GERMAN IDEAS OF VICTORY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 1 August 1917, Page 5

GERMAN IDEAS OF VICTORY.

(By Malcolm Eoss.) BELGIUM, June 5. The principal officer who was with the Germans who came to Neuve Eglise was a wealthy financier who had shares in gold mines and various businesses. H e spoke six or seven languages and was an educated man With him the Burgomaster had many conversations. He said the war would bo all over by Christmas. The French would be soon defeated and then the Germans would go back and spend Christmas in their own country. Afterwards they would beat Uhe Russians. They would demand a large indemnity from France and also the French Colonies, which were no good to the French because of their decreasing population. Indeed, it would be a good thing for the French if the Germans took their colonies, because the French were not good colonisers, whereas the Germans had an increasing population, and required colonies. At present they had to send their young men out to the French and English Colonies and to America, and they became citizens of these foreign countries. That would now be altered. Therefore the (Germans intended £o overrun France, and with the indemnity which they would get they would develop the French Colonies. “As for Belgium,” he said, “you ought to have let us come through your country unopposed. If you had done this you would have prevented all this. You might have made some little show of opposition. and then let us come through We shall probably not take Belgium, but Antwerp we shall -take, because it is necessary for us to have that port. But we shall give a portion of Belgium to Holland, because she has remained neutral. Another portion of Belgium we shall give to Luxemburg.” In that case what will be left of Belgium?” asked the Burgomaster. “That,” replied the officer, “is your own fault. “We know wo have no right to Belgium, but necessity knows no law.”

As to the English Army, they hold that it was absolutely contemptible. The Belgians, they said, fought well at first, but the French ran away, and the English sheltered themselves behind the French. The Germane thought nothing of the English at ail. The English Army was of no importance whatever