1917-05-01 — Page 7

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 16t, 1917,

ROOSEVELT SCORNS DEBATE," AND THE SEA GAVE UP AGAINST SECRET MISGIVINGS. | Egotistic and altruistic motives are en-

WITH BRYAN.

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS A NON-

DEBATABLE QUESTION.

THE DEAD"

in the Netherlands in the sixteenth cen

BY ARNOLD HENNETT,]

The time of trial is getting, asorer, I do not agree with the statement forth by Germany and enthusiastically

tangled together so that they cannot he disentangled-as in his heart everybody knows who has assisted at municipal politics in oven the smallest town. And national politics are not essentially dif ferent from municipal politics. If the

essentially different from municipal

would be fewer misgivings and much essentially different from men, there less righepus indignation and ridiculous lamenting

GERMAN TREACHERY.

"Many, I dare say, reading almost daily of German perifdies, pillagings, In a letter which expressed with, the and atrocities, must sometimes think of endorsed by her British, admirers that public would only comprehend the utmost frankness his contempt for the the Duke of Alva and his Spanish soldiers Germany is stronger now than over she truths that national politics are not doctrine of peace-at-any-price, Colonel

was; and 1 think that military critice Theodore Roosevelt recently curtly put writes Rev, Alexander Robertson, who insist on the increase in the number Politics, and that statesmen are not

tury Aside as unworthy of serious consideration of Venice, in the Scotsman of German divisions without insisting an invitation to debate the advisability. They, tro, were what Mr. Morse in on the Lact that German divisions are of preparedness with Mr. William JONAS Bryan, former Secretary of State his book, An Englishman in the Russian smaller than they used to be ought to he calls, the Germans an organis taken forcibly out of Fleet Street and d hand of criminals, a trained body of put to work on the land Forty milf thieves and murderers, The Germans to try critics would not convince me the day are over-running much of the sanie a military mashine which has sustained country as they did, and, like them, they over four million casualties is stronger * Gentlemen—I cannot accept your pro-are deporting and massacring unarm than it was before. There is only one

posal of the 21st because regard it as mich, insulting and abusing

om military machine which in actual and a waste of time to debate nou debatable mutilating children, destroying historistential strength has improved during subjects. To debate with Mr. Bryan his buildings, and looting and burning evely-

last eighteen months that is the views against national preparedness were with savage cruelty

British military machine. Nevertheless

The letter was addressed to a group of pacifists comprising the Congress of Forums of 13, West Eleventh Street and was as follow [--

Ranke

KAISER AS SPY AT VENICE.

would in my judgment, be precisely on and the Kaiser and his War Lords the approaching trial will be extremely latively brilhant and able men; but then

a

The ineficiency and self-sucking mankind in general and of a country in particular must necessarily be reflected in the government of that country. The Government of the country in which you and I happened to be interested is certainly more efficient than the vast bulk of the homer and businesses of the country. It has one or two super-" par with debating the undesirability of monogamous marriage, or the morality of like the Duke of Alva and his Generals, severe; it will startle, shock, intimidate these men are faced with superlatively abolishing patriotism or the advantage have shown themselves adepta in decepit will inflict both grave physical and difficult tasks The Government may of the reintroduction of slavery, or the tion and lying. Only, I am afraid, Alva disturbing. In the midst of it we shall level of efficiency. On the other hand, grave moral damage; it will be acutely not rise very high above the general right of judges to accept bribes from and his Generals must yield the suitors

of submission, to, the the Emperor and his War Lorde, for be more than ever the inspiration and it will not fall below that level. The divino

the succour of our Allies. We shall need final directive influence is not an in-1 ht of kings, of the propriety of whilst the former deceived a few right of action such as that of Benedict Arnold. the latter have deceived and betrayed fortitude, just as we need money, not dividual influence, but the immense, un- At different times in the development every nation on the face of the earth with only for ourselves, but for our Allies, cecapable influence of the political com- of mankind practices such as all of these whom they had dealings and did so whilst By the end of July we shall have lived mon-sense of the public, which is have actually obtained in certain societies, professing towards them the sincerest through some terrife moments, and the stronger than any individunt impulse. and have been defended by men of good Friendship and good will. a national supply of œlf-confidence will Through the forms of semi-antocratic intelligence. But every society that has Italy e conspicuously amongst these have been put to some strain. Therefore authority we are really governing our- advanced to the grade of morality and demiven and betrayed nations. For years we ought to produce and store up self- solves in this war. Any ambitions, states- civilization necessary for the acceptance; before the way the Kaiser came regularly confidence just as we ought to produce man, or group of statesmen, who per of the ideals and spiritual leadership of each spring to-Venice with a large sure, and store up food and munitions, asistently ignored the true seal of govern-

-ment, · would quickly come to grief,

Washington and Lincoln, has done so only

when he met, at the homes of his Indy

by treating as axiomatic, and therefore friends, Italien naval and military autho- as no longer debatable, certain great ritics. Ostensibly his visits were the out- truths, such as the need of a clean come of admiration and love of Italy, but standard in domestic relations, the wrong in reality, like those to England, were of slavery, the iniquity of corruption in made for spring purposes. And all this paredness which is itself the handmaiden public servants, and the high duty of pre-when Italy was a member of the Triple

SUCH A DEBATE USELESS.

·

A TALE FROM THE "And

RIGHT AND WRONG THINKING

Now I feel sure that much undue

|

CLASS" MISUNDERSTANDINGS, disquietude and apprehension among

(2) About, reaction. In a country so moderate people concerning both the ridden by class distinctions as ours is, Alliance on ADRIATIC mentary acts of human nature; it is ually been getting the better of another immediate and the distant future is due reaction is bound to be an affair of class to failure to grasp some of the ele-It now means that one class had grad- of effective patriotism. If a private man commits bigamy, or if a judge renders a tecision for money, we treat that action another now the blue Adriatic reveals due to failure in psychology. I should class and that circumstances have arisen instance of German treachery divide the wrong ideas thus engendered favourable to the resumption of the not as a subject for debate; but as a mat- It could not rest till its waters had cast under three beads: (1) about Govern ideals and the powers of the latter. In ter for punishment. Yet the moral harm wrought by either wrongdoers is slight this German mire and dirtment inefficiency; (2) about reaction; (3) a state of marked change and, most of At midnight on May 3rd, 1918, Italy about the enemy and the world at large the nineteenth century was a state of compared to the damage done this nation declared war on Austria. On June 27th (1) About inefficiency. The Govern boy ngasibly to an even greater degree

marked change, as the twentieth will by the man who argues against the patria a kubmarine, measuring 120 feet long and ment is inefficient not specially this in a state of marked change the different tic duty of preparedness, as that patriotic some 14 feet wide, with a displacement of Government, but previous Governments classes inevitably misunderstand tach duty wasdvocated and practised by 300 tons, was launched at Pola, guing at ales. No single department of the Gor other. I count for the present purpose Washington and Lincola.

once to Brioni, a mountainous island off ernment is efficient. Quite true. But only two classes in Britain the class the letrian coast, famous as having up you have to remember that eliciency is with an aristocratic ideal, which I call plied the Venetians with most of the dehate the duty of preparedness, as atones of which their city is built. She relative term. It is ridiculous gloomily the old ruling class, and the class with the foundation for the performance of all flew the Austrian flag and was numbered to ask Why 28 the Government in a democratic ideal, which I call the other patriotic duty, is useless unless as UB 24. She had a crew of fourteen men. cfficient Why does it do thess things democracy u preminary, we undo this work of all She was built not to sink ships by tor which it ought not to do, and leave our greatest men of the past, dissolve this pedsing them, but to do so by placing undone those other things which, etc.,

The misunderstanding between these nation into dust and start at the begin minus in their routes. Early in July she etc. The answer to such a question two classes one determined to keep, the ning by deciding whether it was worth began her work. Across the mouth of the simply is that the Government is in other determined to dispossess lg very whic for Washington to have founded the Taranto Bay she laid a line of mines, efficient because it must be. Did you deep, and on the ruling elpas side it is nation, and for Lincula to have saved it. hoping to blow up the Italian war vessels expect the Government to be a sort of bitter. It is also comic. The other day If we decirle these questions in the frequenting that port. But the mine isolated and protected, arta which the lady who had been telling me that she armative, it then becomes mere silliness to debate whether it is worth whils to be sweepers detected them in time, and clear universal microbe of ineficiency cold had thrown up cantech work at stations sway. then a fun, and not penetrate? Why are you inefficient and that if the authorities expected her patriotic or whether it in a patriotic duty In Angust she returned to Taranto, Why is your home inefficient? Why are to get up at four am, in order to be at to prepare to defend the country which and again set her traps, and once more you continually complaining about in the terminus at 6 am, the authorities - WAS. founded and thus savod

the last years of the Bysantine they were detected in time, and swept up eficiency in your horse without making were greatly mistaken, this same lady the question as to whether its ing for a time mine-laying carried arms efficiency? How comes it that at your working class was not patriotic, much She then changed her mission, and, leav- any serious attempt to cure that in- took occasion to assert that the British citizens ought to prepare themselves to and ammunition from Cattaro to Bardia, age you don't know enough about your less so than the German or the French! fight in their ow

and accordingly the bellion of of the Arabs against Italy,

accepted. Serbian

in

yubject for undermite did bez Cyrenaich, to foment and feed the reown kady to be able to reep it in order?You can't argue with this kind of men-i Riyeantine Empire want to well-early in

deserved destruction,

ANOTERE POINT OF

1916, it became known that the why, through ignorance and slackness, tality. You can only daily contradict are you continually doing nets which | and change the subject. Which I did. and nesed on the doctrine now preached dured terrible and refugees, having are prejudicial to health, happiness, and

hardships and suffering by Mr. Bryan, and half her territory is their journey across the mountains of success Look back at the mistakes now under alien control. But every for Albania, were reaching in safety the Ad You have made not merely mistakes of ward locking and enlightened citizen of ria

riatic coast at Du

Durazzo, and that Italian detail, but grand mistakes of policy China is at present actively endeavouring ships wore being sent to take them on Admit how astonishingly, how criminal

prepare his country for both war and board at that port. Immediately U.B. ly blind you have been, at times, to pose, and it is only the more backward 24 censed her Cyrenaica mission, and was facts which were staring you in the face, among elderly Chinese reactionaries who busily engaged sowing the waters of the and which everybody could see but would now treat Mr. Bryan's thesis as Adriatic all about Durazzo with mines you a við debatable. Bryan esis

The unp

unpreparedness

ровед,

But the lack of appreciation is not peculiar to one class. The working einss and practically all Badicals show what I deem to be an unfair prejudice against tao, old fuling class. After all, this ruling class has something to aboy for

Bissell. It has Britain, to show and the

upheld by the ad- 4 FATAD MINE RECENTS AND INEFFICIENTS, British Empire to show. It must have ***But once again the vigilance, daring Again, is your business officient? If bad, and it must still have, tremendous qualities. I remember a general once

vocates of professional pacifism does not,

Is sometimes said, represent a high and endurance of the Italian minese, it is very exceptional, and you must gaying to me I've veen away doing

sweepers were crowned with success, and be struck by the inefficiency of Bar- although impractical ideal. It is pro- foundly immoral and in actual practice has not a transport was sunk During the been concl sively shown by the events of months of February and March, 1916 U.Brounding businuses. If the last few the work of the Empire all my life, and the last few years to inspire and aber the 24 seems to have had a sort of roving com proved that the business man is a Tiever been able to exercise a Parlia- months have proved anything they have the plection laws are such that I've commission of the meanest sins unt only hission to 50 heen, there, and everywhere better at the special business of governmentary vote. He laughed, without

about the Adriatic Italian coast. against our own country, but against the sow mines broadcast at every port, in the ment, is indeed perhaps rather consider the least resentment. The same general cause of international duty. American pacifism, throughout these years, has been hopes that some one would take effect. ably worse than the professional polisaid to me that if we hadn't had con- the timid apologist and potent

ally of

And at last one of them did. As she was tician-in other words, the man who has scription ho should have considered ruthless brutality of German militar much frequented harbour, she herself ernment. And there is nothing astonish. whether we won it or not! Fate has re- completing her nefarious work outside a devoted his life to the business of gov. that the war had been fought in vain, 18m, both when that militarism has been struck one of her own mines. A loud ing in that, Nor, by the way, is there stored real power to this type of man. exercised against small neutral nations explosion followed, the vessel was shen to anything funnier than the spectacle of like Belgium and when it has taken form break and bend at the centre, and quick a business man whose record is in the murder of our own men, women, ly she disappeared from view. and children, and in the dishonour of our

record of voluntary and forced liquida Hag.

tiona, litigation, desperate shifts, and mysterious reconstructions preaching the doctrine that the country ought to be run by business men.

TRIBUTE TO BOCK B BOOK,

THE SEA GIVES UP A U-BOAT.

"And now, after nearly a year, the sea has given up U.B. 24 and the dead that were in it, and at the same time disclosed

now very

But if this type of man is n prominent at the War Office and force ful in the Government the reason is that be maintained his interest in war throughout the peaceful years, whereas we did not. He has a right to be where Men who question the need of prepured

ho is, and we have no alternative but to ness would do well to read the noble book a tale of German treachery. Italy and Well, you are inefficient, your friends accept bim. His Britain may not be our of James Beck, entitled The War and Germany were not at war during the are inefficient, your and their businesses Britain, but it is a considerable Britain. Humanity. Mr. Beck is of German operations of this host, nor for some six and homes are inefficient. But you don't His ideals may not be ours, but he has descent, and comes from the peace-lowing months later he met her end in the lose much sleep about it. You are so ideals. He may be stupid but he is Moravian stock but he is an American, last days of March, 1016; Italy did not used to the inefficiency that you scarcely honest and he is not venal; he is and nothing else and, like every other declare war on Germany till Augast 27 notice it. When, however, you perceive capable of the glow of disinterested en- tun worth calling a man, dearly though of that year; yet this boat was not Aus he loves peace,

be puts righteousness trian at all. It was German. Its true precisely the same kind of ineficiency thusiasm. And if he stupid, his ahead of peace.

In one paragraph he designation was not U. B. 24, but L.U.C. in the Government, you are staggered, stupidity was not stupidity once; it is sutna up the most pregnant of the many 19. Its officers and crew were all Ger you are positively pained And you are only so because it is survival. This lessons this terrible war should hold for man. Its log states that it was built simply that you had made a new and much good and is still doing some good. alarmed. Your attitude would almost type does muoly harm but it has done, our people raying is gedies of his Bremen in 1915 in the shipyard of one

arc

Possibly half the

of history called Woser. Its first operations were awful discovery, the discovery of a dis. We should look very foolish without it due to military unpreparedness, and against England in the North Son. Then, ease, called inefficiency You never in the existing crisis. Of course, sooner in no way has the solemn warning of the a few weeks after Italy had declared way thought that businesses and homes wonla or later, wo shall have to fight it and Preacher been more strikingly illustrated on Austria, the put into Kiel. She was come to an end through inefficiency. In heat it, and it will then be entitled to Where there is no vision, the people there taken to pieces, her various sections businesses and homes you accepted in die out and gradually will die out, but perish Wales y T

put into

which on June 21st ar efficiency as a part of the customary that it is both natural and necessary, wagons,

in the meantime we ought to recognise When the Chosen People were tottering rived at Pola. There the vessel was re- phenomena of life. 4h you say. to their fall, they were deaf to the warn- constructed, and on the 27th, as I have Bat national government is different and that its historical justification is

of great prophete, even we said, crossed over to the island of

en-unquestionable. And, above all, we

salarics

day have been deal to the warning to cater spon her piratical ander durun. It is not different. The nation is an enought not to confuse it with the anob- aundered across the ocean A Salvationed as an Austrian submarine. She was clac Ah you say. But Ministers bery, the plutocracy, and the mere ras Army friend has recently called attention to

evidently prepared to put on other dis are different. Ministers are spesial por cality of journalism which kow-tows to Words of Jeremiah (xix, 31-9);

get you up flag on board.

French and a Greek ing an English, sons, specially chosen, receiving large it and in part lives by it. unto the wealthy ustion, that dwelleth Death found officers and crow all at

PASMARAN THE DEDRAL BY WAR without care, saith the Lord, which their posts, and bad overtaken them and-

PLACE AND POWER

(3) About the enemy and the world at have neither gates or bers, which denly, for they bore to traces of suffering. dwell alore, And their camels shall be The captain was in the conning tower, receive large salaries. The general this head, hecause the truth a self- Nothing of the kind. They don't large. Little needs to be written under a booty and the multitude of their cattle He had evidently perceived the danger manager of the Steel Trust would laugh evident. We constantly and most ab

their and had given the order Back full at the salary paid to the general surdly assume that British defects are calamity

We are a wealthy nation we dwell indicator to those words. But it was salaries go, Ministers are under paid otherwise. In all countries aristocracy without care and treat the fact that we too late, and in a moment they met their They are not different from you and me. or militarism, on the one hand, and dwill alone as a merit; and now we pro- tragic end. On the contrary, they are pathetically democracy, on the other, display similar po to debate the wisdom of having nei-But the of the vessel is not yet. ther gates nor bark while on all sides Fished up by the Italians to the light of like you and me, the bulk of them. A weakness and trouble. In all countries loom the ominious figures of the bringers day, she is turning a new leaf, and is few of them are exceedingly able still Governmenta are inefficient, and Ger- of calamity Assuredly alien foes will about to enter on an honest and upright fewer are exceedingly altruistic and many's is not the least inefficient. For make of us a booty and a spoil unless in life. She is being cleaned, repaired, and conscientious For the rest, some are very phenomenon which rouses appré time we show that we are not unfit to be refitted, and, like a companion enemy sub fairly good, some medioors, and the ro-hension in Britain, there is a correspond- the sons of the men who with iron courage marine raised many months ago from the mainder have got in either because they ing phenomenon in every other country faced the iron days; unless with fore bottom of the Adriatic off Venice, will were favourably born, or because you With modesty, and without arrogance, thought and resolute endeavour, before it soon take her place in the Italian Navy yourself were gullible and inefficient at we may say that we have some through is too late, before our doom is upon LB, to fight honestly in defence of the vessels the polling booth. Why call them place the ordeal of the war at least as well as we set ourselves to train our vast, but she sought formerly under falso colours to bunters? Who is not a place-hunter may nation, Germany's hatred of us is Burr soft and lazy, strength.

destray."

Would you refuse the chance of a place (Continued at foot of next column.)

spoil and I

from all side will bring had ginbo

nd

THEATRE TO-MORROW!

MAY 2ND,

THURSDAY, 3RD MAY

FREDERIC SHIPMAN

PRESENTS

THE FRENCH CANADIAN TENOR

PAUL

DUFAULT

Assisted by PAULINE BINDLEY, Sopran ERNEST EMISON, Fianist.

ROYAL.

ITO-MORROW'S PROGI SAME, Piano Solo...POLONAISE sharp Minor AriaDBILA VOCE UPPER TUNING

ERNEST EMPSON

Aria...SHE NEER BELIEVED IT TRUE (nan)

B. PAUL DUFAULT Songs. (a) A MEMORY

(b) WITCHES DANCE

SEREN ERNEST EMPSON Songs. (e) O LITTLE MOTHER OMINE

(b) TRAHISON

Chopin

Bellia

Thontis

Park

(b) YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY

Miss PAULINE BINDLEY Duet. I PARDON THEE (Romeo and Juliet

MISS BINDLEY AND MR. FF..

Inte cul.

Spross

Goanod

Piano Solos.......(a) POEM

Grieg

MacDowall

Nevin

Saltor

Jefferson

Phillips

"Sullivan

Songs . (a) REQUIEM

Homer

b) LE BAIS-TU

Massenet

(0) THE SECRET

Scott

PAUL DUFAULT

$1.

BOOKING

AT MOLTRIE'S.

1680

(6) COME TO THE GARDEN, LOVE. W

PAUL DUFA

Songs.. (a) MOTHER DEAT

(b) Heigh-ho the SUNSHINE

(e) POOR WANDERING ONE (Pirates of Penzance)

M1s8 PAULINE BINDLEY

PRICES

Laminado

THEATRE ROYAL.

FOR THREE

NIGHTS ONLY.

COMMENCING FRIDAY, MAY 4TH.

ENORMOUS ATTRACTION

MAURICE E. BANDMAN

PRESENTS

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONGKONG

THE WORLD-FAMOUS ILLUSIONIST

CHUNG

LING SOO

AND VAUDEVILLE COMPANY DIRECT FROM LEADING LONDON HALLS. PRICES AS USUAL. BOOKING AT MOUTRIE'S.

Grown on British owned plantations

a the British West Indian Island of Montserrat

Shipped in British vessels.

Montserrat

Lime Juice.

The finest health, beverader Warranted Ya British firm of world-wide renosen.

"Of All Storekešper

this question.

£595

953-

high efficiency and of our moral charac It appears to me the best proof both of our relatively

teristica The qualities which, triumph constancy bear these considerations in ing over the defecte, have brought us so mind during the coming months the con- far will carry 05 to the end. Why fidence and the solidarity of the race should they not? There is no answer to will be strengthened. – Daily News,