The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-19

give some attention to the warnings
Of our army and navy leaders and to
consult our experts gently? Isn't it a
peculiar and suggestive fact that Rear
Admiral NOLAN has taught sea-power
to- every nation except his ,own?' ..
H. The Causes Of the War -.
: "a great deal OF water has flowed
under the bridge since midsummer Of
l914; and, lest we forget, would like
to refresh your memory in regard to
few essentials. In the midst OF a be.
wildering mass Of information bear.
ing upon the war then on a certain
few vital facts which should stand
out like rabbits ears. ,3.. -
LET us not forget that the murder
of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand
and his wife by Serbians in Bosnia;
in 1914, was not the$real cause of this
war . 1t, was the pretext, merely. If
it had not been the Serbian incident
it would have been some other Incl
dent as it is now plain that Germany
and Austria were: ready and were in.
tent upon .precipitating war. After
deliberating upon the accident :. for
four weeks Austria sent to Serbia, on
July %, the now famous ten demands
couched in harsh and dictatorial
terms. The despatch was an ultima
tum and demanded compliance with
its provisions within 4S hours. need
not remind you that the demands
were hulniliating and such astno ma
ton could grant and still retain its
Independence. Furthermore no ra-
'tional discussion of the ten demands
could possibly take place in 4S hours.
The world was shocked and the mid
Summer calm broading over Europe
was dispelled. England France, and
Russia sought to have the time limit
extended. They failed. They then
urged Serbia TO make her reply as
conciliatory as her self respect would
permit This she did, She yielded to
the majority Of the demands and, Of
Tered in case Austria were not salts.
fled with her reply to refer the whole
matter to The Hague Tribunal or to a
conference of the Great Powers. This
was AN eminently fair proposition and
would have been accepted by any hon:
Est government not bent upon proyok-
ing war. 1t was, rejected, however,
arrogantly and contenlptuously, and
as we now know at the instigation of
the imperial German government
The Great War Was On.
Events, in that remarkable week,
followed each other, with bewildering
rapidity Austria began war upon
Serbia on, July '2Sth,, five days after
the ultinatum Russia modified for
the protection of Serbia and Germany
demanded that she demobilize within
twelve hours Russia ignored the de-
mand and the great war was on. ::
We should not lose sight: of the
circumstances under which we en-.
tered the Great War on the 9Th of
April, 1917. We did not enter the
war in a spirit of adventure. We are
a peaceful, not a militaristic people.
We had no false national pride. in, the
matter. We we're mot nursing. an of.
Tended honor such as impels a duel-
list to- offer battle. !. 1t was not, quib-
Bile over international Laws that caus-
ed us to take up. arms or even the
fragrant and PERSISTENT violations of
our rights; as a neutral nation. 1t
was not the shameless German in:
-trigue,t Irritating and Illegal though it
was, that, impelled US to war, 1t was
not for, commercial or territorial gain
or for. conquest in any form. Read
over carefully the fourteen. demands
in President Wilson'S. statement on
war aims: and you, will see that He
asks nothing for ourselves: 1T was
not because o,ir property had been
destroyed. and not entirely because
the lives: Of our citizens were being
sacrificed by an Illegal and inhuman
submarine warfare: Fundamentally,
and in the last, analysis we went into
this war for three reasons. In the
first place. being >chivalrols men who
love Justice and hate iniauity, (. we
could not. Stay oar hand when, funda-
mental human rights we're being br1.
tally ,aiM systematically outraged,
when WOMEN and children, were .dy.
ing, and When mercy and justice were
being driven out Of Europe. I'm. the
second ! place we took up arms be
cause that political liberty won at
Valley Forge and. Yorktown and that
democracy esta Jlished by Washington
and preserved by q Lincoln were In
danger Of; extinction n and iii3third
place we might, ais + we'll frankly all.
nit, tive took up arms In self-de.
fense. Let us mot delide ourselves
: ! I . - . III 81 .