GERMANY.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 October 1914, Page 2

GERMANY.

"Germany," by Mr. A. W. Holland, is a handy little history of that country from the earliest times to the present day.

"The most interesting part is towards the end, where he discusses the ideas that dominate the pre-sent-day international policy of Germany. He points out that Germany is essentially a commercial country. A quarter of her inhabitants are dependent for a livelihood upon "trade," and consequently the destruction, or even the interruption of her trade would mean the ruin of millions. Now, "a commercial nation," he observes, "is of necessity a peaceful nation. It has given hostages, and would lose enormously by the most successful war." She has every reason to maintain harmonious foreign relations, and none to be the aggressor in shattering the world's peace. We may ask, why, then, does she spend so much on armaments ? Mr. Holland has the answer ready. By land she has frontiers to protect, and on two of them at least her neighbours bear her little goodwill. But by sea not only must she protect her commerce, but this has become more imperative because, like Britain, she is drawing more and more for food upon the granaries of the whole world', besides having to rely for the employment of a large part of her population upon an uninterrupted export trade. But the increase neither of her fleet nor of her army affords Britain any ground for thinking that these preparations are directed against the British, or that ( thej' will be used against anyone ex- i cept as a defensive measure. In a preface, Mr. NoYman Angell recounts a ' conversation with a German friend which purports to give the German point of view, and agrees substantially with that of Mr. Holland.