Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 248, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1914 — FATHER HORDEMAN GIVEN RECEPTION [ARTICLE]

FATHER HORDEMAN GIVEN RECEPTION

Catholic Priest at Frankfort Declares Germany Tried to Avoid : Conflict of Arms.

The Frankfort Morning Times of last Wednesday tells of the reception given Father William B. Hordeman by his parishioners after his return from Germany and other European countries. The article is mainly devoted to an interview with Father Hordeman in which he tells of the conditions leading up to the war and expressed the belief that teeriiiany tried to avoid the armed conflict. In part the interview is as follows: When interviewed by a Times reporter last night Father Hordeman told of the war from a point of view that has never been published here and stated that on his arrival in the United States several days ago, he soon learned that this country was not receiying the war news as it is given to the people in Germany and Russia. He also stated that while making a visit in England, he soon learned that many of the real and most important facts of the war are being kept secret from the English and French people through the censoring pf all war news before it is given to the press for publication. The reports of the w r ar as given to English, French arid American people through the press, the priest stated, are from a strict British and French point of view on one side of the fighting line and that of the Russian side from the other seat of war.

That the public, especially in America, is being kept in ignorance of the true German story in regard to the war, is a fact, the priest asserted. Although in this country, he stated, people have been led to believe that Germany forced the other nations composing the allies into a war, to one who has been in Germany prior to and at the time war was declared, it is knowh to be a fact that the Germans did not want war and were hopeful until the last that the difficulties could be settled without a war or force of arms.

He admitted that Germahy was armed and prepared for war but stated that the preparations had been made only for a move on the defensive following the action of Russia, which had sent large armed bodies toward the boundaries without cause hut apparently intent upon invasion. Rev. Hordeman stated that the German army was then augmented and While fully armed, the great body* of soldiers only lay in wait and held no intent other than acting on the defensive it necessary. “What do you believe the real cause of war to be and do you believe from what you have seen and heard in the old country that the murder of Prince Ferdinand and his wife had any real effect in precipitating the war in which the European nations are now involved?” asked the reporter. To this Rev. Hordeman made a direct reply, stating that in Servia portions of Austria and other parts of European countries, large settlements of Russians had occupied and owned land. Being of Russian nativity and being of the Russian speaking people the mother country believed that these people should he under her rule and was only waiting for an opportunity to find an excuse for invading and, if possible, taking the land from under Austrian rule.

Then, as another cause, he stated that England, almost as far hack as history goes, has controlled and been recognized as the mistress of the seas and the leader of commercial business. During the past twenty years or more Germany has fast been gaining power upon the seas and has gained a high rank in the nations leading in the handling of commerce among the nations of the world. »

Hoping to retain her place as the mistress of the'seas as well as being the leader and controller of commerce with all nations, England has long desired an opportunity to cripple Germany to keep that nation from taking the front rank as the controller of the seas.

On August 2, the German cable was cut, leaving the Germans without any manner of communication with this country except through the English cable and as a result he claims that American people hear but pne side of the story. In speaking of the causes of the war he said it is his belief that Russia and England had long waited for an opportunity to engage Germany in a war and that if the murder of Prince Ferdinand and his wife was not a conspiracy to engage conflict.

In Germany the people are quiet and buisness has been hampered only to a small degree. The harvest was easily handled by the men at home and none of it was lost by lack of men in the harvest fields. The German army, In the field, Rev. Hordeman stated, is not composed of any ways near the number

of available men and if necessary, thousands of additional troops can quickly- be assembled. The Herman government, while it pays only a small salary to the soldiers, is caring for all the families whose wage earners are engaged in the war and there is no suffering among the women and children. Rev. Hordeman stated that while on his triji over the European continent, he, did not see or hear of any hardships being forced upon Americans or other foreigners by any of the warring nations. That the report stating that Americans abroad could not secure passage home from the war zone was misinterpreted, is the belief of Father Hordeman. He stat'edjithat for than three weeks the consuls were; unable to furnish Americans any definite information as to the arrival and departure of ships for this country on account of the German cable being cut and all means of communication being destroyed. While in Holland, enroute home, he stated that notices were p, stod in alb public places notifying all Americans Araericah naval officer in charge of funds from the United States was at The Hague and would care o for all in need of financial assistance. While dn Holland he stated that he saw jnany large bodies of troops that had been assembled to prevent any invasion that might he attempted. He stated that the troops were seen throughout Holland and at one point they were being put through heavy practice /at a large fort. In Germany all the soldiers that could be used had volunteered* their services and that in excess of the regular standing army, one million, six hundred thousand men, who were exempt from service, had volunteered their services and entered the fighting arena in defense pf their country. That Italy will not take part in the war is probable, Father Hordean stated. At the present time there is no intent on the part of the Italian government to enter into the conflict and unless the German army is crushed, Italy will not be drawn into the war.

In England, he stated, there is no little difficulty in securing volunteers. “Hoping to get men to ehlist in the British army the English women had offered a prize of a white feather to every man who remains at home,” said the priest, laughingly, while telling of the desire of any English Subjects to keep from aiding their country in the war.

In transporting English and French soldiers to the front, Father Hordeman stated that the men were confined in barracks where arguments ensued as to which nation was responsible for involving the other in war. The men took sides, each defending their own country, and in the beat of the debate fighting broke out, resulting in the two bodies of soldiers clashing and entering into a warfare on a small scale themselves.

“But few people know that the king of Italy is insane,” said the priest. “Victor Emanuel is a m&niac confined to his cattle and his mental derangement was produced, by worry over the war and the complicating conditions involving his people.”