The Dominion FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1915. BERNHARDI ONCE MORE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2419, 26 March 1915, Page 4

The Dominion FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1915. BERNHARDI ONCE MORE

General von Bernhardi has stepped on to the world's stage once again. He makes his latest appearance in a uew role. He is no longer the fierce advocato of "frightfulness" in war, but comes forward as an upholder of the law of nations and an apostle of freedom. In an article in the New York Sun, a summary of which appears in our cable columns,- bo undertakes the impossible task of proving that the crimo of setting Europe ablaze lays at Britain's door, and that the inoffensive peace-loving German Junkers are fighting for the liberation of the world. It is a clumsy a.nd unconvincing story. Bernhardi in his new role of apologist for Germany is in serious danger of 'being included among the "winners" so scathingly referred to by Herr Maximilian Harden—"those whincrs whose pleas for excuses" make Gormans ludicrous. "May tho Teuton Devil throttle them," he exclaims. Herr Harden is ashamed of the utter insincerity of the assertion that Germany was forced into the conflict against her will. "Not as weakkneed blunderers," ho writes, "have we undertaken the fearful risk of this war. We wanted it." That is no doubt the plain unvarnished truth. And yet Bernhardi is now trying to convince the Americans that Germany is fighting for her freedom and for tho liberty of the Old World. But Herr Harden will have none of this sort of talk. "Wc are waging war for ourselves alone," he says. Germany's great aim is "to hoist the storm-flag of the Empire on the narrow channel that opens and locks the road into the ocean." No intelligent man. or woman can seriously doubt that it is Harden and not Bernhardi who is telling the truth. German professors and military writers, including Bernhardi himself, have been preaching a war of aggression for years past. They have made it as clear as daylight that Germany would fight "frightfully," and that her object is worlddominion. This same Bernhardi, who is accusing Britain of aggression, has stated with the most coldblooded callousness in his book on The iVcRi War that "France must be so completely crushed that she can never again come across our path," and has also asserted that "a pacific agreement with_ England is after all a will-o'-the-wisp which no serious German would trouble to follow." In anotucr of his books Bernhardi makes a malignant assault on England, and advocates an attack on the Entente even though it should involve another Seven Years' War He urges that Turkey should bo used as a catspaw to attack Britain in Egypt and Russia in the Black Sea. He contends that if a European war is to be averted, England would have to give Germany an absolutely free liaiul in all questions touching European, politics, and aßree beforehand to any increase of Germany's power on the Continent of Europe, which may ensue from the formation of a Central European Union of Powers, or from a German war with Franco.

England would have to agree that she would no longer strire to prevent by her diplomacy the expansion of Germany's Colonial Empire as long as such development would not take place at England's cost.

She would further have to agree to any possible change of the map of North Africa that might take place in Germany's or Italy's favour. England would further have to bind herself, that she would not hinder Austria's expansion in the Balkan peninsula. Sho would have to offer no opposition to (iermanv's economic expansion in Asia Minor, and she would have to make up her mind that she would no lom.'iM- dppose the development of Germany's sea power by the acquisition .of coaliug stations.

Bernuaudi himself admits that these proposals are impossible. The acceptance of such terms would place the world under Germany's feet, and yet the man that suggested them has (.lie effrontery to tell the world that Germany is fighting in the cause of freedom. If the whole earth had the, misfortune to come under German control, Treitschke—a historian after Berkhardi's own heart—would not be 63.tiKft?di for he. holds fcha*. "Uw fcwwWe ol Uw umvei'w" j^.

longs to Germany. Another Teuton writer can only regret one thing— "that the German_ did not, everywhere his conquering arm preyed, exterminate more freely." Yet, Bernhardi, in bis latest mood, assures the American people that "a Gelman victory would mean the liberation of the world from the British yoke." It would certainly mean the tyranny of the "mailed fist." The Kaiser has himself explained the kind of liberty which a triumphant Germany would give to the nations. '"There is only one master in this country," ho said oil a memorable occasion, "and lam he. I shall suffer no other besido me. . . . Thoso who oppose me I shall dash in picces."