PRUSSIAN BOASTING.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 March 1918, Page 3

PRUSSIAN BOASTING.

“VICTORY ON ALL FRONTS.”

Among the special New Year articles published in German new spapers was one contributed to the fetrajssburg Post by Or, Stresemann, who was recently elected chairman of the National Liberal group of Deputies in the Reichstag. He states that the movement in England in favour of peace, which the Marquess of Lansdowne’s letter proves to be so widespread and powerful, is the direct result of the successfully submarine war.

German publicises have previously maintained that the entry of America is a matter of no consequence, but Dr Stresemann admits that it renders the situation more complicated, especially as the example of the United States has been followed by almost all the other countries of the American continent. Dr. Stresemann believes that the United States can train great numbers of soldiers, but as the problem of transporting them to Europe has yet to be solved, he expresses confidence that nothing can now prevent the German armies from achieving a great victory on the western fronts Seeing that the Central Powers cannot now be prevented from achieving a military victory on all fronts. Dr. Stresemann trusts that the diplomatic victory w r ill be as complete. He considers the moment inopportune for discussing details, but expresses the hope that as far as the eastern front is concerned Germany’s frontiers will be made secure by preventing the B'altic Provinces from falling under non-German dominion, which will also benefit the inhabitants of those piovinccs by safeguarding the fruits of centuries of Kultur.

Speaking at a patriotic gathering in Berlin, Count Westarp, the leader of the Conservative Party, informed the audience that the Western Powers, having failed to master the submarines, are waiting in anxious suspense blows from the Germa sword on the Western front. He declared that whether the Gormans will or not they must break down the English supremacy of ; the seas for the sake of their own existence, and he expressed the conviction that 'the situation at the end of the year is a guarantee that Prussian Germany will attain its aim this time. The Count evoked tumuluous applause jby saying that the German sees God’s guiding hand in all great world decisions, and that he believes with Hindcnburg that “the blessing of God was o.h our arms in 1917, and He will load your just cause to a victorious end in 1918;”

The Committee for Fereign Affairs of the Hungarian Delegation has issued a report, in which it expresses complete accord wdth Count Czcrnin’s policy in regard to peace, and repudiates with indignation the suggestion that the right to determine their own fate can be claimed by nations -within the boundaries of the Dual Monarchy. The report declares that the action of those Austrian politicians who did not shrink from openly supporting such a suggestion “thus placing themselves on the side of our enemies,” was treason to the country. 'Wlhilo many Germany newspapers openly, and the German Reichstag tacitly, approve the action and procedure of the Government, the Independent Socialists show another side of the situation. Their leading organ, the Lcipsic Volkszeitung, declares that the disclosure of German war aims in the East seriously affects the prospects of peace, for, it adds the peace movement can make no progress in Entente countries as long as the German Government strives after such conquests. There is, furthermore, it observes, no longer any doubt that the programme of the Central Powers includes extensive conquests and it is not surprised that the nations of the Entente say to themselves: “If these are the German war aims in the east, what will their aims be in the west?”