The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1918-07-26

ably brought the stereotyped answer:
Because you are trying TO get some
of the worlds foreign commerce."
Professor Small's observations recall
an actual plan for the invasion OF
the United States by German force.
published I'm 1901 by the German
War college itself. This plan, which
was contained in report entitled
Operations Ueber See" corporations
Beyond the Sea-. by Baron Won Ed
elsheim of the German general staff.
told how the Germans might cir
cumvent or destroy the United States
navy, make a landing on the Atlantic
coast, seize and ravage the larger cit
les, and exact a heavy ransom or in
demnity.
Actually Favored Invasion.
Baron Won Edelsheims report,
published with the official sanction of
the War college, contained the follow
ing significant paragraph, dealing in
no way with the problem mt hand. but
expressing an opinion that an attack
on the United States would and should
some day be made:
at Is principally with this nation
(America) that In recent years Ger
many has had considerable political
friction, the causes underlying the
same having, as rule, been of a COM
mercial nature, and the smoothing over
of which was uniformly due to Ger
many's forbearance in the premises.
UnquestiOnably the time will come
when there must be limit to all such
forbearance on our part In matters of
this kind, in which case we shall find
ourselves confronted with the ques-
ton as to what means of force we find
at our immediate disposal to combat
the encroachments by the United
states against our interests, and in
this case, IL necessary, back up sue
cessfully our demands with force Of
arms"
German plans for conquest in Eu-
rope are now well known. Most Amer
leans now realize that Germany forced
the war that she might extend her do
minions from the Baltic to the Persian
gulf. and from the English channel to
the Black sea. Germany knew that
such war of conquest would be cost
ly. She knew that ravaged territories
would not be Immediately able to pay
the cost of it. She knew that defeat
ed enemies, despoiled of their choicest
possessions, and with their man power
dead or crippled. would never be able
to meet indemnities of sufficient size
to reimburse her.
To Make v. S. Pay.
So what did Germany do? She
calmly made plans to force the United
States to pay huge indemnity to de-
fray the cost of the war. She was
not then at war with this country, but
German official newspapers were pre-
pairing the people for war by arousing
their hatred of America in regard TO
the sale of munitions to the allies. |
In view of all this evidence can there
be any question as to why the United |
States Is in the war? Can anyone |
doubt for moment that an attack on |
the United States was planned as the |
next step after victory over Germanys |
enemies in Europe? Can anyone think !
that this hostility was due solely to
Americas attitude in the present con
flict, after reading the evidence taken |
years and years before anyone on this
side of the Atlantic ever dreamed of a
world conflict? Can any loyal Amerl- |
can talk of peace ON any terms other
than victory so complete that Ger
many, for all time TO come, Will never |
be in position TO revive her dreams |
of conquest and ruthless world do
minion?