Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 97, 25 August 1915, Page 5

Germany

BLACKMAIL BILLS,”

BERLIN’S BOASTFULNESS!

already Sharing the ' •I- 111 ■. • Ifi "LION’S” SKIN. ARROGANT AND PREMATURE „ CLAIMS'. (Receiver! 11.55 a.in.) LpndoUj August 24. , t From the duy the Austyo-Gennan armies tJircw hackithe. Russians in the Carpathians there has been a growing; boastfulness in the,tone of the Berlin newspapers, while many . public men. are jubilating over, the prospect ol dividing the "Lion’sV skin. Even the Reichstag reflects this Chauvinism. Hollweg’s speech was .a great personal success. The press loudly approves of Halffinch’s remark that the Germans’ enemies must carry all the load, and Germany is spending one hundred millions sterling monthly. The newspapers are actually discussing the amount to he demanded from America for supplying automobiles and projectiles to England, and the Froce Times says that with German, thoroughness experts in international law are spending days and nights in Berlin preparing “Blackmail Bills” against certain neutral States.

George Berhard, in the' t ossiche Zeitung. voicing a widespread opinion, says: The burden of tlie war must be borne by our enemies. At the present moment we have Poland, Lithuania, and Coiirbind, and we occupy almost all Belgium, and encircle a portion of France, which includes the chief industrial districts and a respectable percentage of the total of French taxpayers. Whatever standpoint one takes regarding annexation, our financial gain Is certain. I hese countries " ill either be given back alter the war and then we will demand compensation and costs —as our enemies are also ready to make sacrifices to regain possession *>l their former property as quickly as possible—or the countries will remain in our possession. In that case they will be valuable sources ot future strength and taxation. and they contain property of inestimable value. Certainly the burden of indemnity will be hard to bear and more difficult to pay. but that is not our concern. So long as we possess these securities we can wait. They represent capital, which will also hear interest.

REICHSTAG MEMORIAL.

VIEWS OF A GERMAN SOCIETY.

'*•« jf I ; i "AN INTOLERABLE WAR.’.’ ! 1 l! (• C .. | j i—i —I 11 !'■ ' I I I!. .■ i 'v■ - ARGUMENT AGAINST ANNEX- ( ATION. i’’ "BRITAIN t CANNOT BE COMPLETELY CRUSHED." i. i.i ■; i j M DEMAND FOR PEACE. 1 ' I a - i e. i. 1<• . n-i.i a ; // ■;( i l U »»• - - i■, "j IN : T sill r.jn h j *•• '■ '.b'l. <■-; i, e.'i . ’ '• ON NATIONAL ISSUES. ' ‘ United Pbkb* Association. , r »■ I : T-. II II • I r ll' • , • , j ; • ' ~ ~ . (Received 9 a.in.) Berne, August 24. The Socialist newspaper, Volkrecht,' publishes ft memorial which Germany suppressed, and which was presented to the Reichstag by the newly-founded society, Neuvs Yaterland. The memorial says:—

It is madness to imagine that a victorious Germany could render Britain and Russia powerless for any considerable period, even supposing—which would/ lie altsurd— Britain lost Egypt. .India, South Africa, and Gibraltar, and Russia lost Finland. the Baltic Province, Ukraine, and Poland. Then Britain, wit(i her Remaining colonies, Australia and Canada, will he united,,,, closer, even if the certainty, of pew strength is cine to conscription, and Russia, with her illimitable territories and population, will very soon be ready and capable to fight again. Annexation, instead of dividing the foe alter the war, will only unite them closer. Britain will certainly never accept peace involving annexation unless she is completely overthrown, and no serious person in Germany believes Britain can be* completely crushed.. Annexation in the East would only benefit agrarians in the west and only increase the great industrial oragnisations’ dividends. The great mass of the people are suffering under the intolerable war. and the sacrifices demand a peace which will not bring advantages to small and interested circles at a cost to the whole - nation.”