXations,' would be failure to
achieve the great purpose for which
the allies have made heartrendering
sacrifices. Armaments 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 still to
control the destines Of all of us 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 socialistic councils, in pro-
German conferences, or by Pope Bene-
| dict.
1.-THE allies are fighting for a princi-
pie the maintenance Of which affects
the future of civilization. If they do
NOT achieve it, they have sacrificed the
flower Of their youth and mortgaged
their future for century. The allies
l'cannot concede peace until they con-
quer 1t. When they do so, it will be
permanent. Otherwise they fail.
Germany Responsible.
| 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 tho armament of
other nations. Her system was fol-
lowed, tho not as effectively, by other
countries in pure defense of their peace
and safety.
Intrigue dishonor cruelty, have
characterized the entire military poll
cy Of Germany. The rules of inter-
national law have been cast to the
winds. The murderous submarine has
sunk without warning the non combat
ant commercial vessels Of the enemy
and drowned their officers, their crews
and their passengers, men, women and
| children. Not only has this policy
been pursued against enemy CONNER
cial vessels. but also against neutral
commercial vessels We find a Ger
man diplomat telegraphing from a
neutral port to the German .hea dquar-
ters advising that II the submarine be
| used against the vessels Of that neu-
trail power 1t leave no trace Of the at
tack. In other words, the murder Of
the crew must be complete-'dead men
tel no tales
Having violated the neutrality Of
Belgium, having broken it's sacred OBJ
legations to that country and her peo-
pie, 1t Is now enslaving them by taking
them from Belgium and enforcing
their labor in Germany. This Is con-
trary to every rule of international
law. and Is in defiance Of the plainest
principles Of Justice and honor. All
these things are done for the state.
The ruling caste in Germany, in its
desperate desire to win, has allowed
no consideration Of humanity or de-
cency or honor to prevent It's use of any
means which In any way could by hook
or crook accomplish military pur,
pose.
Aims Of tho Allies.
president Wilson says the allies are
fighting to make the world safe for
democracy Some misconception has
been created on this head. The allies
are not struggling to force particular
form Of government on Germany. If
the German people continue to wish an
emperor, 1t Is not the purpose Of the
allies to require them to have a re-
public. Their purpose is to end the
military policy and foreign policy Of
Germany that looks to the maintenance
Of military and naval machine, with
Its hair trigger preparation for use
ues 1t will entail on every democratic
government the duty Of maintaining
a similar armament, IND self defense
or. what is more likely the duty will
be wholly or partially neglected. Thus
the policy Of Germany with her pur-
pose and destiny will threaten every
democracy. This in the condition
which 1t is the determined purpose Of
the allies, as interpreted by President
Wilson: to change.
BY defeating Germany in this war. The
German people have been very loyal
to their emperor, because his leader
GAERT minis