Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-09
ARMY OF SPEAKERS
TO STIR WAR SPIRIT
National Conference Trains
Men and Women for Stump
Campaign

American lecturers, called to lay plans
for training men and women to lead in
struction on how to win the war are
holding "A national conference here Ses-
sions will last throughout the week and
the names Of many persons Of national
rcpute appear on the program as
speakers.
The delegates represent the lycoums
and chautauquas Of the United States
and Canada, Government departments,
the Red Cross, the women's committee Of
the national council Of defense, State
boards Of education, chambers Of COM
mercc, societies in the speaking di-
vision OF the committee on public in
formation and the national committee
Of patriotic societies
The opening session Monday was given
over to a discussion of the world at
war" On the program for addresses
were NJ. MichailovitCh. the Serbian min
ister; NJ. DeCartier, the Belgian min
lister, and the Earl Of Reading, British
ambassador.
George Crecl, chairman of the COM
mittee on public information. replied in
d SpttCll 10 tllllCS OF lllt ADMINISTRATIONS
Those who criticize the use Of broom
sticks in training our armies are not
seeking to win the war" said Creel
| They are trying to win other campaigns
at later date
$4,000 AirpIancs a Dream
Mr.. Crcel declared it would he inn
practicable for the nation even to dream
Of sending $4,000 airplanes overseas
'The Liberty motor is 10o per cent
perfect he said, and in a week ample
| proof will be given Of this fact"
/ NJ. DeCartior, the Belgian minister,
| told of the efforts of the German con-
| querors to ALLEVIATE the population of
| FLANDERS from the rest of Belgium. The
IattemTt, he said, served only 90 arouse
| a stronger national unity Alludtng to
! the violation Of Belgium's neutrality,
| NJ. DeCartier declared:
| Germany offered us a shameful bar
! gain. d, She offered to spare our COun-
! try and indemnify us If we would let
| her pass through to accomplish her
| crime against our neighbOr and her
| neighbor, France. She wished to make
| us an aCcomplice in her crime and she
gave us twelve hours In which to make
up our minds. That was eleven hours
and ffty-nine minutes too much, We
spurned her base Offer
Says Serbia Did Her Best
Minister Michailovitch. OF Serbia de-
! clared his nation made every effort
suffered every humiliation in order to
avoid the present war.
"When on the 23d Of July, l91i," said
/ the minister. Austria addressed "a
1 Serbia the well-lNnown ultimatum, my
| country knew that powerful neigh
| Dor desired war But she also knew
/. that this war would set fire to the
! whole Of Europe She therefore decided
| to make every concession in order tC
| avoid this tremendous conflict.
Serbia consented to imprison inno'
cent people. to discharge from the army
| officers who had committed no crime, &c
| suppress patriotic societies, to Offer
i apologies for deeds of which no one II
Serbia was guilty, to revise the program
of her schools and even to change the
paragraph of the constitution in order
to be able TO suppress liberty of Speeci
| and OF the press as demanded by
Austria Hungary"
The minister declared that Serbia ac
ceded to demands which amounted L
the imposition on her people of a re
dictionary system Of government, there
by submitting 10 the greatest humilia
tion for an Independent State"
The Central Powers, said the minister
viewed with much concern the entry o
the United States into the war be
cause their new enemy does not thrcateI
| them only with its military force, bu
also with the strength Of the just princi
pies il represents