THE GREEDY HUN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 211, 14 October 1916, Page 6

THE GREEDY HUN.

Germany's avowed designs on lYance", which have been openly discussed in the speeches of the Kaiser and in writings by German statesmen, philosophers, and scientists, have caused much sensation here. these designs., says M. Lavisse, are aimed especially at France and Belgium. The Germans do not hope to destroy Russia; they wish to push her back. They do not hope to destroy England; they wish to take away her empire of the seas. Belgium, on the other hand, is to disappear completely. "We have conquered it," they say. "Our people wish to keep it, and keep it we must." As to France, so runs the German claim, "we cannot forget that France possesses a large colonial empire, which would undoubtedly be of immense service to us." And this is the fate reserved for Continental France: *Tt is for us of vital interest that we should possess t-ae French coast from Belgium as far as the Somme."

"Everybody knows," said M. Lavisse, in his passionate exhortation, "that Germany has constructed upon cur frontier the most formidable of fortresses known. All' these German fortresses, these strategic lines, this ao-

cumulation of forces on our frontier, do not menace France, according to -the German argument; but Toul, Ver<lun, and Belfort menace Germany. iThey propose to advance their frontier to the line of the Meuse. Now. if they were to acquire this line, France would lose all or part of the depar - ments of the Ardennes, the Meuse, Meurthe-et-Moselle, the Vosges, and the territory of Belfort. As they have not dared to name the figure of a war indemnity, it must be enormous. Com.anonly in Germany they speak of 20,000,000,000 francs, some mention 30,000,000,000, and some as much as 40,000,000,000. In summing up, M. Lavisse shows that the result would be 3iot onh' to rain France, but the enslavement of all Frenchmen.