A School History of the Great War | Page 8

victorious
nation. Besides this not only do we find new markets opened up for the
manufacturers and merchants, but the conquered territory frequently
contains great stores of raw materials. In both cases the goods can now
pass to and fro without the drawbacks of possible embargoes or import
taxes which interfere with the freedom of trade. This is well illustrated
by the results of the seizure of part of Lorraine by Germany from
France in 1870. Lorraine contains great stores of coal and iron ore.
These Germany wanted. So that part of Lorraine was demanded which
would give to Germany rich mines of coal and iron. Some other ore
deposits, which could not be easily utilized, she left to France. Not long
afterwards a new process for making iron was discovered which made
the French deposits more valuable than those Germany had taken.
Undoubtedly one of the reasons for the present war was that Germany

wished to increase her national wealth by seizing the iron mines that
had become so valuable.
Many times before 1870 the Prussians had made large gains, in the way
of increased territory and prestige, by means of war. It was the boast of
many Prussian kings that each one of them had added to the lands over
which he ruled. In almost every instance this increase was due to a
successful war, enabling the king of Prussia to seize territory which did
not belong to him.
The indemnity which may be collected from a conquered nation is also
a source of profit to the conqueror. The money is deposited by the
government in banks, which thus have large sums ready to lend to
manufacturers and merchants who wish to increase their business. The
result of this is a great stimulation of manufactures and commerce. In
the case of Germany, the effect on industry of the $1,000,000,000 of
indemnity which she received from France following the
Franco-Prussian war was so great that Germany was soon
manufacturing more than her people could consume, and German
commercial agents spread all over the globe seeking to find profitable
customers for the surplus.
On the other hand, the German leaders have failed to realize that the
destruction of men and materials in war is always a great national loss.
In the case of a long war, the losses from these causes may, even for the
victors, overbalance any advantage which may be secured in the way of
territory or money from the vanquished nation.
GERMANY WANTED LAND FROM HER NEIGHBORS.--The
present war was largely the result of Germany's desire to secure
territory. The territory that was particularly wanted was in a number of
different places.
In the first place, Germany coveted the rest of the iron mines which she
had made the mistake (from her point of view) of letting France keep in
1870. These are located along the northeast frontier of France, about
half a dozen miles from the boundary. Germany wanted also the greater
part of Belgium, because it has valuable iron ore deposits, and

especially because it has great deposits of coal. It has been said that
without these mines of Belgian coal and of French iron, which
Germany seized at the very beginning of the war, she would soon have
had to give up the fight.
In the second place, Germany's only ports are on the shallow north
coast, and the channels are intricate and difficult of navigation. These
ports are inconveniently situated for exports from Germany's chief
manufacturing region, the lower Rhine valley. The best ports for
western Germany are Antwerp, in Belgium, and Rotterdam, in Holland.
Germany wanted a port toward the west through which she could more
conveniently reach her customers in North and South America and
elsewhere. It is interesting to notice that the river Scheldt (skelt), on
which Antwerp is situated, passes through Holland on its way to the sea.
Even if Germany secured Belgium this would not give her control of
the Antwerp outlet nor would it give her Rotterdam. It is certain that
eventual domination of Holland was part of Germany's plan.
Germany wanted that part of Russia which was along the Baltic Sea.
The part of Germany adjoining this, called East Prussia, is the
stronghold of the Prussian Junkers, or landed nobility. These people
already own great estates in the Baltic provinces of Russia. Germany
wished to govern this German-owned land and provide a place to which
her surplus population could emigrate and still be in German territory.
The Junkers were especially anxious for this to come about as it would
greatly increase their power in Germany.
"Pan-Germanists" is the name given to a group of German leaders who
aimed especially to bring all German-speaking peoples into the German
Empire. In general, however, the same leaders aimed to bring under