BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 237, 30 September 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

"IiNVASIOX OF ENGLAND." SOME OPINIONS OF GERMAN DESIGNS. During a debate on the Old Age Peaeions Bill in the House of Lords, both Lord Uo-ebery and Lord Crouivr delivered remarkable speeches, the lteyaolo of which was a fear that the financial burden of old age pensions would result iu starving thvj national defences. Lord llosebery asked the Government for an as»uraace that they were uut dealing a blow at the Empire, and Lord Cromer delivered a serious warning on thu gravity of spending money on such a scheme when the Government should be making provision for a European war, 'Svlneh may not improbably be forced upon us before many yi\irs lliu'e elapsed." A German newspaper, in reply, emptied its scorn on Lord Cromer's apprehensions. Still, the existence of some degree of "war scare" in wellinformed circles at Home is indicated in several directions. Writes Mr. H: W. Lucy to the Sydney Morning Herald, under date July 31: — "Sir Edward Grey's reference to Germany, pointedly dragged into a speech in committee, of supply o:i Monday night, alTords significant testimony to the existence of a grave apprehension that possesses important sections of public men. It is born of the conviction that the determined policy of Germany is the destruction of

this country, to which end all the forces of the Empire are secretly devoted. Tliev believe that the Emperor William, affectionate nephew of k.:ig Edward VII., avowed admirer of British institutions, from time to time an honored guest, has devoted himself heart and soul to the carrying out of this perfidious purpose. Amongst par. ticular proofs citvd of the soundness of tJie suspicion is the cireumstaa.-! that three years hence the G»mun navy estimates will amount to 23 millions, being double what they were lsss than twelve months ago, when the Ga-*-

man Emperor, entertained at the Riiildhnll, declared tflwt the desire of his heart was to maintain pacific relations with all the world, mor< particularly with his Moved England. "What strikes me in connection with this caro is the character of some of till® men who avowedly submit thcr;.selvcs to it. I hove heard otic of our greatest. f KieM M&rshals, talking UlB matter over in fhc privacy of the dinner tsiMe, slate his (lelilrt'rato, opinion' that Oermir.i is, and for a long tin.e lias liecn, preparing for an invrsion of lie Relieves that when th 1 * Mow full- i'. will ba witJii double force (ic.rnuinv will suddenly pick a quarrel' with Frame, will march straight on Paris, will iviirfi its gates within the [ period of live days (in these circumstances tlmre is nothing like precision); will storm the capital, and, as the price of pi .ice, will annex the FriicH fleet. Thus reinforced it will lie strong enough to hold the Channel passage whilst its troops pour into napUss England. ( "This sounds like the maunderin?* of a lunatic, or an extract from Hileading columns of a London halfpenny newspaper. It is the opinion, ralm'v expresswl, of a great soldier, who Ws proved himself in emergencies a levltreaded man. ITc 'expresses tlio opinion of many authorities in liis profession. Nor is the army singular in tVs view. The navv is united with it in conviction of fiermini designs, to the d.'f'.iiof which navnl manoeuvre* ill honif. watcis chieflv directed. Here a win T testifv. not from rumor, hut fro .1 knowledve of the views of 071." of any uin-t active, most. capable ailmirals In high command."