obel Prize."

"That is quite true," replied Mr. Romayne. "But let me recall to this
young man's mind a few facts. In 1875 Bismarck was determined to make
war upon France. He was prevented by the united action of England
and Russia. Germany made the same attempt in '87 and '91. In 1905 so
definite was the threat of war that France avoided it only by dismissing
her war minister, Delcasse. Perhaps my young friend remembers the
Casablanca incident in 1908 where again the Kaiser threatened France
with war. Indeed, for the last twenty years, even while he was doubtless
anxious to maintain peace, he has been rattling his sword in his
scabbard and threatening war against the various nations of Europe. In
most of these cases even when he wanted peace he bluffed with threats
of war. Then came the Agadir incident in 1911 when once more the Kaiser
bluffed. But Great Britain called his bluff that time and the great War
Lord had to back down with great loss of prestige not only with his own
people but with the whole of Europe. It hurt the Kaiser to think that
any nation in Europe should move in any direction without his consent.
Agadir taught him that he must quit bluffing or make up his mind to
fight."

Again Switzer was upon his feet. "This is a slanderous falsehood," he
cried. "How does this man know?"

"I happened to be there," was the quiet reply.

"How do we know?" again cried Switzer.

"Will you kindly repeat that remark?" said Mr. Romayne quietly.

"I believe this statement," shouted Switzer, "to be a slanderous
falsehood."

"If you accuse me of falsehood," said Romayne even more quietly, "that
is a matter of which we shall not discuss here, but later. But these
statements that I have made are history. All Germany knows, all Europe
knows, that at Agadir the Kaiser backed down. He was not ready to fight,
and he lost prestige by it. When Italy, one of the Triple Alliance, went
to war against Turkey without consulting him, this lowered still further
German prestige. In the late Balkan War Germany was again humiliated.
She backed the wrong horse. Her protege and pupil in war, Turkey, was
absolutely beaten. These things convince me that Germany knows that her
hope of dominating Europe is rapidly waning, and she believes that
this hope can only be realised by war and, therefore, I repeat that the
Kaiser and his people are only waiting a favourable moment to launch war
upon Europe and more particularly upon the British Empir