Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 7, 11 December 1915, Page 5

Germany

DRAMATIC OVATION :S n •(. j; )!: 11 l* v) . i'.' < I ' le-ai.jitb ■ <y,■■ ■• w i ■ • •( ■' ■ i bin i • • / a i i ■■ , • I MOVED TO TEARb. OUTBURST AGAINST ENGLAND. '»1;!;}" 1 , l\ \ M.i. 5 [United Pkess Association.! Amsterdam, December 9Continuing in the Reichstag, the Chancellor said that Russia had left Bulgaria in the lurch, and despite the fact that the latter bore the main burden of the war, Bulgaria saw the fruits of her victories going to Serbia. Tho latter was given preference because she had advanced her power against Austria. King Ferdinard has now redeemed the pledge made at the end of the second Balkan war, namely, that the Bulgarian colors, which, after glorious fighting and severe disappointepipnts, had been , furled in July,, should; fly over her lost territories after vigorous fighting; Serbia,, instead of seeking an understanding in order to save the country from the sacrifices involved in a fresh campaign, liad decided not only to oppose the united Asutro-German attack, but also to attack Bulgaria. THE NEAR EAST PROBLEM.

To gain an open road to the A ear East was a milestone which, from a military point of view, could not be over-rated in value, h rom an econoifiic standpoint it allowed a welcome arrival of Turkish produce. Germany, thanks' to King Ferdinand’s far-seeing policy, had a strong bridge constructed between the Central Empires and the Orient, which would be used after peace for the universal work of Kultur. Her von Bethmann-Hqllweg strongly attacked the Entente’s policy in Greece, and reproached England for using her lleet in support of a breach of Greek neutrality. England, he said, had* managed to impress the world with the idea that she must punish Germany for violating Belgium’s neutrality, but they now know that England was tied up with France without Parliament’s knowledge. Sir Edward Grey was forced to join the war, either voluntarily or otherwise, before the question of Belgium’s neutrality ever arose. England was no longer justified in denouncing German militarism, when she plays a hypocritical part with Greece. The world now knows, and at present the world’s laughter was being continued to please England. 1 THE TALK OF PEACE. All the reports that Germany was seek* ing peace were foolish legends which the Entente were spreading in order to cover their military failures. He could not discuss terms now, but the longer the Allies forced war on Germany the stronger she became, and therefore the more severe the peace terms would be.

France demanded the regaining of Alsace and Lorraine, and England the crushing ol German militarism j but the Entente had found on the battlefields that both demands were impossible terms. Germany’s future must be secured. There was enough food, and possibly an over-supply of cotton coining up the Danube. The supply of copper and rubber was sufficient, and Germany was prepared to carry war into other fields. The Germans and Austro-Hungar-ians were occupying well-consolidated strong defensive positions in Russia, and we are always ready for a furthei advance. It is true that the French and the British, with the greatest contempt for death, had squeezed our front in the West ft some points, hut the .break through which was to 'he forced at any cost had failed Ike the previous attempts. The Austro-Hnn-argians firmly hold defensive positions in Italy, and had repulsed continual Italian attacks, which were carried out with gigantic loss of life. The fact that Italy" was blowing to pieces peaceful towns whose deliverance she was attempting could hardly compensate for her military failures. The economic situation in Belgium was almost normal, and the production of coal for railway purposes was increasing. The Russians had lett Poland, Lithuania, and Conrland in complete anarchy.

POLICY IN POLAND. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg went on; We have established a new policy, rebuilt the railways and roads, and introduced municipal statutes giving the Poles an interest in publiclife. Our troops are brilliantly overcoming all hardships in the Serbian mountains, and the Turks with heroicbravery keep watch at the Dardanelles, the immediate fall of which Mi Asquith predicted would take place in the summer. ■ The Dardanelles to-day stands firmer than ever. The Turks at Bagdad have also given the British an appreciable blow.

THE INVINCIBLE GERMANS! The Chancellor concluded: “Our enemies can do nothing against logic and facts. Our calculations are flawless, and no uncertain factors can shatter our firm confidence. If our enemies, are not yet inclined to yield to'facts they must d oso later. The German people are unshaken in theii reliance, and in our strength, which is invincible. It is an instilt to trj to make Us believe that we, who are goirtg on froth- ’ victory to victo'ry, standing far out from tke enemies of our country, have inferior endurance, and internal moral power •to our enemies, whp are still dreaiping of victory. No! We shall not yield to words. We shall resolutely carry on the war, which the enemy wanted, in order to complete what Germany’s future demands.” (Prolonged applause, drowned by a few Socialist interruptions.)

SOCIALIST INTERRUPTIONS. Paris, December, 10. ; ■ ■ In the Reichstag the, audience i-m-J eluding Count von Jagow, Count Zeppelin, Admiral von Tirpitz, and Count Dernberg. During Herr' von Bethmann-Holl-weg’s speech, Horren Liebnecht, Ledebour, and other Socialists continually interrupted, shouting: “What about annexation ? What are we aiming at?” There was general disorder until the rest of the House howled down the Socialists. The Chancellor several times was deeply moved, and gave way to tears. His declaration that Germany would not end the war unless there were guarantees that there would be no repetition of the present state of affairs, was loudly cheered by the crowded galleries, but above the din was the ever-persistent voice of Herr Ledebour shouting, “Annexations. Annexations !”

REICHSTAG SPEECHES. PEACE REFERENCES. THE SOCIALIST ELEMENT. (Received BAS a.m.) London, December 10. In the Reichstag, Herr Scheidemann, in moving the interpellation asking the Chancellor to state the conditions whereon the Government, was prepared to enter into peace negotiations, was unexpectedly moderate and was evidently not desirous to embarrass the Government. He said that the Socialists were strongly opposed to making this war one of conquest, but they were unanimous in their determination to defend the country and would not hear of the separation of Alsace and Lorraine.

The German people desired war for not a day longer than was necessary to secure the indepen deuce of the country. The starvation plan had failed. Germany had twenty million pigs and as many potatoes as the people were able to use. It was criminal if hostile statesmen endeavoured to delude the Nations into thinking the situation could change to Germany’s disadvantage. Germany wa s able and determined to defend her own hearth. The Socialists, therefore, desired that the first decisive step towards peace should emanate from Germany.

Chancellor Hollweg, replying to the interpellation, said the offer to make peace by Germany was folly while their enemies maintain their hypocrisy and ignorance. All disguises must first be dropped. If the enemies brought the proposals proper to Germany’s dignity, she would always be ready to discuss them. Germany, in the full consciousness of her successes, declines the responsibility for the continuation of the distress which was filling Europe and the world. Nobody could say she desired to prolong the war for the sake of conquest. He was unable to say the guarantees that Germany would demand a s regards Belgium. Neither east nor west must their enemies hold the means of invading our country, whereby they threaten us . more strongly than before the war.We must also safeguard our, economic development. This war throughout is a defensive war of' the German nation and its future.

ANTI-BRITISH DIATRIBE.

A TORRENT OF ABUSt. WELL-KNOWN GERMAN BLUFF. (Received 8.30 *a.m.) Loudon, December 10. Holhveg, in replying to Herr Scheidemann, began by saying : W e have gained gigantic sucesse s and deprived the enemy of one hope after another, when the road to Turkey is opened we will be threatening the most vulnerable point of the British Empire. Our enemies must have recognised that they, lost time. If I am to speak of the peace conditions, I must first see the enemies’ conditions, Their ambitions, h^ve j; not changed despite what has, [Recent speeches in the House of Lords found hardly, an echo jin ] the k’Vitish press.' Mr Asquith, Hat i the Guildhall, said the war’s -.objects were the same as at the beginning, including the freedom of small States, but the small State, who believed that was now cured; since England put up a fight for-them,! thfey -I fared badly.. The destruction of Prussian militarism means finishing forever the great State whose development filled their enemies with envy and distrust. England’s Allies took up this battlecry. Such cries and talk of restoring Alsace and Poland and conquering Constantinople was merely bluff. The enemy peoples had been fed on false hopes, and now find that victories had not been gained, that they had suffered many military and diplomatic defeats, and had sacrificed hecatombs ; yet we stand*, far within their territories; ‘arid have opened a way to the south-east, and hold valuable securities, but the enemy cannot give up the delusion that Germany must bo crushed. Now they have placed thrir hopes in a war of exhaustion, but our provisions are sufficient. Concerning the exhaustion of men, we have not gone as far as Russia; we do not intend to extend the age limit as they have done, while our losses are smaller than the French. The depth of the enemy’s hate is shown in the Baralong case, wherein a British warship murdered the crew of a helpless German submarine, but the British press hushed up this. The British have been proud of their Navy’s spirit, but they cannot reply to this murder, which remains a black stain on the Navy’s history. Herr Lansberg, spokesman for the Socialists, said they were ready for an honorable peace, being safeguard--:ed of course, against, frivolous attacks. Whoever attempts to carve up Germany would encounter a united people. The debate wa s adjourned.

GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. (Received 1 p.m.) Amsterdam, Decembe..- 10. The German press comments extensively on Hollweg’s speed). The Tageblatt states that the Chancellor was wise when he , refused to make suggestions regarding peace, and warns him not to be misled by super-annexionists and pan-Germans, who believe Germany desires to annex half of Europe. The Deutsche Tages Zeitung welcomes the speech, and adds: Now, oven the blindest of our enemies know how we stand and how determined we are to win.”