THE GERMAN ATTITUDE.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1918, Page 1

THE GERMAN ATTITUDE.

COUNT HERTRING’S SPEECH

lAUSTRALIAN & N . 7. 0.1111,£ ASSOCIATION]

I ,ox nos, Sept 25

Tlio German Imperial Chancellor, von ITertliner, m the course of his latest Reichstag speech, referred to there being deep discontent prevalent in wide circles of the population of Germanv. lie said that il this uiscontent arose from the military .sit uation then it far exceeded such limits as were justifiable. The situation, he said, was grave, but there was no reason for faint-heartedness, as the position was not so bad as it was during the summer of ll* t>.

Reviewing the E’.stern situation, the Chancellor said that the iiitme appeared to le nniortsiin, but the former menace to Germany had disappeared. Hence, a eousideiable part of their Eastern army could lie employed on the West I'Yont.

He boasted that <leneials Mindenburg and Liidemlorff would have to be equal to the present, situation. Their enemies were making premature cries of victory. These soon would die away. Tie appealed to the people not to leave the men at the trout in the lurch—now that everything was at stake.

Continuing Count Her fling defended the invasion of Belgium. He said that if Germany had not acted quickly, then the enemy would have anticipated that move, and would have themselves invaded Belgium. Got* many’s emisc'em e was oh' >r, becuise she had rlf rod flit' Belgians money fora promise of neutrality when they Jii'St overran Belgium. That, oiler was oven repeated after the bill of Liege. Ho denied that Germany had been or was striving for.t woib! In gemony. This world war was prepare I years ago, bv the wo'l-known ‘•encircling policy of iho late'King Edward. 'The match was not put to the powder by the Prussian milita i,t>. It, was while tlio Kaiser, to the last moment, was endeavoin ing to preserve peace, that the Russian militarists had etlected a mobilisation of the Russian Army against the will of the weak Czar. Owing to this war had become unavoidable.

Germany, he said, could calmly await the judgment of posterity. H was true that there was an unparalleled campaign of lies which had obscured the truth. The result of this was that a hatred, of Germany had arisen amongst the enemy populations, which choked all moderation and just judgment. AT. Oleineneeau, the French Premier’s last speech, he said, had in fanatical hatred and coarseness of mind surpassed everything that had hitherto been achieved in that way. Count Hertlitig, continuing, attributed the American’s war enthusiasm partly to tlm lingo profits they made from armaments, and he sneered at the British giving recognition to the “conglomeraterabble of Czechoslovak;: ” as a belligerent powei.

Ho declared that the snHma»ines wore slowly, hut surely, fill 111 ling their task of diminishing the enemy tonnage, but above all, they were restricting American reinforcements of men and material. The hour must, come, added Count Hertling, when the enemy would see reason, and would be ready to make an end to the war, bet'oie half the world had been mined and the (lower of its manhood was dead on the battlefield, Count Herding reiterated bitentire sympathy with the idea ol a League of Nations, provided that there were equal rights lor all members oi the League guaranteed. He declared that the idea of the restriction of armaments was thoroughly capable ol discussion.

Speaking in the Reichstag, Admiral Brueninghans, on behalf of (be German Admiralty, declared that there wore more submarines now operating than at any period of ( lie war. The next' speaker. General von Rwrisberg. attributed the failure ol the German blow past Rheims in Ibe impossibility of securing a surprise. The subsequent Allied successes bad largely been due to the British bringing over their home armies and to the intervention of the American divisions The German withdrawals in Flanders were made in order to prevent die British making an enveloping attack. He added: “The American Armies should not. terrify us—we shall also settle them.” Summing np the general military situation, be said that despite material losses the Germans wore well protected. Herr von Hiniv.e. refening to the Austrian TWoe Note, s id that the German Government did. not think that this was the most suitable moment for renewal of such an appeal, at a time when the enemy was .suffering from the intoxication of victory. The appeal had, however, been despatched, and Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria bad forthwith adhered thereto. UNFA VO URABLE COMMENT -AMSTERDAM, Sep. Rfi. The German newspapers make mi favourable comments ou Count von Hertling’s speech. The “bokal Anzeigor” admits that Count ffording wa a hissed. Tt adds: “The members of the Reichstag did noi expect; to listen to a mass of generalities.” The “Tagoblatt” says: Count Hartling belongs to another generation and does not understand our present needs.'’