The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1911. "STAND FIRM, WILHELM!"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 63, 5 September 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1911. "STAND FIRM, WILHELM!"

The "warlike spirit' - ' of our friends the > Germans has been, it is reported, stirred by the Sedan Day celebrations, and a voice, which is not necessarily the voice of Germany, has shouted to the Kaiser, "Stand firm, Wilhelm!" The Emperor, although less bombastic than usual, has lately spoken about his navy and the "place which is Germany's due," there have been wild outbursts of anglophobia in Berlin and elsewhere, and if one is inclined to accept llic evidence tendered by cables. Germany is aching for war with Britain, the excuse for this possible entry into a terrible and dcTastating sea campaign being Morocco. The industrial upheaval at Home has perhaps overshadowed the very grave international situation, but throughout it has been seen that, with the proverbial bombast, Germany has not ceased to threaten. While it is not wise always to accept evidence that may be carefully colored, one is entitled to regard the great advance in war rates imposed by Lloyds as a distinctly unfavorable sign. France's .breach of the Algeciras Treaty defining the spheres of influence in Morocco is the excuse for a quarrel in which Britain is joined in its position of an umpire, who, also having interests, insists on fair play. It will be remembered that Mr. Lloyd George in July ; made a very pointed speech on the Moroccan situation, and this was most gladly received in certain excitable quarters in Germany as almost a challenge. An extract from the last Frankfurter Zeitung shows clearly the temper of the German Government during July. The paper said: The people of London should realise that it will not do to thrust back a great nation—equal to if not superior to the British in point of numbers—from every place where it seeks a sphere of national expansion in preparation for future possibilities. Such a policy is, in the long run, absolutely dangerous for the peace of the world. It is almost inevitable, in the nature of things, that a nation hemmed in in a narrow space, with her peaceful expansion blocked, will one dav violently burst the fetters by which it is sought to hold her. If our national necessities were properly understood in Great Britain, we should not only surmount temporary differences, but perhaps come to an understanding, or even an alliance, which would really endow the world with permanent peace. If needful we could command it.

Since then many things have happened, the most notable being the. great industrial unheavals and the political unrest, inspiring the German nation to an aggressiveness that is far from promising "the world's permanent peace." France at present refuses to be bound, and the mission of M. Canibon to Berlin to definitely fell the German nation thatFrancc will go so far and no further in regard to concessions of French territory would seem to imply that Britain is slrenghtening the hand of France, and giving her the courage to meet bluff with a countcr- > stroke. Germany's aggressive, action in landing shore parties at Agidir can only 1 he construed either into a desire on her part to take any risk that might eventuate, or a belief that under the circumstances she was legally safe in her movement. If Germany really desires war. she desires if only because she is thirsting for an outlet for her people, and must have new territory. In a war with Britain, she risks the loss of her navy, and the prestige she has gained by her commercial genius aided by her intolerable boaslfulness and the waving of the mailed fist, lie who believes that war between Germany and Britain is inevitable should believe also that there is no time like the present for the enactment of this supreme tragedy. If cousin must cut the throat of cousin, now is the time. If it is necessary in order to gain small ends to risk inconceivably great riches and tens of thousands of lives, now is the time. If the unthinkably powerful British navy

must bo willed upon to make scrup-ivon of Germany's fleet, now is the time. If war must eomc, the sooner it is over the snfer for our Empire. We in these remote and unpeopled lands are not uninterested in these, potential horrors, even though',! football match appears the i' more important. Such a war would hit us like a steam-hammer. Despite the temper of the (lerman mob and the advice, of a voice to Wilhelm maybe wiser counsels may prevail. liy every tie of blood and interest and commerce the two related nations should 'be banded as brothers. In no conceivable way can war help either country whichever side may win. but a war can leave a black legacy of hate, sickness, destitution and utter wretchedness that the most glorious of "victories" could not wipe out in a century.