Smyrna times., 1918-06-05
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE

Hohenzollern on their throne. The
French protested, Leopold declined to
accept the Spanish crown and Ma
poleon demanded that Prussia should
give her pledge that no prince of
Hohenzollern sh;uld ever become king
of Spain. Prussia declined to give
the pledge and it was telegraphed
from Ems that the French ambassador
had been publicly insulted by King
William, and it has often been as
serted that Bismarck, was the author
of the telegram whose purpose was to
make war with France unavoidable.
War was declared July 10Th and for
France it was disastrous. She lost
to Germany, Alssce and Lorraine and
paid a fabulous indemnity. The
forty-three years between then and
1914, were devoted by Germany to
systematic, careful and continued
preparation for war, and her military
experts produced literature glorify-
ing war, asserting its necessity on
biological grounds and proposing cam
paigns designed to disrupt the British !
Empire, destroy the Monroe Doctrine
and bring Deutschland uber allies. -
War Was Not Forced on Germany
'The truth cannot be too often, nor
too emphaticslly stated that this war
was not forced on Germany. In July,
1914, there was not a nation under
heaven that had thought of attack
ing Germany. We all remember that
when the war clouds were looming up
that summer dark and black, England
proposed a conference of the powers
concerned. in the interest of peace.
and that Russia, France, and Italy
accepted the proposed conference and
Germany would have nothing to do
with it; we all remember that the
Emperor of Russia proposed the Hague
Tribunal as a means of arbitration
and the Emperor of Germany declined.
War was necessary for the realization
of his plans, and he would have moth
ing but war. That plan was to estab
llsh broad belt of German military
power and political control across the
center of Europe and beyond the Med
iterranean into the heart of Asia.
"This dream" says President Will
son, chad its heart at Berlin. it could
.. have had a heart nowhere else. "
Germany lighted among the nations
this conhagration whose destruction
and horror and blOodshed were never
equalled in any war in the world.
! Germany's Lawless Use of Submarines
E "Having been challenged by Ger
] many, whose lawless use Of her sub
marines against the commerce of the
world resulted in the murder of at
a least 226 Americans, many of whom
q were women and children, our own
Republic has entered this war as an
active belligerent against the Central
8 Powers, and if we cannot today place
flags and flowers on the new made
!, graves of American soldiers, not far
,. from the battle line, ''some where in
|
!. them in loving remembrance, for they
n have given their lives, a splendid
ID sacrifice, "to make the world safe fol
ID Democracy. The service closed with
singing "The Star Spangled Banner,
J. and benediction was said by Rev. Mil
N ton McCann.
Veterans Hold Services at Graves
. Following the Community Servic,
the few remaining veterans of Gen
&c w. S. Hancock Post, No. %, G. A. R.
who had occupied the platform visitet
the cemeteries and held their usua
- Memorial Day exercises. From
thriving Post of twenty or more, tn,
number has been reduced to about fiv,
active members. Death has laid
- heavy hand upon the Grand Arm,
= Veterans in the past few years AM
- soon the Smyrna Post will be thinl
: of the past. 1t was plainly seen hoy
= impressed the veterans were of thi
=, fact as they marched in the Gem
eteries. Garlands of flowers wer
strewn and G. A. P. American fla
was put ON every veteran grave. Th
- usual salute was fired
Races Draw Crowd of 1000 or More
nd The matinee races at the Smyrn
re Driving Park on Memorial Day CAV
la good afternoons sport and wer
witnessed by a crowd estimated q
sr. about 1000. Four races were on tn
nd program and nearly every heat prove
q good contest. The track was
las good condition and some fast time ws
er. made, especially for so early in tE
of season. DR.. Frank Gardner Officiatt
M as Judge, and w. F. Keith and Ere
,yd Thomas were the timers. 7. Howal
Barwick managed the races for Il
ose Driving Park association. The 70
IL