France

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 6, 25 August 1914, Page 3

France

GERMANS RETIRE FROM REGION OF LONCWY. Paris, August 24. The Germans have evacuated the whole region of Longwy and Briey. At attempt to re-capture ScErnek failed. (Longwy and Briey are on the French side of the frontier, near Luxembourg) . GENERAL PAU, A VETERAN OF 1870. (Received 8.25 a.m.) Paris, August 24. General Pau is a veteran of the 1870 war, who lost his right hand in the battle of Froesohwiller. He is one of the most popular soldiers in France, and of the perfect dashing type. The triennium service is largely due to General Pan’s untiring energy. GERMANY’S NATIONAL AMBITIONS. Two quotations which throw a good deal of light upon the German national outlook in the period preceding the outbreak of the present conflict are given below: —One is from a Berlin newspaper, the “Post.” Some months before the Austrian murder the paper devoted all its front page to an article demanding “immediate war.” “Are we really,” it asked, “to wait quietly until Austria ia completely shaken to pieces, until Italy must bow before the overwftelmiug influence of the sea Powers, and we, in isolation, are confronted by the arrogance of France, Russia, and England? Is the German nation of 70,000.000 really to renounce the roll of leader in Europe, which is its due? In the lives of nations there are complications and dangers which can only be disposed of by the sword. . . . Our nation to-day belongs to this category. ... At the moment the conditions are favourable. France is not ready to fight. England is involved in internal and colonial difficulties. Russia shrinks from war, because she fears a revolution. Shall we wait until our opponents are ready; or shall we use the favorable moment, to force a decision? When a conflict of interest shows itself we should not give way, but let it come to war, and commence it with a determined offensive, whether it be for a new Morocco, for the position of General von Liman, or the Asia Minor question. The pretext is a matter of indifference, for the point is not that, but our whole future which is at stake.”

Tho other quotation is from the opinions of the Crown Prince of Germany, as recently extracted from his writings in a book compiled by Dr. Liman, a well-known German journalist. ■ “We live to-day,” said the Crown Prince, “in an age which, with peculiar satisfaction, points to the proud height of its culture, and only too readily boasts of its international citizenship; that delights in dreams of an everlasting world-peace. This conception of life is un-German, and does not suit us. The German who loves his people, who believes in the greatness and future of his homeland, and will not have its authority lowered, must not shut his eyes in such dreams, must not let himself be lulled to sleep by the Peace Song of the Utopians.”