Germany.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 302, 31 May 1915, Page 6

Germany.

THE CHANCELLOR ANNOYED. BITTER WORDS FOR. ITALY. A SCATHING SPEECH. Seem ed May 30, 3.30 p m. Amsterdam, May 2!). Ilerr von Bethmann-Holhvcg, in a violent outburst in the Reichstag, said Italy liad inscribed in tlie book of liistory her violation of faith in ineffacabb letters (if blood. It was her war, and she directly made war, as nobody threatened Italy, neither Austria-Hungary nor Germany. She might without bloodshed have secured a long list of concession". Perhaps she wished to conquer the German Tyrol, and if so it was "hands off." Jle denied the offers came too late, for Italy had engaged herself long beforehand so deeply with the Triple Entente that she was unable to disentangle herself. The Cabinet at Rome had manifested fluctuations as far back as December, and had shown that it was always useful to have two irons in the fire. Italy had before shown a predilection for extra dances, but this was no ballroom. It was n bloody battlefield, on which Germany and Austria-Hungary were fighting for their lives against a world of pigmies, Italian statesmen had played against Italy the same game as against the Triplice. The majority in Parliament and of the people early in May did not desire iVar, but coyimonsensc says the mob alone ruled. With the assistance of leading statesmen of the Cabinet, and fed with the Triple Entente's gold, the mob, under the guidance of unscrupulous war agitators, was roused to a frenzy for blood and threatened the King with revolution and all moderate men with murder unless they joined in the" war delirium. Italians were intentionally kept in the dark regarding Austria's far-reaching concessions. Jn the frenzy for war, honest politicians grew' dumb. After paying a tribute to Prince von Iluclow's efforts and predicting the cen- ~ tral Powers would triumph, he eulogised Turkey's victorious resistance at the ' Dardanelles, where our enemies had '' vainly summoned against us all the forces of the world. It was a gigantic coalition of brave soldiers, and we do not despise our enemies as our adversaries ' like to do. He ridiculed the British Government's publication of evidence of un--3 name d witnesses of the alleged cruelties in Belgium. They were so monstrous that only r.iad brains could believe. He accused France o!' concealing severe losses of the Allies in the east and west, and added: "We are relying on a good conscience and a just cause for a victorious sword. We will not allow ourselves to 3 be forced a hairsbreadth from tiie path, for we always recognised we were right. Not in hatred, but in holy anger, do we wage this war. The more wildly tlie storm rages the more firmly must you build your house for loyal co-operation throughout, and earning your Kaiser's ' warm thanks." ? Prolonged applause followed the speech, the abusive passages of which were received with frantic cheers.