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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 224, 21 March 1914, Page 4

WAR ALARMISTS. Periodically attempts are made to startle the civilised world by rumors of impending wars. At times there is method in this madness, but, generally speaking', there exists no valid reason for the alarms. At the present time it so happens that there is much attention being devoted to the possibility of hostilities occurring between- France and Russia, and by way of a change from this dire calamity a German firebrand, Col. Frobenius, lias issued a pamphlet in which it is alleged that Britain is "crouching for an attack on Germany,'' that Russia and France are preparing, and that a war will take place in the spring of 1916 at the latest. Most of these agitating rumors are to be set down to sensation-mongering by tbe foreign press, but whether they are inspired or engineered by the military parties in the Continental capitals is a matter for conjecture. These bellicose utterances may or may not be made with malice prepense, but that there is

some purpose, which is not revealed, at. the back of the agitation is evident. Jt is significant that there has been an anti-Russian outburst in Germany, a similar excitement in Austria-Hungary, and so that Britain shall not be left out of the calculations a German officer very kindly steps into the arena to 'announce that Britain is crouching for a spring at Germany. France, for the time being, is ignored, and for obvious reasons. A little reflection will surely pierce these tangled obscurities. The recent decision to increase the French army and put it on a footing that will enable it to take the field witli credit was emphasised by the trouble in Alsace—the thorn in-Germany's side. Russia's pretentious 'scheme oi naval and military expansion seems to have been taken as a menace both by Austria and Germany. The last-named Power is ever ready to seize an excuse for increased armaments. Then, again, to justify the enormous increase in expenditure by the Continental Powers to meet their warlike preparations some ostensible reasons for the taxation involved must be shown, and nothing is so easy as to set on foot a war scare. The amusing pamphlet of Col. Frobenius may be regarded merely as a red herring drawn across the scent. In all probability after the alarms have served their purpose they will disappear until the time arrives when they will once more be useful. Speaking at the Press Conference in 1909, Lord Rosebery said: "There is a hush in Europe, a hush in which you can almost hear a leaf fall. All forebodes peace, and yet there never was in the history of the world so threatening and so overwhelming a preparation for war. That is a sign which I confess I regard as most ominous." The same remarks might be made to-day, for, in reality, there is no sign of war, although the hush no longer exists. It is well-known that in Germany, Russia, and Austrl* there are strong military parties who are always ready to advocate a rupture. Let it be charitably attributed to the nature of their profession, and not to personal ambition. The most likely rerison for these recent war alarms is the one already referred to —that of justifying the abnormal expenditure on warlike preparations. To most people who watcli the game there must come a feeling of pity for the long-suf-fering taxpayers, ami it seems deplorable that patriotism should have to be stimulated by such paltry means as those which arc at present being adopted. To put the 'matter plainly, this method of stirring up the elements of strife is nothing more or less than utilising the stock in trade of the confidence trickster. Britain can afford to treat with silent contempt such trash as that which is contained in Colonel Frobenius' pamphlet, and it should not be long before the dust and smoke raised by the scaremongers disappear from the ho.'izon and the hush of peace once more steals o'er the troubled air.