The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 22, 1909. THE GERMAN MENACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 22 June 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, June 22, 1909. THE GERMAN MENACE.

The principal reviews for May direct attention forcibly to the overpowering significance of the victory secured by the GermanAustrian coalition at the end of March, in compelling Russia under threat of immediate invasion, to abandon her opposition to the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria. With Russia paralysed it became necessary for England and France to yield with the best grace that they could. Dr E- J. Dillon, writing in the Contemporary, remarks that the triple entente (England, France and Russia) has been broken, because the three Powers included in it ignored the fact that “Germany is a military and pedatory State, whose policy is not hampered by any set of rules more ethical than that which obtains in the camp and on the battlefield." M. Isvolsky laid the German ultimatum before the Russian Cabinet Council, and Russia capitulated forthwith. It appears that the fortifications guarding the Russo - German frontier were all denuded of guns during the Russo-Japanese war, and the guns have never been replaced, Hence Russia was not in a position to argue. It is a sound lesson on the value of preparedness. Dr. Dillon puts the situation in a nutshell — “Austria-Hungary and Germany are now faster friends and more devoted allies than ever. Austria is about to build three or four Dreadnoughts. Germany aims at supremacy on land and sea and air. Italy stands hat in hand, respectful and pliant. In a word civilised humanity has been taught that arms are still trumps ; that to-day, as of yore, Empire must be kept up by the means through which it was won; and that parchment, like banknotes, loses its value the moment it becomes known that there is nothing solid behind it."