Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th 1918 COLONIAL AMBITIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th 1918 COLONIAL AMBITIONS.

I mo revolutions disclosed in last week's cabin news regarding enemy efforts at colonial expansion ■ are another reminder of the rutliless mctliods of Germany to satisfy her vaulting national ambitions. Germany has great unsatisfied ambitions as regards the extension of her overseas possessions. Around the creation of this war by the enemy was the desire to acquire a. further expansion of the German Empire by annexing forcibly and otherwise great tracts of country which could be turned to economic advantages and uses. In the pre-war days a good deal was beard about Mittel Europn, as tile outstanding ambition for national aggrandisement. But when the war eventuated, what is known as the Flanders school in Germany made it plain that the invasion of Belgium was not so much a military necessity as Germany sought to excuse the act, but part of a sgt policy designed to get maritime. control along the English Channel so as to be in a position of menacing England, and to be as it were, a thorn in the side of the British Navv. The designed policy was to hold (ho Flemish and French coasts as far as Boulogne, but Germany was never able to stretch beyond Ostend. and so the French, Channel ports have remained unmolested despite •'the Kaiser’s imperious direction: “On to Calais!” The progress of the war has disclosed vet another cause for its creation on the part of Germany. That was the very ambitious aim to create a Mittel Afrika, no less pronounced on the map of Africa, than Mittel Etiropa is on the map of Europe; and just as Germany prepared in advance her own map of ‘Europe in accordance with her own aims' and ambitions so likewise the map of Africa was partitioned off to suit her designs. Mittel Afrika was to occupy the whole of Central Africa, to achieve which, Germany of course, had to win the war. This latter contingency was regarded as already within a degree of certain accomplishment, for it was determined to annex British, French and Belgian possessions 7n Central Africa in order to realise hopes and expectations. In a German publication which has lately come to light and has been translated for British information, the new territory Germany would acquire is boldly sot out. Mittel Afrika'woflld consist of the Cameroon*. French Equatorial Africa, the Belgian Congo, British East- Africa, Uganda, the groat parts of Angola and German East and South West- Africa. There is no blushing modesty about this scheme which gives another clear insight as to one of the generic causes for which Germany launched this great war upon the world. The publication from which we quote indicates that it is not, possessions alone which Germany seeks. Aggressive dominant power is sought also. It is explained that with Mittel Afrika an accomplished fact > Germany would exercise strong influence towards the Indian Ocean (India), the South Seas (Australia and New Zealand), and the Far East (Japan and China). Germany was out thus clearly for. dominant, world power and looking to her record of colonial management and her conduct of the war, it can be realised to what degree that dominant. power would be exercised. The winning of the war decisively is of essential necessity if the world wisher, to escape so ruthless a power as Germany with, world omnipotence. The war calls for more and more sacrifice to carry it to a decisive point, but the demands might well bo satisfied if in our own time and in the years to come the world is to enjoy any security and humanity any of the fruits which ehristianitv has yielded.