“THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1607, 7 September 1916, Page 4

“THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE.”

TASK BEFORE THE ALLIES

CRUSHING PRUSSIANTSM,

An interesting lecture on “The Prospects of Peace” was delivered this week at the Grafton Library Hall, Auckland, by Professor .1. P. Grossmann. There was an excellent attendance, Mr G. W. Murray presiding.

The lecturer at the outset discussed the possibility of securing a permanent and durable peace, and the conditions under which such a peace might be obtained. One of the most difficult obstacles was, he thought, the absolute inability of the Germans to understand the minds or the point of view of other nations. ’They would probably maintain their monstrous arrogance, self-esteem, and belief in their own superiority, even after they had suffered defeat. The allies were fighting, not the Kaiser and his military chiefs, but the German people, who vsere imbued with the desire to conquer the world, and whose success would he incompatible with 1 he liberties of other nations. This was not an ordinary war, and could not be expected to be followed by an ordinary peace, though the Germans seemed to think there would bo a settlement by a sort of compromise. The allies, therefore, dared not falter, but must effect the complete destruction of Prussianism.

Professor Gro.ssmann proceeded to give illustrations of the intolerable arrogance and monstrous selfassertion of the Germans, and spoke of their determination to be bound by no law but their own. Though the result of the war was assured, the Germans were not beaten yet. It was futile to expect them to understand the true inwardness of the war, and the attitude of the other nations, until they had seen Prussianism shattered irretrievably and the idol of Germany’s military prowess utterly destroyed. Till then they would not realise the madness of their adventure. He referred to the semi-official peace “feelers” which have emanated from Germany, and commented upon the contrast between the last of these and the no longer any talk of annexation or indemnities.

The lecturer expressed the hope that the end of the war would find Germany reduced to such straits as to be compelled to accept the allies’ terms. What the latter wouldprobably be he discussed in an interesting manner. He thought there would be no permanent peace that was not based on the great principle of nationalism. Of all the courses which might be taken by the allies to destroy the prestige and authority of the Prussians after the war would be to punish all the individuals responsible for the atrocities and outrages by which the Germans had affixed so horrible a slain upon themselves in this awful war. fo punish the delinquents —from the highest to the lowest —would have a moral effect on the Gormans,-and prove to them that Prussianism was utterly broken and cast down. The tasks before the allies were: (1) lo destroy Prussianism; (2) to exorcise tlie evil spirits so-long existent in the Germans; (3) to settle Europe on nationalistic lines; (4) to re-arrange the boundaries of the nat ions, and restore self-gov el nmenl and political independence, to the peoples of Central Europe: In conclusion, Professor Grossmaun dealt with the question of the future maintenance of the peace ot the world. There was hope that in the future the growing enlightenment of the nations would lead to a reaction and revulsion against horrors and iniquities of war. The lecture, was punctuated by frequent applause, and its interest was enhanced by frequent, references to and quotations from recent works on the war, and ante-war conditions.

The harm wrought by many thoughtless mothers upon their growing daughters was referred to hi terms of strongest condemnation by Dr Elizabeth MacDonald at Auckland in the course- of a lecture to women (says the Herald). In the course of her work, Dr MacDotiJild is brought into touch with large numbers of school children, and she stated that she had come across many cases of girls of ten or twelve years of age wearing stiff and tightly-laced corsets in consequence of a desire on the part ol their mothers that they should have a “good figure.” “Buc.li a practice is absolutely criminal,” declared the lecturer, “r’osulting as it does in an unnatural constriction ol! the waist, which is responsible for all manner of trouble in later years.” Other parents held the idea that muscular exercise should not he indulged in too. frequently by their daughters, and consequently they were brought up “soft,” expected to sit quiet, to keep their dresses clean, and to be “ladylike” when the animal spirit and vigour in them was striving to find expression. “I turned my little girl out in a sugar-sack this afternoon,” spoke up a member of the audience, unexpectedly, “and she had a glorious time”; a statement which called forth amused and appreciative comment from both lecturer and audience.

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