The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-19
FACTS ON "WHY
WE ARE AT WAR"
Article Designed for Ameri-
can Soldiers Contains
Much Of Interest
PRUSSIA DEVELOPED
MILITARISM
Frederick William Is Called
Drill Sergeant of
Europe"

to be used at army cantonments in in
structing the soldiers on "Why We Are
at War;" and the facts are so interesting
that they should become known to the
civilian population as well. The article
was submitted by Capt. James M. Lang
ley, 18th company, l5lst depot brigade,
Camp Devens, Mass.
Designed TO aoquaint soldiers with
facts presented in a simple and logical
way SO that they may be equipped with
an adequate understanding of, ''Why We
Are at War"
In consideration of the democratic
principles for which our government
stands, it is highly important that the
issues and aims Of the great war be
made thoroughly understandable to every
fighting man.
We may not expect Americans to give
great enthusiasm and determined devo-
ton to cause they do not understand,
or to give wealth, sacrifices and life to
secure results they do not see.
The material offered has been grouped
under number Of subjects, all closely
connected so that II may be used as a
series Of talks in number Of instruc-
tion periods, or as one complete lecture.
Subjects.
/. How the Ideals of Modern Germany
Were Born in the Beginnings Of Prussia.
2. How Prussia Grows Through the
Use and Development of These Ideals.
3. The Triumph of Prussia.
I. The War Birth of the German En-.
pire.
5. The World Plans of the German
Empire
8. How Germany Started the Great
War.
Z The Inevitable Conflict of American
Principles with the Prussian System
s. How the United States Was Forced
Into the War.
0. Why the Victory of the Allies Must
Be Complete, and the Dangers of an
Early Peace.
10, The Truth About Germany's Atti-
tude Toward the United States.
II. How the Kaiser Rules Germany.
/. How the Ideals Of Modern Germany
We're Born in the Beginnings Of Prussia.
To secure complete understanding Of
the German peril, it is necessary to trace
the growth of Germany from her infancy.
The German ideal has been developing
for over 400 years. 1t started in the
little province Of Prussia, where the first
Of the present kaisers family ruled
Frederick William was the first Hohen-
xollern TO become an important king of
Prussia This ancestor Of the kaiser is
described in 1910 as being coarse, heart
less in the destruction Of all who stood in
his way, treacherous in all his dealings
and entirely devoid of refinement.
Strangely enough, such description may
still be well applied TO the present king
of Prussia.
1t was Frederick William who organ.
lied the first standing army and started
the present German military machine.
His army was the first draft army of
modern Europe. This king became known
as the drill Sergeant Of Europe and
the first great stickler for close order
drill.
This first Hohenzollern was ambitious
and planned a greater Prussia. Since his
neighbors were no more willing TO give
land away then than the neiehbors of
Germany are now, he proceeded to take
what he wanted by force He discovered
that great army offered the best means
Of force and he used his army to build
up his kingdom,
2How Prussia Grows Through the Use
and Development Of These Ideals.
The first important Prussian king left
his great army and the ideas for its use
to his son, Frederick Frederick as
boy had been more interested in the finer
things Of life than his father, but his
father broke his spirit by imprisonment
and cruel punishment until the boy was
willing to accept his fathers ideas of a
great army to be used in making
greater Prussia. This particular method
of instruction has been used as model
ever since to teach German children the
greatness Of the army and the growth of
their country over all other people.
Once sternly trsine& to his fathers
ideas, Frederick II. proved greater ty-
rant aud land-grabber than his father.
The rich land of Silesia was taken by
pure robbery from Austria, and in the
same way great slice was taken from
Poland in spite Of promises to the con-
trary.
Frederick's design for building up
Prussia at the expense of his neighbors
soon caused the great nations OF Europe
to form an alliance against Prussia. For
seven years this alliance tried to put an
end to Prussian designs Though sue
cess was near number of times for the
alliance the Prussians held on until the
allies became tired and were willing to-
make a peace, which left Prussia free to
continue her dreams of empire building
The only defeat Prussia ever suffered
was given by Napoleon and his French
armies, This defeat was Just serious
enough to teach Prussia that she must
have a larger army and be more thor
oughly organized for war, if Prussia was
to become a great world power. 1t was
at this time, in the early part of the 10th
century that Prussia began the great or
ganization which has made her so power
full. The present kaiser's grandfather
was then king of Prussia. Frederick the
Great and his ideas were taken as his
model of what king should be.
Prussia recognized her military sys-
tenn forcing every man to give the best
years of his life to active military train
ing, and keeping all men ready for in
slant mobilization. King William and
his willing and cunning prime
minister, forced through their tremen-
dous system of military training and war
taxation in defiance Of the peoples
wishes.
s. The Triumph of Prussia.
King William and Bismarck deliber-
ately planned to put central Europe un.
der the heel of Prussia. Their first move
was to put Austria, who was at this
time the leader in confederation of