GERMANY'S DEFENSIVE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 October 1917, Page 7

GERMANY'S DEFENSIVE WAR.

How well the Beichstag's as to their "defensive war" accords with the policy initiated by Bismarck. The position to-day is analogous with that of 1870. Mark how even the terms repeat themselves. When Bismarck, Boon (the War Minister) and Moltke had concluded their infamous compact war, "the two generals suddenly recovered their pleasure in eating and drinking," Bismarck tells us, adding that Eoon said: "Our God of old lives still, and will not let us perish in disgrace." That after the fabrication of the Ems telegram, which deliberately precipitated the war. Truly the Kaiser has read well. We can follow the militarist spirit further. Germany has cried out for Hindenburg as a military dictator. Bismarck wished to be a sort of dictator, with the aid of his military confederates. "How keenly," he says of Moltke ''he wanted to put in practice his military and strategic tastes, I observed not on this occasion only. . . His love of combat and delight in battles were a great support to me." Moltke's comment on the war-compelling forgery was: "If I m'ay but live to lead our armies, then the devil may come directly afterwards and fetch away my old carcase." To-day it is the Crown Prince whose soldiers "could fetch men out of hell."