GERMAN MEANS SPEARMEN, but the Romans _ nick- 
named them “the people” because of their assertiveness. 
And the Irish were the first missionaries to the Germans, 
we are told in history. ‘There is a legend that the early 
Germans assembled and paid pagan reverence to a druid 
oak in German Hesse. Boniface, unattened, strode into 
the gathering and rested not until the oak lay prostrate 
and its magical martial qualities disproven. Generations 
pass, but human folly only chi inges its forms of expres- 
sion. German’s modern paganism has been the worship 
of militarism. Now a modern Boniface must do his 
work. 
SHREWD JAPAN Has Mang a Move that increases 
her power and involves her for the first time in European 
politics. The ultimatum which has been served on Ger- 
many fails to give England any advantage in the event of 
a triumph of arms. Japan plainly stipulates that Ger- 
many must cease war in the Pacific or surrender the 
leased territory of Kiauchau to China. This surprising 
announcement will serve to remove Germany from the 
coast of Asia and casts a sop to poor China. It places 
Japan in the remarkable position of fighting with an ally 
of her late enemy Russia to restore to China, who cordi- 
ally distrusts her, a peninsular of land wrested from hex. 
Japan also has her ambitions, maybe. 
THE STRAITS OF DARDANELLES have been made neutral 
by international treaties. The war vessels of all nations 
have been forbidden to pass. Now Russia demands a 
passage for her Black Sea Squadron of war vessels. The 
fleet there can then sail the high seas and join the fleets 
of the French and English to engage the German squa- 
dron or to harass the commercial vessels. If Russia’s 
demands are satisfied of if Russia obtains her desire by 
conquest, a new turn has been made in the history of 
Southern Europe. 
NatTIoNAL CONSISTENCY is hard to maintain. It is 
altogether fitting and proper that the United States should 
avoid even the appearance of evil. To permit a loan to 
France would be a violation of the spirit, at least, of true 
neutrality. But the purchase of the Hamburg-American 
lines for twenty millions means that just so much more 
money will be available to Germans to finance the war. 
Where does true neutrality end and belligerency begin? 
THE Russo-JAPANESE War revolutionized the news 
methods of warfare. Now secrecy enshrouds all mililtary 
movements of importance. ‘The days of publicity in war- 
fare have gone. It has its advantages beyond the secrecy 
given the contesting parties in their military manoeuvres. 
Or Coursk THE Katser did not declare war; but the 
Reichstag must bear with him the present responsibility. 
It matters but little whether it be Kaiser or Reichstag 
It remains certain that the militarism of Germany is on 
trial before the martial forces of Europe. 
THe FrieENDLY BaseBaLt Contest in Manchester 
last Saturday which resulted in a victory for the visiting 
team from Bevery Farms was well-earned and was a_ 
hard fought victory. The: game was played fairly and 
honohably and the conduct of the players and spectators 
was admirable. It is hard to estimate the amount of good 
that is done by a clean outdoor game. Manchester will 
face the Farms again tomorrow and it is certain that the 
game will be more interesting than the one last week. 
PoLtanD 1s Bernc ConciriATED in this strife by a 
promise that appears attractive to them. Divided as it 
has been into Austrian, Russian and German Poland the 
Poles have always been discontented, desiring, but never 
being able to acquire national independence. The prom- 
ise now ought not to be too attractive in view of the 
fervent promises of independence made before the Na- 
poleonic wars. When these wars were ended in what 
way had Poland gained? 
THe AUTHORITIES IN WASHINGTON have been none 
to quick in their investigations of food prices. There is 
nothing unreasonable in the sudden rise in the price of 
sugar and rubber and goods which require either of these 
articles in their manufacture, but the general rise in prices 
without reason is a deplorable illustration of the selfish- 
ness of human nature. 
HoitiAND HAs Snurewpiy Brcun to mobilize her 
forces along her frontier. And why not? It is evident 
that Germany sought to find an uncontested route to the 
north of France and a port for a naval base of supplies. 
If Germany fails of her purpose is she likely to respect 
the neutrality of Holland any more than she has re- 
spected the neutrality of Belgium? 
In tHE War News GAME the evening papers have 
the marked advantage over the morning papers as the ~ 
evening editions of the paper are published in time for 
the press to gather in the happenings of the European - 
day which ends many hours before our own. 
Piucky LarrLe ‘SwitzERLAND hemmed in on every 
side by martial conflict is not in an enviable position. 
Uncle Sam ought to pay his debt to the progress the little 
nation made in republican government by reaching down 
deep into his pocket and making a generous loan. 
Ir THE Cape Cop CANnaArz, is to blame for the fogs on 
the Massachusetts coast then the Panama Canal must have 
been the cause of the Russo-Anglo-Franco-]apanese-Ser- 
vian-Austro-Germanic War. 
AMERICA IS PAYING ITS SHARE of the war expenses 
in the increase cost of living. 
Tur Nations oF Europe have taken a surprising in- 
terest in mining operations. 
