Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-10-31
Why We Fight
Because German Lust of Conquest
Menaces in Many Ways Our
Very National Existence
BY CLARENCE L. SPEED
Secretary of the War Committee of the
Union League Club of Chicago.

secretary OF the w az SOIllulltCe VI (LO
Union League Club of Chicago.
ANY one of the reasons why we are
at war with Germany, mentioned in
previous articles of this series, would
be sufficient justification for this ma
ton taking up arms. Only extreme
patience, coupled, often, with complete
failure to recognize the seriousness of
the German menace to America and
the world, kept the United States out
of the war for nearly three years be-
fore It finally decided to join IN. In
fact justification for war with Ger
many existed years before the conflict
in Europe was begun.
It has been shown that Germany,
fer years, had been plotting within cur
borders, encouraging immigrants to
became citizens and at the same time
remain faithful to the kaiser. She
filed 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, it has been shown
that Germany's doctrine that might
alone is right would menace the very
Independence OF the United States just
as surely as it 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 Worlo
In half by her creation of a Mitteleu'
ropa, extending from the Baltic almost
to the Persian gulf, was planning to
devour the halves separately. The fact
that our half of the world was being
reserved for dessert was all the more
reason why we should enter the wal
while q part, at least, Of the other hall
was still making resistance.
Finally, when the collapse of Russls
revealed the fact that Germany Waf
fighting. not a war Of self-preserVa'
tiop, but one of conquest pure ana
simple, and that the freedom OF the
entire world was menaced, any ques'
ton of why we are fighting seemed
superfluous.
The military party in Germany start
ed the war because 1t believed the Time
ripe for conquest.
Proof that ambition, and not consid'
Grafton of it's own safety, prompted
Germany to begin the war is given by
the fact that Serbia and Belgium, two
HELPLESS little nations, were the hrs1
attacked.
Germany had under no compulsion
signed a solemn treaty to protect the
neutrality of Belgium. When she
branded this treaty "a scrap OF paper
she gave proof that all her treaties
would be so considered when her In
terests demanded. In other words
Germanv's invasion of Belgium meant
the tearing up of every treaty WhIcn
existed between Germany and other
nations. It was ample justification FOL
America going to war at that moment
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 a government existed
in It.
Then came Germany's conduct OF
the sea. With her battlefield cravenl!
| seeking shelter behind the defenses O
| the Kiel canal, Germany sent out he
submarines and began a war on IN
! armed merchantmen. Women and chill
dren were her victims. American c1tl
zens by the score went down to dealt
| on the Lusitania. The United State
made protest, and Germany promised
to mend her ways. This she did, TO
a time, until she could build fleet 0
bigger and better submarines. and thel
her pirate sea warfare broke out Wit
fresh vigor. How could we keep gu
! Of war when Germany, after ruthlessi!