Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 1902. Germany.

Manawatu Herald, 16 January 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 1902. Germany.

It is: distressing to watch bow that master of lies, Dr Loyds, has managed to stir up bad feeling between Great Britain and Germany. By the expenditure of large sums of money to a corrupt press, a press that secured its name for corruption from the celebrated Bismarck, “ the reptile press ” has put before its readers most infamous falsehoods touching the army in South Africa, daring to go so far as to accuse soldiers and officers of having ravished one-third of the Boer women and children, and then handing them over to the Kaffirs! No wonder indignation has been aroused in England and the Colonies. To show that the German press is not above bribery we have the fact cabled out that the “ Nieuwe Rotterdam Cpurant" honestly confesses that Dr Leyds paid it to publish the statement tliat Boers who were wounded and taken prisoners at Elandslaagte were killed by the British 1 A man who will pay for one lie to be published will be ready to pay for other lies. Dr Leyds character cannot be hurt, all who know anything about hia course of action knows he shrinks from nothing in the' attempt to gain hia ends. But what can Britpns say bad enough of thair own kith and kin who by reckless statements have played into the hands of the enemies of the Empire ? The Germans having had all this garbage given them to read have come to look upon our army as the worst of blackguards, instead of being “ gentlemen at all times” as Lord Roberts described them. We cannot be surprised at the outburst of German people on the part of the’ masses, but we are surprised at highly placed officials even being doubtful on the matter. Trade differences have made G rmans ready to hate us, but we had hoped ansmgst the upper classes to have noticed a more gentlemanly and manly exhibition of feeling than that to which we have been treated. At the war Germany bad staff officers present noting facts for th 6 benefit of their government, and other Powers had similar officers. Those representing Italy and Austria have had the manliness to state that no such conduct ascribed to the army had been seen by them, and the French officers, who perhaps might have been glad if they could have endorsed Leyds’lies, have kept silence. Naturally Mr Chamberlain denied such charges very indignantly, and in pointing out how mercifully the war had been conducted referred to the manner in which the Germans in war with France took steps todeter any but the regular soldiery from interfering. This gave the German Chancellor an opportunity of expressing his opinion to the following effect:—“ If Mr Chamberlain desired to justify his policy he had better not refer to foreign countries unless he exercised the greatest prudence, lest he offend their susceptibilities. He had received assurances that Mr Chamberlain had no design to hurt the feelings of Germany. The army stood far too high to suffer from perverted,unjust judgments. .

The Triple Alliance, continued the Chancellor, enjoyed the best of health, and was likely to live long. French .and Italian arrangements in the' Mediterranean were not contrary to the Triple Alliance. If that alliance was no longer an absolute necessity, still it was in the highest degree valuable, as it augmented the guarantee for peace and the status quo/’

Every British newspaper, excepting the pro-Boer papers, condemn this speech, the “ Standard ” stating it to bij “ little short of offensive.” The “ Times ” says the Imperial Chancellor has “ done a bad day’s work .0; promotion of friendly

relations between the two countries.”

That is just where we have gob to. A lying Boer endangers ti- ■ peace of two nations by briberv and corruption. We have statesmen on both sides at present playing a game of bluff, the German brags of the Triple Alliance and suggests trouble on the Mediterranean, whilst the Briton refers pointedly to the growing power of the colonies. If such words go much further both parties will stop the game and begin fighting; much to the satisfaction of Dr Leyds.

The contemptible part of the whole of this exhibition of German temper is the admission of cowardice in that the German press would not have ventured to bark so loud unless they had been under the idea that Britain “ was too much fettered in South Africa to notice insults.” Of such are the German nation, and they may wake up some day to find that Britons will stand no insult from any nation or combination of nations, and then they will bo sorry.