GERMANS BLAME THE KAISER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 156, 6 March 1915, Page 3

GERMANS BLAME THE KAISER.

SCATHING WAR PROTEST BY SOCIALIST SOCIETY. The Exchange Telegraph Company has received from Rotterdam the following New Year’s appeal, which has been issued to Socialists in Europe and America, by the Committee of the German Humanity League: “On th eve of a New Year which opens upon scenes of foul and ruthless crimes, unparalleled even in the massacre rolls of our nation’s infamous accomplices at Constantinople, we appeal to our brethren on the Continent of Europe and in the United States of America not to hide themselves behind the screen of neutrality.

“DRIVEN INTO A WICKED WAR.”

“We are face to face with the enemies of mankind. The German nation, driven into a wicked war by the Kaiser and his military entourage, cajoled by perjured statesmen in the Reichstag, and by false records circulated in every State in order to deceive cur compatriots, has recklessly hurled itself blindfolded against forces which, sustained by indisputable moral considerations, show no signs of weakening- in their determination to expel from Belgium the troops which cover ed her habitants with blood and irreparably injured an- innocent nation om* rulers had swern to protect.

CONDUCT OF THE ALLIES. “We ask you to remember that the territory of no German State has been menaced by the Allies, who are lawfully ah cl honourably defending the plain rights of the cruelly outraged Belgians yith the goodwill of the world. Every German citizen has. at all tim es and everywhere been free to pursue his calling unmolested. “In Japan, Russia, France, and Great Britain we have enjoyed civil rights and liberty as traders. The Empire was free in the markets of the world to develop in friendly rivalry with ether States its arts, its commerce, and its manufactures. “Ail cur legitimate economic interests were safeguarded, protected, and defined by treaties and conventions. “IMPERISHABLE INFAMY.” “Fallow workers, can you longer remain idle and silent spectators of these stupendous crimes? Are you for ever to be dumb in view of the awful scenes of carnage in Flanders, in Brabant, in Alsace, and in Lorraine? Do you not see amid the maiming and slaughter of innocent, unarmed old men, women, children ,and infants at the breasts, that the Kaiser lias covered our nation with imperishable infamy, and that the toll of war means the sacrifice of the precious lives of toilers and wage-earners in a devilish campaign, barbarous in its methods upon sea a s upon land. THE RUIN OF FIVE MONTHS. “Already in five months our homes, our trade, our (enterprises have been ruined for at least 50 years, and if the war continues loss cf life and economic devastation will scourge the Fatherland for a century. “We know from authentic intelligence which reaches ns that a restless, indignant ,an.d deceived democracy,, now undergoing privations and nursing its griefs, cannot be restrained by force 'from active protest, and we must 'earnestly appeal to every comrade who cares for the maintenance of international obligations to strive his utmost to crush and sweep away for ever the domination of Prussian militarism within Germany which, by its conspiracy against humanity, has disgraced and humiliated our nation in the eyes of the civilised world. “(Signed) Karl Bernstein, Jacob Mamelsdorf, Emil Gott, Conrad Scbwabe, Gustav Ochs, Ernst Schuster, Franz Ganssen, Albreacht Zettel. “Rotterdam, December 29, 1914.”