General

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 56, 9 March 1915, Page 8

General

SEEKING ITALIAN AID. United Punas Association. Amsterdam, March 8. The Vonvaerts says the discussions between Italy and Austria must nut he allowed to end in open conflict. Germany having risked everything for Austria, she has the right to demand a solution suitable to Germany’s interests.

“CONFLICT WITH ENGLAND.”

REMARKABLE GERMAN UTTERANCE. London, .March 7. The Press Bureau publishes a translation of an article in the Hamburger Nachrichten, headed, “Conflict with England.” After reviewing the raids on the English coast, and attacks by dirigibles and submarines in order to resist the starving-out policy, the ar-

ticle continues:—

“Behind the German front in the West is drawn up a second battlefield which won’t give way any more than Northern France. Expert opinion lunr stated that the German coast guns from Calais will bo able to bombard the defences of Dover. The country north of Dover is over nine kilometres high. “Our military commanders have declared that the English soldier is an adversary who must he taken ,very seriously.

“Results prove that the English Navy realises its duties and responsibilities.

“The conflict with England will demand fresh exertions and sacrifices. Jn all the wars she has waged England has fought with persistence and endurance. These qualities will doubtless again be revealed, but we Germans are aware of our own powers and the weak spot in England’s armor. We realise the stakes we are playing for, and know what the country which goes under will lose beyond the world’s estimation. A world victory for England would destroy Germany’s future for centuries. The war indemnity would so cripple our resources that we would lie unable to contemplate the re-con-struction of our artillery and economic forces. “If England, our most hated and dangerous enemy, conquered Germany, she would humiliate and trample on us to the uttermost. We enter on the struggle with set teeth, registering a vow that we are joyfully prepared to sacrifice the best of German strength, courage, grit and patriotism.”

The Pi •ess Bureau comments that the article is presumably semi-official, or at least inspired.

SOUTH MANCHURIAN RAILWAY. London, March 8. It is reported that China has agreed to nineteen years’ extension of the South Manchurian railway agreement. A Russian artillery officer writes that “the Germans have gained a temporary advantage in East Prussia. If .1 had been in authority 1 would simply have hanged their commanders, because of their senseless and criminal sacrifice of troops. We drenched them, when they were charging in massed column, with shrapnel. Still they came on. Then we used case shot, keeping up an incessant fire until the dead wore piled in heaps. From three to four thousand fell in half an hour. Later a second attack was repulsed, and before dusk a third with the same result. The slaughter caused nausea. I marvelled at the stupidity of the efforts to face the lire, against which they were powerless, and were swept away like the ash'from a cigarette.”