The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1915. CHANGING THE VIEW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 58, 11 March 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1915. CHANGING THE VIEW.

It has been well said that with the British army assuming proportions more in keeping with the vastness of the Empire, reaction must follow in the feelings of the Teutonic schemers, bent on an expedition of territorial aggrandisement and monetary gain. Prior to Germany attempting to push her "Kultur" down the throats of most nations, the extinction of British influence on the Continent of Europe, owing to lacking military might, was long looked upon as the removal of one of the chief securities of peace. But even the blunders of British diplomacy have always been prompted by a very marked and sincere desire to avert the evils of war, though no credit for such desire is given by the German barbarian. How deep were the schemes laid by Germans, stands revealed by the entry into the arena of Turkey, which country since the Balkan war, has gradually sunk into the lowest disrepute, and is now suffering for her folly. From the very outset German statesmen absolutely failed to realise from their self-coustituted pinnacle of might that it Mas not always safe to rely, on the practically inexhaustible pati-[ ence of British Ministers, and it is quite certain that they did not count on the fact of such indifference being shared by the entire nation. The German politician, either could not, or would not, grasp the latent firmness of the British character. The Russian Government for several years past received the marked advances of the Teuton with prudent and commendable reserve, an attitude which the latter entirely misconstrued. Since the last war, the energies of the Russian Empire have been employed in developing its vast resources and in great organic changes of the social system, not to lose si<j;!it of the successful prosecution of extending its railways. Such proper and natural progress on the part of a neighbour, apparently caused considerable annoyance to Germany and Austria and they came to the belief that Russian industry and prosperity must be checked in order to better their own enns. Hut this conclusion, like many other conclusions arrived at by Germany, has proved utterly wrong. At this time there is evidence, not of greater love lor Britain, hut of a very wholesome leai\ General von Blume has admitted the stupidity of being led away by the hope of victory before making sure thai. Germany has enough food to see her through. Newspaper state meats which have appeared lately are examples of the process of toning down in the German attitude towards Britain. What was a supreme contempt, that turned at the first chock into blind fury, is becoming a more reasonable, hut certainly not less deadly, thing. A process which to some extent corresponds to this has been going cm in Bi'itaiu, except that there

the national pride took, at the outset

the form of a careless contempt that in many cases did not set the enemy down as worth bothering very much about. That was just a u unwise as the German madness, and neither the one sidi? nor the other is any nearer yielding becsiu.se they have got move real perspective into their points of view. Nevertheless, many of the leaders must, however reluctantly, be aware of the cold, hard fact that Germany's schemes have failed utterly, and that total defeat and humiliation must be

her lot. How such poor dupes as Austria and Turkey must execrate the meddlesome scheming which has wrecked their Empires.