"THE GERMAN DANGER"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2296, 2 November 1914, Page 6

"THE GERMAN DANGER"

, KAISER'S REPUDIATION IN ; -, ' 1908 A LETTER TO LORD, TWEEDMOUTH ; ] '■ London, October 30. : i ■ The "Morning-Post" publishes a lot- ; tor from tho Kaiser to tho late Lord' : "i Twecdmouth (then ■ First -Lord of the ' Admiralty,),' written on February 14, : 1908.' It commences:—"l .see by tho newspapers that a battle royal is-being : fought about the needs of the Navy; > therefore I venture to furnish you with information anont tho German' ' naval programme, which : is being used as a J decoy to frighten the peaceable British 1 taxpayer. During my last' pleasant ■' visit to your hospitable shores I tried * to make your authorities understand the drift of German naval policy, but I am afraid my explanation was misunderstood or not believed, because I see 'the 'Gorman: danger' constantly mentioned ia'the. British-newspapers and 1 reviews. ■ .... .' .' .-. ; ■• . ■ ' "It is absolutely nonsensical and untrue that the German-Naval Bill isi to provide fora navy whielj is meant to challengo'-' British naval ■'. supremacy. ; Our navy is,being solely built for Ger- < mans''needs in relation to the country's J vapidly-growing trade. , The -extra'or- ( dinary, rapidity in the improvement of i battleships' armaments lias necessitated ] the wholesale rebuilding of tho entire German navy, but there has been no ( addition to tho unite laid down under. '1 Jfoi lß3B Bill.'-- - - .■ : /"'-." , hi

"The main fault of tho discussion in the newspapers is the invariable exemplifying of Germany. A simpler thing would be for England to say: 'Wo would be a worjd-wido Empiro with the great est trado in tho world, and we require so many battleships and cruisers.' But it is very galling to the Germans to see their country continually held up as the solo danger and menace to Britain.". The Kaiser emphatically denied Lord Esher's statement that he (the Kaiser) wished to see Admiral Sir John Fisher's ''downfall, and said it'was preposterous to infer that the German authorities woi'ld work against persons, in official positions in foreign countries. "In my humble opinion, the perpetual quoting of 'tlie German danger' is utterly unworthy, as written in connection with a world-wide Empire and a mighty Navy. Indeed, it is nearly ludricous. Foreigners of other countries might easily conclude that the Germans are an exceptionally strong lot, as they seem to be able to strike terror into the hearts of the British, who are five times .their superior. Once more: The German Naval Bill is not aimed 'at Britain; it does not challenge British supremacy of tho sea, which must remain unchallenged for generations to come." Tho "Morning Post" adds;—"lt is permissible under existing circumstances to record what otherwise would remain unrecorded—namely, that the Kaiser on one occasion when being entertained here, expressed a-hope that the German and British Fleet would some day be fighting together against the United States as a common enemy. The Kaiser on that occasion made the mistake so frequent on thepart of Germans—undervaluing the intelligence of tho British." . ■ . ; . . SECRET FIRE OF HATE. "WE HAVE ONE London, October SO. The newspaper "Jugend" ! of Munich, publishes a poem dealing with the. German hatfed of the British. The poem concludes:— ■ ' We love as one, we hate as one, We have one foe, and one,alone, ; . .;■ : : ■ ... ■'■ The "Times," , in a leading article, says': "The war has' fanned the hatred white hot. It had been secretly glow.-j ing for years, and was ready to burst into flame. Englishmen were slow' to believe this, being deceived by personal friendliness for individual Germans."