AMERICA AND THE WAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 24, 26 March 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

AMERICA AND THE WAR.

TRUTH ABOUT THE PRO-GERMAN AGITATION.

(By BARRY PAIN in the London "Daily Chronicle.")

Everybody knows (that the United States of America is a composite nation, but the activities of one of its component parts are probably less known in England, and it may interest some readers to have a glimpse at the German-Americans. The threat has been made, of course, that if America ever gave active support to the Allies she would have to face civil war but efforts to inspire terror are probably not more effective here than elsewhere. The German is more dangerous as Pecksniff. Under the plea of a snowwhite passion for strict neutrality, Oer-man-American Congressmen might attempt to get America to alter the laws of neutrality in a manner which would injure the Allies and confer a great advantage on the Germans. They have already made this attempt. Their patriotism was characterised by an American newspaper as "felt rather toward the old countrv than toward that they are now officially bound to serve. The rebuke brought forth protests of singlehearted devotion to the United States. On December 15 the " New York Times " published a memorable leading .article, two columns in length, which was widely onoted in England and on the Continent. It began with the words: "Germany is doomed to sure defeat. It maintained that the world could not, and would not, let Germany win Under these circumstances, it advised Ger-man-Americans to let their friends in Germany know the real state of affairs, and to urge them to make peace. It may have been, as was admitted, a counsel of unattainable perfection, but the plea was well-reasoned and expressed with temuerance. What was the response of the German-Americans here? Herman Ridder, in the "Staats Zettung," claiming to speak for six millions or more of German-Americans, rejected the suggestions of the "NewYork Times" as an insult, and said that the German-Americans would send messages of encouragement to their native land. "England," he wrote, "is whimpering for help." He declared that Germany would win, and that he looked forward to the time when Germany would set her triumphal foot on the neck of the British lion. He added that with all German-Americans their devotion to the United States stood always first. It will be seen that in this last statement, as possibly m others, Herr Ridder's estimate may require reconsideration.

CHEERING THE KAISER. At a mixed meeting of GermanAmericans and men of the Cian-na-Gael in New York oil the night of December 17ti. tliere were no cheers for tbe Stars and Stripes or for the Government at Washington, but there was much cheering for the Kaiser. "When the "Wacht am Ithein" was played by the orchestra a reporter was assaulted with his sheathed sabre by a first-lieutenant of the Irish Volunteers because he had not stood up. At this meeting Mr. •Tamos Larkin denounced England, denounced Mr. John Redmond, and asserted that there were twenty million German-Americans and thirteen million Irish-Americans in the United States, and that if the thirty-three million would only act 'together they icould force the United States to do as they liked. This statement was wildly applauded. Undoubtedly, Mr. .Tames Larkin, his statements, and the incident generally, must be viewed in their proper proportion. But they certainly seem to convey some sort of comment on the declaration of Herr Ridder that in the hearts of all German-Americans devotion to the United States stands first. Herr Ridder is telling fairy stories — and he is not telling them to children. So, too, the whole of the pro-German agitation here must be viewed in its proper proportion. To say that it was sweepiug all America with it would be wild exaggeration; to say that it was without effect would be to belittle it just as absurdly. A pro-German Press with plenty of money, big circulations, able writers, a good news-service, and power to edit it, is bound to have an effect. In this country, far more than in England, a man is likely to read the newspapers of the opposite side to his own. He wishes to hear both sides, and to see how far partiality on either side is suppressing facts. The American is hungry for facts. Our suppression of any item of news, however good our motives for the suppression, annoys him. The announcement that no official war-news would be given out in London from 2 p.m. on December 2-1 till 11 p.m. on December 2-j was condemned here in the strongest possible terms by newspapers that have the friendliest attitude towards us. The best way to meet tbe pro-German agitation hero is by the prompt publication of facts, and by a wide dissemination of facts tabulated and collected from the commencement of the war. We cannot afford to let facts be forgotten, for in that case they will be supplanted. I am not suggesting a pro-British agitation here. Only the agitated agitate. Also, agitations lead -to a rancour which outlives it-' cause and occasion. I doubt if even the Germans hate the Englishman quite as much as many of the Ger-man-Americans hate him. On the Americans who have been lung here — the thoughtful and educated class—the pro-German agitation has bus little effect.

STR YXGE CONTRADICTIONS. But many—very many—Americana are already looking beyond the end of lids war. "This ought to be the last war," is a saying which I have heard very i'roijuently. .Mn.i Americans desire the peace of the world. Sonic believe it to he unattainable. Many moi'e differ as to the means by which it may he obtained, just as they differ as in the he>: means of ensuring peace for their own country. America offers strange contradictions. We know the hard-hea led business man, and we knov the sentimental and (.'topiaii dream; hip in this country the Utopian and sentimental dream may proceed from the Imrd-headod business man. or, at any rate, may enlist his considerable (support.

Any! hiii'.'; which rnav make the world belie- interests the American instantly. Me lakes a keen interest in eugenics. He i- hss free with Mich words as "crank" and "faddist'' than we are in the Old fountrv: given that a thing means well, he will look into il and see if soini ibing can be done with it; he would sooner got a disappointment than miss a chance. The horrors of Ibis war have ii!i;)i'C'sed him profoundly. America is helping the sufferer-: American women knil for tho soldiers v.hile thev are ]ist>ii> < to •oncerls: and Amoricn is also Ihinkiii". If a real movement for the pcaro of Ihe world is ever lo pome—■something which will gel hevond meaningless signatures tn negligible convention- the probability is ihat it will come from America. For if the American i- told that something is not practical, hj" is no) r."

sarilv discouraged: he is more likely to think out three different of doing it. This is the country of great inventions.