DESPOLIATION OF FRANCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 September 1918, Page 2

DESPOLIATION OF FRANCE.

The Germans give the world slight chance of entertaining any feelings towards them except scorn and anger. If ever the fire of righteous indignation which has burned in every civilised country for four years showed signs of abating Germany has furnished it with fresh fuel and fanned it to new heat by another form of outrage. It appears as if this stupid policy of provocation were to continue •t i the end. When they retired to the i .:L;denburg line last year the Gerr::a;.s burned towns and villages and r .vaged the country through whir they retreated. This wanton destruc t':n raised a passion of fury in France and other Allied countries were moved ij'Tiost as deeply. The Germans have had ample time to learn of the emotions their conduct aroused, and any people but Germans would . have detected a hardening of resolution to ac •"■•nrjlish their utter defeat, a deep an enduring anger that boded ill for them if they were compelled to suo for peace. But Prussia learns nothing and abates nothing of her frightfulncss. Her soldiery is again turning well-built towns into heaps of rubbish and ruining whole districts. Up till now the Germans have been retreating through the territory they devastated so thoroughly when they last sought sanctuary in the Hindenburg line", but in the Flanders salient and east of Arras they are commencing to break new ground, and they are repeating the tactics they employed last spring. It is hardly necessary to say that these are a breach of the customs hitherto maintained iff European warfare. Most of this action has a direct military advantage, but one which civilised combatants have hitherto sacrificed for the same reasons as lecT them to respect open towns, passenger vessels, women and children, and the sick and wounded, Some writers have credited the enemy with the intention of retiring from one line to another this year and next year, destroying every town he evacuates in the hope of weakening the resolution of France. The hope is false. The temper of France is fine steel and the ultimate sufferer will be Germany, not Franc*. The Allies have declared their intention of exacting reparation, and if Germany attempts to destroy Northern France she will find herself faced ' with a bill of damages far exceeding I her wildest dream of indemnities. The j time is opportune for the Allies to j state specifically that every French and Belgian town which has been wantonly destroyed Trill be rebuilt by German capital. Gesman industry, and German material.