THE GERMAN MENACE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1273, 18 July 1914, Page 4

THE GERMAN MENACE.

A WARNING NOTE, The N Umnai Review ior June coauau* an .muae entitled “Germany and Ourselves, ’’ from the pen of Capt. Bertrand Stewart, who was for two years the inmate oi a Gei man prison, and writes from personal experience. His trial and conviction, which n storm at the time, will be remembered by many. “Let us," ne writes, “understand Germany’s position. She has learnt that the policy of open hostility to England at all times does not pay, because it keeps us too much on the qui vive, and because it strengthens the hands of those who urge that full preparations should be made to meet any German act ot aggression. Hence a show of friendliness has been assumed in the hope that she may obtain concessions from us, and that the British nation, with its proverbially short memory, will be lulled into a feeling of false security. But what is really her present position as regards ourselves ? There have been pleasant speeches by the German Ambassador. But has there been a reduction of one soldier or one sailor as a proof of this friendliness ? On the contrary ! “If the change of attitude indicated a real change ol feeling towards England, it should have been accompanied by at least a decrease in the German navy.” After dealing with the hunger for more land which the German Government do their utmost to foster amongst their people, and with the teaching ol some of their leading writers that this land can be most easily obtained from us by war or threats of war, he adds : “But besides laud and money there are things of at least equal value to our people which we should sacrifice were we- to give Germany her longed-for opportunity. Those are freedom and the right to justice on all occasions.” He then compares our system of justice with the German. Among many extraordinary details he tells us that a prisoner may be kept six months in a cell waiting for a “trial timed to suit the political exigencies of the moment. A penniless agent provocateur, the creature of the Government —and already convicted of every son ol crime—may try, but fail, to provoke the commission of some act against the law and yet be the only witness against the prisoner. This man’s perjury, admitted in the secrecy ol the Magistrate’s room —as the Prosecution is careful to arrange —counts lor nothing. Then, worst of all, a prisoner may be tried behind closed doors, despite all his protests ; lying statements, which the prisoner is given no chance to deny in public, may be published tor political purposes ; and a judgment given absolutely contrary to the evidence and the admissions of the Prosecution because it may be politically useful, or an agitation may be In progress for more ships. “All this, according to their standard, is justice, and according to their view, is right. Is this, and the Sabre Law exemplified at Zabern, and the treatment of their conquered provinces, a system which the most callous amongst us would wish to see imposed on any of our people, whatever their race ?

“We must realise that the preservation of the priceless blessings ot freedom and justice depends on our keeping ourselves strong enough to prevent Germany defeating us and forcing her system and her ‘justice’ on our pccpie.

“When Germany increases her armaments we must do likewise. When Germany reduces her armaments, we can think of doing likewise, but not till then. “Never must we, by any show of friendliness, or by any soft words, whoever may be the spokesman, be lulled into a feeling of security. The methods of the ruling class in Germany change, but behind it all, with their everincreasing naval and military forces, they always pursue their unaltered aim. Co • operation throughout the Empire, real efficiency in all branches of our defensive services, and the readiness of everyone to take his share in the defence of the Mother Country and the great Dominions can alone bring us security.”