THE VEIL LIFTED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 4 June 1918, Page 6

THE VEIL LIFTED

THE HUNS' REAL INTENT

No sound has been morn menacing | this year than tha clamour of the Prussian annexationists (writes the London correspondent of the Sydney "Sun"). Whatever Allied statesmen have thought of Germany's varying moods of the past they are to-day convinced that a widespread and terrible revival of the old spirit of domination is ruuning through Germany. They have very definite evidence of the stranglehold that Bindonburg, Ludendorff, and the annexationists have secured over the milder and less unlicensed Prussians. It is such a stranglehold that Germany is being swayed excitedly forward to" a policy of all-round conquests. These militarists have inspired the old dreams of lilU-dreams of Germany ruling Europe and preparing for another war'for the rest of the world. The collapse of Russia might havu brdught a feeling of satiety, but instead it has been cleverly used to inflame the lust for further conquests. "More conquests—conquests in the West and a new colonial empire," cry the annexationists, and Hlndenburg choruses "I can give you them."" Germany is far from peace within herself. Her domestic condition is worse than that of France or Great Britain, and her war-wearied artisans are moro : eager for compromise pece. But sho; stifles all opposition, and her clear policy ] to-day is to secure annexations and in- , demnities in Western Europe, to hold • Serbia, and to confirm her Russian con- j quests. Her leaders have, convinced themselves that they can bring the Allies ! to complete defeat. Their plans have ] still to unfold, themselves; whether they ; mean to concentrate against vear, or send divisions to assist the Turks in Mesopotamia and Palestine, or try once more to take Paris, only the inner •German councils know. The indications aro that a massive offensive will be tried ; on the West front, where Germany is I building up .a superiority in men and j guns. Nothing will suit the Allied cause ; better. "We hope they will try it," say i Haig and Petain, for even with fleets of: tanks, new gases, picked troops, and; thousands of guns captured in Italy and j Russia, their chances of breaking through . are not more than we must be prepared , to face eagerly, in return for our oppor- j tunity for shortening the war by ham- i mering their armies. I I have before mo an official translation of the secret note sent by Herr Michaelis, when Chancellor to Germany, to the Austrian Government, on the question of war aims. A spy in Vienna got hold of the note—possibly with the Austrian Government's connivance, fur Austria-Hun-gary is bitterly opposed to prolongation of the "war for annexations. The note was later read by Austrian Socialists in the Reichsrath unci by a German Socialist (Herr Haase) in the Reichstag. There is no harm in suggesting that (his exposure in our enemies' countries was possibly facilitated by the British Foreign OlHce. The German Government has never been able to deny the genuinene« of the document, and has had to content itself with forbidding itsi publication in German

newspapers. lUichaclis makes no bones about Germany's objects in bringing about the war. In public be was still steadfast to the national pose-that of the German people fighting a "defensive" war. But in the cipher of secret correspondence with the Austrc-Hungariaii Foreign Office he showed Germany naked. the motive which inspires all Germany saclion?," lie vote, "is the need of territories for the development of her commence and colonisation. Germany las two questions to solve-the freedom of the seas and tho opening u,p of the. south-eastern route. And these two questions can be solved only by the annihilation of Lngland.' Our aim is hi assure the position of the German Empire in Central Europe and to extend its aim. . . -Wo must at all costs annex lands for colonisation. . Thanks to a skilful policy the Baltic provinces will be easily Germanised. They will be peopled by Germans; their population will be doubled And what of the West. "We shall take portions of French territory, wrote Michaelis, "to defend our Empire against aggression from the Hepublic. In- the VoW the frontier will be improved; we shall take a few valleys- t-i prevent any possibility of French firms on German frontier troops. France will lose Bnej (the coal basin) and a strip 01, territory to the east of Luxemburg. '1 lw v««« of Briev from an economic ami "»'««) point o view consists in the act that il contains a deposit of 1G million tons o iron ore. Longwy must reman m om France can have pait ot UeL--'"'The two factors that will count for everything at the peace conference are: (1) The military situation, and (2) to domestic situation of belligerents. E e y man and every woman will be a w«ght at it And the Allies arc concentrating all their efforts to make things turn out heir way. They are initiating grea. schemes of propaganda, designed to operate at home, in neutral countries, ad n enemy countries. On the one sue these schemes will be co'istriictne in the building up of the morale o people at home by a wise tesemjnaton and explanation of the truth; on the other side they will be og™™™> " s by getting damaging facts known to the peoples of Germany and Austria T\ en he moment conies for -pee, the sue which has its public s ill strong, 1 - mined, ready for sacrifice for country, will have' a powerful advantage. But even this is secondary to the military situation. And it is the Allies •frank intention to have nothing to do with peace until this is vastly improved. \ great offensive during 1919, with the -'American armies at considerable strength, and the British, and French armies brought up to their maximum, is the design. Plans for 1917 there are, also; but no thought of such an improvement this year that peace will be possible.