THE GERMAN PLAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1919, Page 1

THE GERMAN PLAN.

PREPARING FOR THE END

The special correspondent of tin Paris “Libertc” sent, from Berne a re markable account, the accuracy of which lit' guarantees, of a meeting in that city on Oct. 7th of “the most authorised Glenn an personage at present in Switzerland” and German propaganda agents and newspaper men. The latter were called together to receive their cue and prepare the German public “tactfully and skilfully” for the evacuation of Belgian and French territory. The personage in question went fully into the hypotheses of defending the ground yard by yard with the heavy loss entailed and the consequent demoralisation, and the alternative scheme of a strategic (diplomatic) withdrawal. “The time necessary for evacuation,” lie continued, “and for pourparlers will leave us a latitude of three months, prolonged by two months of winter — in all five months, which will amply suffice for the total renewal of our army in men and material thanks to the effort of the munition shops of both Km pi res and that we shall get from Russia. Tt is probable, besides that the interruption of hostilities will deprive one or other of the belligerents of the desire to resume fighting. It is not impossible, too, that conversations will cause to come to the surface among the Entente Powers divergencies of views which will cause the coalition to crumble. The main thing is to talk. “To sum. up, we should he able in the spring of 191!) to recommence the war, which the Gorman people will accept in a completely renewed spirit of sacrifice, because there will be a sharp logical and chronological cleavage between the first war of ambition, and the second war which will he a real national one for territory and existence . . . Great efforts will be necessary to familiarise opinion with this eventuality. You will have to present it as an act necessary as a solemn demonstration of our disinterestedness and our desire to restore peace to the world. I reckon on you. if the offer is made to us to negotiate oil this condition, and similar ]y if we are obliged’ to take the initiative ourselves.” The “great chief” assured his audience that even if Austria were forced to fall out of the ranks her Skoda works would still be turning out munitions for her ally. He cautioned his hearers that the well-known catchwords of Pan-Germanism, the iron industry, the agrarians, the militarists, etc., must go by the hoard, and in conclusion he held out the following cheerful hope that if the request for an armistice succeeded in bringing about >* peaceful evacuation the Germans would arrive home with their portmanteau, their travcllin grug, and what was their travelling rug and what was man into the bargain.