For forty years the swell-headed pan-germanists and the odious Junkers deliberately have educated the German people into this fearful war of attempted conquest. The millions of Germany smilingly kow-towed to the war lords and approved colossal annual expenditures in preparing for =this very war=! The man who says that the conquest of France and England was not ardently desired and deliberately planned by "the German people" is very ignorant of current history. Excepting a few Socialists, all Germany was ready "to the last gaiter button" on August 1, 1914, and feverishly eager for the war to begin! Was the great Kiel Canal built for commercial purposes? Not on your life! Every German knows that it was built as a means for the vanquishment of England on the sea; and one German friend who claims much inside knowledge has solemnly assured me that Germany had long intended to strike France and England just as soon as the Canal was finished. Never in the history of the world was any war ever planned and developed through so long a period, or with such loving pains and thoroughness, as Germany's present war. Its construction covered thirty years, and throughout that period German newspapers, lectures, books and speeches were full of it. It was taught to the children of Germany, for at least twenty years. For at least ten years the officers of the German navy had been drinking to "Der Tag,"--"The Day" when they would attack the British navy and crush it. * * * * * Bismarck was a very shrewd statesman, as well as a ruthless conquestador and a changer of telegrams. But he left Germany in peace and friendship with England and Russia, while William the Egotist, hungry to be the boss of all Europe, promptly estranged both. William alone created the Triple Entente! Outside the British Army and Navy, there were practically no British statesmen who realized the real trend of Germany's ambitions. That is why the outbreak found England without a powerful army. Let no American think for a moment that the press and the people of Germany were ignorant of what was coming, or opposed to it. The whole nation, Socialists and all, had become afflicted with acute megalomania, and a real elephantiasis of egotism. They thought that by being sufficiently prepared, and sufficiently treacherous and cruel, they could bring all Europe under the German heel, to toil forever in the German yoke. To-day even the German Socialists support Kaiserism; and while they vociferously are shouting for "peace," remember that =they wish only a German-made peace that will leave Germany in the saddle=! Let all other Socialists make due note of this.