"IF WE ARE DEFEATED."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 282, 7 May 1915, Page 2

"IF WE ARE DEFEATED."

GERMiAX Oi'IXIOX CHANGING;. BRITAIN TilH CHIEF ENEMY.. • London. March 12. Germans seem to realise nowadays that tlioy have run against a very serious adversary on land as well as.an sea in Great Britain—or, rather, we ought to say, tile British Empire, seeing tliat French's " contemptible little army " will presently embrace imits from every quarter of the globe where- Kipling's " liloomiii'' ' old' raj: '"' floats overhead. According to an article reproduced from the Iliimburgher Nachrichten by our Press Bureau,. W8- are' " t'llo-"' ononiy- to be taken most seriously. Hence the '■ Ilynm of Hate," and other violent tirades against England.. The Hamburg newspaper said, ill the course of tile article in question:—• " The increased vigor with which Germany has recently pressed the offensive England is, without doubt, a gratifying symptom of the present phase of the campaign. Germany's position, both in the east and west, is sueli as to enable her to 'prosecute the offensive against her chief enemy oven more vigorously than ever. Against her chief enemy! That fact we must conijixue to keep, clearly before us. Our nigh military commanders have repeatedly declared that the Englsli long-ser-vice soldier is an adversary to be taken very seriously, and tile result of naval engagements tip to the present has proved that the .English Xavy fully realises the extent of its duties and responsibilities. it, therefore, follows that the Lonliiet with England will demand fresh exertions and sacrilic.es. We shall do well 'to steel our hearts betimes. ,But this cannot and should not Hinder us from conducting the war with England with out uttermost energy, ready to sacrifice the higuest ana me Ue.sc we have to give."

BRITAIN'S ENDURANCE. The Hamburg paper assures us that, whereas German economic life has in almost every direction returned to its normal course or with astonishing adaptability turned into fresh channels in order to reattain its former high level of productiveness and prosperity, English foreign trade has not yet succeeded in movering from the heavy blows dealt it by the war, and that England's losses at sea are already so heavy that the British Admiralty is '• driven to resort to every kind ot evasion and denial in order to calm public opinion." Notwithstanding these facts, however, the Xacli-i-ichten informs its readers' that " there could be no greater error than to underestimate the importance of the war with England, which is only now entering upon its first serious stage. In all the wars which she has waged in the past, England has fought with persistence and endurance, which qualities will doubtless be again revealed in the present struggle. But we Germans are not only aware of our own powers and of the weak spot where we can pierce England's , armor. We realise for what stakes we are playing.

jJFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE. "The entire world is looking oil at this war between Germany and England. Tiie country which goes* under in this straggle will lose beyond all words in the estimation of the whole world, while its fall will add power and prestige to the victor. And the recognition of the fact that the victory of England would destroy Germany's future for centuries to come must spur us on to the greatest rtlorts and sacrifices. iA German defeat apart from any war indemnity with' which iUture generations must be burdened, would, in all probability so cripple our resources that we should no longer lie able to even contemplate the reconstruction of our military and <\o- ■ lonm- I,irees, or the creation' of a iroeC to vie with that of England our most pressing need in the future! With this knowledge, and with the consciousness that we have staked onr all, and that it England, on,- most hated and most dangerous enemy, should succeed ui conquering Germany, she would huniili--1111,1 <-ram|i!e en us to the uttermost «•<; must enter upon this „trugle with ** teedi, registering a vow tluit in the «ai asinist England we are jovfullv |>: epared to sacrifice the best that Ger- ' slieiig.h and courage, German grit : mid patriotism, can oiler " „t T £ '?!-• «<> lo«?c-r jeers lit til, Hi itisli soldier as a mere "iner'."T y ** consideration as a "''viTSiiry, nor does it mock at O.ir e oris to create fresh armies. And, It Udl be noted, the Xaehriehten ; vhtlf !i" """■I" I '*, t0 ! "' liU,,> eld t ■■idi J • forgot! en its ti.uiuu.ns, „or tailed to realise its duties and responsibilities. There is in , , l "" " tK 'e the liritish \rniv J 1 ."! : 5, "7 have * J i»<!eed, bold lo '". l il, 'V''-sary so ronnidnble .'„id • ••■• i.emy, ami »>!,. fit be ove'vom ■ '■!';' ■ exertion and sacri-''VTln.-nrS". i j 1 " contrast between these ei'ulv Vi-'h' ts ,'f J-MMsni and (lie later ~ tlu ! !'»• aetuai situation.