BY DEVIOUS WAYS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 3

BY DEVIOUS WAYS.

GERMANY'S METHODS AND AMBITIONS.

Sir,—The restlessness' that exists in Europe which-may bo likened to a powder magazino that may bo exploded at any timo is my plea lor asking you to let this communication appear in your paper. Germany is an auept at following devious ways of wliicli the tollowing arc instances: —Bismarck's famous declaration that the destinies of Germany wero to bo worked out not by votes and speeches, but by blood and iron; is the soul of the Pan-Uernian policy. Let those who credit Germany with a lamb-liko nature ponder that given phrase and weigh it in conjunction with the following historic facts: "In 1862 Bismarck became Prime Minister of Prussia. He immediately forced through the lleichstag an army reorganisation 1 scheme. Moltke and Van Boon reorganised the army. In 1861 Prussia attacked Denmark and annexed Schleswig-Holstein. This gave Kiel to Prussia. In 1866 Prussia attacked and defeated Austria, crushing the Austrians in six weeks and annexing Hanover, Hesse, and Nassau. In 1870 Bismarck altered the Ems telegram, and Prussia fought and defeated the French and annexed Alsace and Lorraine. The Freach paid also an indemnity of 200 millions. Tho result of this war was the formation of the German Empire and the foundation of the largest and most scientific army in Europe. Such was tho policy of blood and iron." (Extract from article on Germany and England, bv Robert Blatchford, in tho "Daily Mail.") . Tho next move on the board is that significant one connected with the voto for the fortification of Flushing. In an article headed: "What Does Germany Want," which appeared in the March number of the London Magazine, this subject is fully dealt with, showing "how German merchants havo been filtering into the Netherlands and acquiring a dominant voice on the exchanges of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. Trading banks, shipping companies, factories, and mercantile houses are being got into German handstand as in the low* countries political and commercial influence are nractically synonymous. Belgium and Holland are being led into tbe lethal chamber of Germanisation without the work! being ni'uch the wiser." The seizure of tho North Frisian 'Archipelago' from Denmark gives a good base facing England. Should Holland .and _ Belgium bo taken iir like manner (for it must be remembered that Germany "'ill strike without warning) then Germany's base would be further extended, a base line superior to any as it is protected by a fringe of numerous fortified islands. Having then in pursuit of-its devious ways protected the flank facinc tho sea, which would materially assist in turning the flank of Franco which borders on Belgium, it would be well to view the position on tho other flank facing Russia. (With the usual Teuton foresight, and not desiring a powerful antagonist on that side, Germany egged on the Tsar to go to war with Japan. Tho result, as anticipated bytlie Teuton, being that-Russia was so seriously weakened by the struggle that she has been set back for a dccade or more, or Russia might be moulded to join the Germans in their ambitious enterprise by the offer of India. With both flanks made secure and her frontier abutting on France bristling with, fortified' positions stiffened with', a net-work'of railways for the transportation of troops, already provided,'the question to be considered is: What is her next objective? This may bo answered in this way. When the aged Emperor of Austria, • now in his 81st year, dies, and is succeeded, by the mysterious Franz Ferdinand, the

Wav will then be open for the next move, that is in the. direction of Asia Minor (where the Germans have larec concessions) and Egypt. .Then tho tramp of armed men: Germans, Austrians, and their allies, the Italians, and, maybe, Russians, will bo heard pressing on as a resistless flood-carry-ing all before them, there not beiuir any Power that could stay their onslaught by land. What then about tho command of the sea? As is well known the Gorman ships havo but a. limited coal-carrying capacity which indicates that their required use must be within their home influence. The direct menace to England from the Frisian, ports, which are well protected againstattack from the sea. may after nil, be only a bluff, for what is to hinder' a nowerful German fleet, now that England has practically withdrawn from tho Mediterranean, taking a peaceful cruise there nrcnaratory to a breach of tho peace'and in , conjunction with its allies,-Austria and Italy'having an overwhelming combined fleet_ to convey transports to'land in irresistible forces at some selected' sjDot. in Asia Minor aiid at Alexandria in Egynt. It is the opinion of Admiral Mahanl "that the. day when the Mediterranean m;iv.pass out of the' sphere of British influence will symbolise, if it docs not at once accompany the nassing of the, Empire, for a hostile force in the Mediterranean confronts not. only an interior line, as compared with .' the Cape route, but an interior position from which it is operative against tho Atlantic as well as tho East." It is difficult to .over-state-the effect of this upon tho solidity of tho Empire, for tho Mediterranean is one of tho great central positions of the maritime world. A weakened Mediterranean foice is tho symptom that neither as principal nor as ally may Great Britain be able to play the part hitherto assumed by her in the great drama, of which tho awakening of tho East is the present act, whilo among tho drajiatis pcrsonao aro Egypt, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

The momentous question now is, How is provision to be mado for such a blow at "tho heart of tho Empire"? Wo havo Dreadnoughts "and superDreadnoughts aro now being constructed, but something more is required for active defence. To do this effectively, the Empire being .a maritime one, strong squadrons of torpedo boats and submarine boats should be stationed on tho eastern coast of England, at Gibraltar, and "at" Alexandria. Holding possession of tho' Straits of Gibraltar, the squadron statioued there could always be added to, and could be drawn upon if .necessary to ropel tho landing of troops on English soil. A hostile fleet in" tho Mediterranean would bo bottled up there, and have a difficulty in trying" to force their ,way through the Straits. The division at Alexandria would need to bo a powerful one so as to ensure freedom from attack and to secure a position to which reinforcements, supplies, etc., from India and the. Australasian colonies might be directed. Having stated that German .ships havo but little coal-carrying capacity, a visit from such here is but a remote contingency; and having also stated that torpedo and submarine boats aro necessary for defensive purposes, would it not have been wiser for New Zealand, instead of contributing _ono Dreadnought 'to tho British Navy (which will be on the scrap-heap within ten years or so, while the interest still goes on), to have either paid a larger siim annually to the British Navy, or to have spent the money in procuring torpedo and submarine boats for defensive purposes ? As the vulnerability of a battleship is dependent oh its armour, which requires nickel to harden it, and tho world's supply is limited to the output from Canada, and in a less degree from New Caledonia,. if England , wore to enter into an-alliance with . America with the view of controlling the export I of nickel to. foreign Powers, it would

make the building of battleships almost prohibitory. 1 have, however, already written more fully on the subject of nickel (vide Dojhxion of March 24 and September 8, 1909). I need not therefore cnlargo upon tho subject. So far it lias been assumed that Franco would be opposed to Germany. To obtain her co-operation, if Germany were to give back Alsaco and Lorraine by way of a bribe, oil the understanding that there was to be no opposition to her occupation of Holland, Belgium to lie divided between tho contracting Powers, France to have tho Frenchspeaking portion, tho balance with Holland to go to Germany, would mean practically that the old Roman Empire would bo against the rest of the world. A strong confederacy of the Powers interested would be irresistible by land. It is, however, when they conic to divide up the spoil that dissension would arise, culminating in a terrific slaughter, which would bo England's opportunity, backed up as she would he by America and- tho colonies, or "young lions." As England already possesses "the gates of lur enemies," strong squadrons, well equipped, should bo stationed at the most important strategic points, with the view of ensuring the command of the sea. . In conclusion, I will quote a remarkable prediction, taken from a speech of Lord Halsbury, being an extract from a letter from General 6. G. Gordon ("Chineso" Gordon) in 1882: "That as far as England was concerned she need liot for tho; next quarter of a century be under any apprehension of serious difficulties with any of her neighbours, but in 1910 or thereabouts there would have arisen a naval Power wliich'might prove mightier than she, and should she gain the supremacy England would become extinct, both as a sea and land Power." —I am, etc., GEORGE HENRY DAVIES. Mamari, Karori.