GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 310, 9 February 1910, Page 7

GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

ROBERT BLATCHFOP.D'S J-'TIRRiNG APPEAL. A remarkable series of articles lias recently been contributed to the London Daily Mail by Mr. R. BlatcMord, on "England and Germany." The articlas, which created extraordinary interest in both countries, have been republished in pamphlet form, and orders for three 'hundred thousand copies were received 'on the first day of publication. The it is scarcely necessary to add, is the well-known srv-',a!ist and editor 'of the Clarion. Hi- was a soldier iii the British Arm ;' jr seven years, and lately attended the military manoeuvres in Germany as the special representative of the Dailv .Mail. We eonde.we the fir=t article: — I. I write these articles because I believe that Germany is deliberately preparing to destroy the British Empire; and because I know that we are not able or ready to defend ourselves against a sudden and formidable attack. I write from a sense of duty, and from a conviction that the destruction of the British Empire would be a misfortune for Europe and a blow to civilisation throughout the world. I take this' course against my own interests and against the feeling of most of my political and many of my private friends. The Empire is in danger, but the people do not believe it. They have been taught to regard the German menace as a wild scare of invasion, and they believe the Navy can protect them while they make their money or take their ease. Germany is preparing to attack us because we stand in the way 01 her ambitions. World - domination, conquest! That ■was the dream of Babylon, of Persia, of Greece, of Rome, of Spain, and France, and Russia. It is the dream of Gtrmany to-day. Why should Germany attack Britain? Because Germany and Britain are commercial and political rivals; because Germany covets the trade, the colonies, the influence, and the Empire which Britain now possesses: because Germany, having defeated France and made friends with Austria, and having no fear of Russia for some years to come, feels that Britain is her only dangerous opponent. Finally, and this I would say with emphasis. German will attack Britain because she knows herself to be strong, and because she believes that Britain, her rich and influential rival, has grown fat and impotent and would fall an easy victim to a well-planned, resolute, and powerful attack. The policy of Germany is the Bismarckian policy of deliberate and ruthless conquest, with world-dominion for its goal. The • traditional policy of Britain is the expansion of the Empire and the maintenance of the balance of power in Europe. The strongest evidence -ai Germany's designs asrainst Britain i» the German naval preparations. When her programme is completed Germany will have a fleet of at least ■•.thirty, and probably fifty, battleships of the Dreadnought and super-Dreadnought class. But German energy has not confined itself to' the construction of a number of ships as laid down in the various' Naval Acts. Every effort ha,? been made to increase the capacity for rapid construction of ships and guns. Two years ago we could outbuild and outgun Germany with enw. But to-day it is doubtful whether we can build as rapidly or arm as rapidly as she.

But the Germans have not confined themselves, as we have, to the building mid arming of battleships. They have fortified Heligoland, and are working night and day at a harbor there. They ar« widening the Kiel Canal. They are constructing or have constructed seventeen docks capable of holding ships of the largest class. How many submarines and torpedoboats and destroyers the Germans have built and hidden in their norts and rivei's German secrecv makes it impossible to say; but we knew that the number is large. Mines, again, have been made in vast quantities, and will be largely used in any naval war which Germany may wage. All these preparations, it must be remembered, are made in the North Sea and its tributaries'. lit is in the North Sea that the German Navy means to fight. Against whom? Not the Chinese, nor the South American Republics, nor the Danes. No; obviously against the nation which is so wisely sure of German friendship, so sanely convinced of the criminal folly of the Jingoes who take a perverse delight in fomenting mischievous and ridiculous war "scares," And then there is Emden. with its "long quays." At Emden, which is a small, obscure town, every preparation has been made for the embarkation of enormous masses of troops. Against whom could such troops be used? Not against Russia; not against France, which could be so much more easily and effectually assailed by land. No; the long quays were made for the embarkation of an army for the invasion of England. If the long quays were made for any other purpose they were made by fools. Now, the Germans are siot fools. Weighing the evidence calmly and dispassionately, I feel it my duty to declare my conviction that the British Empire is to-day confronted by the most tremendous danger that has ever threatened its existence. The Pan-Germanic policy is based upon Bismarck's theory: ''The destiny of Germany must be worked out m blood and iron." It is a blood and iron policy, and all hopes of overcoming it by a policy of milk ;tnd water are doomed to failure. No. If we do not want war with Germany we must be strong enough to cause Germany to want peace. The French were defeated by tlie Germans' because they were not ready; the Spaniards were defeated by the American because tlrv were not readv; the Russians were defeated by the Japanese bcause they were not ready, We are not ready:' Germany is ready. We are never ready: Germany is always ready. (To be continued to-morrow}.