Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-03-06

right through Belgium unhindered;
that she could soon be in Paris and
dictate peace there, as she did in 1871;
that England would not lift hand to
prevent her, and that she could, after
crushing poor France, turn eastward
and crush the Russians in the same
way, before they had time to defend
themselves. The plan was good one
except that it failed to work.
The Belglums won immortal fame
by throwing themselves into the
breach and at terrible cost staying
the invaders. England's insignific-
helped buttress up the French de-
fense-and the result was that the
German wave rolled up to the Marine
and was then rolled back.
Fifth. Germany's next mistake
was in proclaiming to the world that
she could in a few days blast out of
existence the French fortress of Yer
dun, and thus let the crown prince
make a triumphant march into Paris.
So boastful were they and so cocksure
of victory were they that many were
misled into declaring that Verdun
surely would fall. But it didn't. 1t
was bluff. The French on the con-
trary stiffened up their defenses and
pushed the invaders back.
Sixth. The Zeppelin warfare was
another failure. Vast sums were
spent on these giant airships and sew
eral hundred people-largely women
and children--were killed. The Ger
mans thus made good the title of
Huns" which their enemies had Civ
en- them but achieved nothing of mill
tary value-and many of their costly
Zeps were destroyed. Their introduc-
ton of poison-gas, though effective in
the way of killing, was poor policy
also because it verified the charge
that they were using barbarous meth
DDS.
Seventh. Their submarine war
fare, though effective in practical re-
suits, has also been a mistake be-
cause it too has placed Germany be-
yond the pale. She claims to be fight
ing for the freedom of the seas, yet
just at time when the United States
was practically taking sides with her
and demanding a peace which would
recognize that very thing, she kicked
seas closed and by making war
against the whole world-enemies
and neutrals alike.
RTltN-
ously from the beginning by thinking
she could defy public opinion and that
she was law unto herself. The leu
ton spies and agents in this country
have carried on regular series of
conspiracies against our industries
and our government. AS result her
diplomats were sent packing and the
the whole nation is now working hand
in hand with the allies to crush the
serpent.
The browning piece of German
militaristic asinity was the concerted
destruction of the engines of the leu
ton steamers interned in u. S. ports,
on standing orders from Berlin. Moth
ing could better reveal the low-mind-
ed and treacherous ideas which rule
the war-lords. But this time the joke
was on them. Our government has
fitted up these giant liners and other
German vessels and is now using
them to transport troops and supplies
to France.
The spirit of fear and meanness is
always overreaching itself and defeat
ing its own purposes in just such
ways. Whom the gods wish to de-
stroy they first make mad, and it does
seem as if the German leaders were
deliberately trying to carry out this
ancient saying.
Ninth. Germany used poor discre-
ton in linking up with Turkey-the
arch-enemy of Christianity and civili-
cation, which Europe has been work
ing for four centuries to get rid of.
AS the result of the first Balkan war
of 1913 the Turk was practically fore
ed back into Asia. But Germany could
not stand for the enlargement Of Ser
bia which resulted, for this closed
the door to the long-cherished scheme
OF Pan-German conquest in Asia.
Germany wanted Bulgaria to get
the bulk of the Turkish territory and
she backed up that country in turning
and falling on her allies. Bulgaria
and it was largely that fact which in
duced the Teutons to decide, in 1914,
on crushing Serbia, SO that their
dreams could be relied. They had
no idea that Russia, France, England,
and even their own triple alliance ally
Italy, would oppose them inthis plan;
but having entered on it they could
not back out. The result is that Ger
many has now pooled her fate with
that of Turkey and put herself in
company where she cannot expect any
mercy.
AS to the German people, they will
in any case survive, and they will
never again be ground under the iron
heel of a military despotism which |
drives them in droves to the slaugh- |
ter. They are the worst sufferers
from this militaristic demon, and for |
them we can have nothing but SYM
pathy.