OSTRACISING GERMANY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1944, 25 February 1919, Page 1

OSTRACISING GERMANY.

LOCAL VIEW OF SEAMEN’S BOYCOTT.

The following comments appear in the current issue of The Watcrsider:— '

“We are all aware that the Üboats are vile, cruel, and bloody. Mosf seamen have had a taste of it one way’or another, and would probably, through sheer distaste of feeling, refuse to sign on a ship where it single German sailor was on (he articles twelve months from now. I think that would come naturally. At the some time, I fail to see what good or benefit can come from a movement such as threaten-

ing to boycott Germany for two or seven years. We must understand

that the beast we have at present to deal with is militarism and navalism, run aecording' to the German idea, and it is represented by the heads of (he German nation, from the Kaiser through Ids generals and admirals and capitalists. The whole of Germany cannot he, full of mad dogs —noil Inn* can Austria. But there are certain criminal lunatics in both countries, and these surely are the men responsible for letting loose the war. And I herein, I believe, enters (he question which is connected with Mr J. Havelock Wilson’s idea of ostracising the German nation. Will this ostracism punish the perpetrators of U-boat outrages on British seamen? The answer to this is; It will punish everybody hut the perpetrators. What will Admiral von Tirpitz care if his nation is ostracised? He will laugh up his sleeve, and go scot free, and probably be as happy as when plotting and planning sea murders. Will it affect the vainest creature that ever lived—the Kaiser? Hoes he care for his Fatherland? Will it worry him if his people are ostracised by the hated British, so long as his palaces are untouched and his income assured by the work of sons whose parents have been slain to further his brutal ambitions.' Will it worry the butchers of Belgium and the scoundrels who ordered the pillage and rapine of Northern France? These are the men Mr J. Havelock Wilson had better gel at, and not ostracise (he tools of those precious empirebuilders whose motive power is vanity and selfish ambition. “These are the men who must be delivered to the Allies, and (ho men who, 1 believe, will be finally delivered to be tried, and justice dealt out to them. By this method we may rid the world of a menace.”