The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-08-15
Andrew Beneteau, Student at
Kenyon College, Writes
For The Banner
AMERICA MUST BE
ALERT JUST NOW
United States Must Interest
Itself In The Affairs of
All Europe

MIR. Andrew Beneteau, Frencn Sol
der, sent by his government, at the
invitation of our government, to stud,
American ways, etc., and who is nov
a student at Kenyon college, Gambler
has written the Banner very inter
esting letter on "a French Soldiers
View"
The most remarkable part about the
letter is the fact that it is written il
beautiful English and fine penman
ship. When Mr.. Bencteau arrived a.
Gambler some months ago he was un
able to speak or write English.
Following is Mr.. Beneteau's most in
teresting article:
A French Soldiers View
Gambler, O., Aug. II, 1919.
Editor Banner:
Those who consider that the peace
conditions imposed on Germany are
too severe, should remember that
those which Germany declared her in
tention of imposing were infinitely
more so. They would in fact have put
the wohle world under the domination
of Germany.
Germany's hatred of France before
the war sprang not from historical
memories, nor from deep-rOoted differ
ences of mentality, of behavior and
customs, nor yet from a certain in
stinctive hostility of character, but
still more from the one fact, that
France whilst doing nothing to provoke
Germany, yet never responded to the
advances of the latter.
William II, supported by certain
party of his own, had long cherished
the idea Of Franco-German agree
ment with the express understanding
that France should become in some
way docile vassal Of Germany.
Doubtless Germany while appearing
to despise the degenerate, the rotton
French, took good care not to under
estimate the worth of the French SOL
dier whom she had put to the test at
Tunis Q3S1) Tonkin (1SS5), Dahorneym
Madagascar, China and Morocco.
The French army commanded by
German generals and obedient as do
cile allay to German commanders
would have been gauge of absolute
success to the Pan-German plan.
1t follows from this that every pro-
ject for peace imposed upon France
by Germany, had she been victorious,
would have entailed an alliance fore
ed upon the former-in fact she would
have become a German colony and
nothing more; and war of conquest
against the rest of the world would
have been begun by Germany, who
having the French army, commanded
of course by Prussian officers, togeth-
er with the English fleet under her
would have certainly had ev-
cry prospect of victory.
1t is not our intention to discuss
questions concerning the interior poll
cy of the U. S., nevertheless one can
not think otherwise than, that if Ger
many be permitted to repeat her at
emp of 1914 she may perhaps sue
coed.
The U. S. while obeying her gener-
Gus impulse, has, without conscious of
1t acted conformably with her own in
terests, while on the battle fields of
France and indefacable' page of his
tory was written.
Had the victory been German one,
France in few years would have
defacef the Kaiser's army REINFORCED
by French and Belgium troops and
supported by the English fleet, which
would be forced to join.
Certainly there is no danger at pres
ent, but it does not follow from that,
that America can safely disinterest
herself from European affairs.
No one knows what the future has
in store for uss but day may come
when the united strength of the Unit
ed States, France, England and Italy
will not be more than sufficient to
check German-Russian attack.
1t must not be forgotten that Ger
many turns her eyes toward anarchic-
al Russia and Austria, and that Pan
Germanism may succeed a Pan-Bol-
shevism, directed by Germany. which
will be nothing else than Pan-German-
ism.
Andrew Beneteau,
A French Soldier.