NO CHOICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 142, 15 June 1917, Page 5

NO CHOICE.

WHY AMERICA FIGHTS.

INSULT AND AGGRESSION.

GERMANY'S MORTAL FEAR. WHY SHE WANTS PEACE. (Received 1000 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 14. President Wilson, speaking at the Flag Day exercises, said:—" We are about to bid thousands, hundreds o,f thousands, perhaps millions of our men to die beneath the flag. The insults and aggressions of the German Government left us no choice. Germany's military masters denied us the right of a neutral, tilled our communities with vicious spies, attempted to draw our citizens from their ■allegiance, sought violently to destroy our industries, tried to incite Mexico and Japan against us, impudently denied us the use of the high seas, and repeatedly executed threats to send to death any of our people approaching the coasts of Europe.

" We arc not enemies of the German people; they did not originate this hideous war, and did not wish us to be drawn in. We arc vaguely conscious that we are fighting their cause as well as our own. They are in the grip of the same sinister power that has stretched its ugly talons and drawn blood from us. The. whole world is at war because of the grip of that power. The war was begun by Germany's military masters, who arc also 'masters of Austroliungary. They do not regard nations as peoples of like blood as themselves lor whom Governments exist, but merely as serviceable organisations which they could corrupt to their own purposes.

"It was easy to understand Berlin's eagerness for peace sine, the snare set by pc—:e had been the talk of the German Foreign Office for over a year. Little wns made public, but most private. They come t-o mc in all sorts of channels and guises, but never with teniis disclosed. Germany cannot go forward, and dare not go back. She wishes to close the bargain before it is too late. Germany's military masters 6ee clearly what fate has brought tliem. If they fall back or are forced back an inch their power at home and abroad will fall like a house of cards. It is their power at home that they are now thinking of more than their power abroad. It is that power which is now trembling beneath their feet, and deep (fear has entered their hearts. They have one chance to perpetuate their military power and politi<_.l influence. " If they can obtain peace now with the advantages they have apparently gained", they will be justified before the German people; their prestige will be secure; but if they fail their people will thrust them aside, and a Government accountable to the people will be set up in Germany as now in all great countries except Germany. If they succeed they are safe, and Germany and the world aTe undone; but» if they fail, Germany is saved and the world will be at peace. If they succeed we and the ' rest of the world must remain armed and make ready for the next step in their aggression, but if they fail the world may unite for peace and Germany may be of the union. One great fact stands above the rest; this is a peoples' war for freedom, justice, and self-government among the world's nations to make the world safe for the jwoplcs who live on it, and who have made it their own, the German people themselves included. We have (made our choice, woe to the men who seek to stand in our way."

Germany's purpose had long been avowed, hut it was considered by statesmen of other nations as the incredible dreams of minds detached from practical affairs. But Germany's rulers went forward, filling the thrones of tho Balkan States with German princes, putting German officers in the service of Turkey, developing plans for sedition in India and Egypt, and setting fires in Persia. Austria's demands on Serbia were a step in the plan to throw the belt of German military power and political control across the centre of Europe iuto the heart of Asia. Austro-Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and the ponderous States of the East were to become Germany's pawns. Austro-Hungary was to become part of the German Empire. The. plan contemplated binding races which could be kept together only by force, such as the proud States of Bohemia and Hungary, the stout little commonwealths of the Balkans, the indomitable Turks, and the subtle peoples of the East, who ardently desired undisputed independence, and could be kept quiet only by the constant threat of armed men, and then await the day of revolution. The Germans had actually carried the greater part of this amazing plan into execution. Austria was at their mercy; its people desired peace, but this was impossible until leave was granted by Berlin. The so-called Central Powers were but a single Power taking orders from Berlin, whose net was spread from Hamburg to the Persia.. Gulf.