The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. GERMANY'S JUMP FOR PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. GERMANY'S JUMP FOR PEACE.

The German newspapers cannot fail to alio I'd infinite amusement to the people of the Allied nations. Just now they have been indulging in a series of delirious outbursts over the fall of Warsaw. but now that the utter barrenness of victory is dawning on their exalted intelligence some of the prominent journals are exercising their .peculiarly imaginative talents with the object of demonstrating tit important results that

will ensue from the occupation of Warsaw. The Vossiclie Zoitung has Bet a noteworthy example in this respect by proclaiming that the capitulation of Warsaw is a " grout stride " nearer peace —a peace that wiil only follow, t-he ruin of the enowlea' armies." This iits in well with the pronouncement of another German newspaper that the 'British would be swept out of I'Vance. But the crux of the Vossiclie Zeitung's message to the German people is that the inin of the enemies' armies will he attained toy reason of the conquered Vistula line having become a springboard for tliis punpose. If we are to take this journal's remarks litemlly and seriously, Germany's future operations jvill proceed, not only in great strides, but by lea>ps and bounds. The notion of the German Army leaping over its enemies by the mechanical aid of a aprJngiboard is one that aptly illustrates the depth of absurdity to wliicli the German press has descended. Xo doubt the vvdsih is father to the thought, but, none the less, the idea is amusing. This jumping for peaee may have another and more sulrtle meaning. It would seem to indicate, reading 'between tlie lines, that the desire for peace is becoming an obsessing .factor in Germany, and that the spirit of desperation is abroad. There is a limit even to German resources, and, tliough that lias not yet been readied —may even <be afar off-—yet tile colossal losses inflicted on the German loroes, Ibotli in the East and in the West,, can: no,t fail to co,nv.i,nce tiae people e r f that; country-that defeat is at least possible, although, in their intense patriotism, it would 'be the rankest heresy to breathe life into the thought. So far from Germany being able to snatch peace by the means suggested by tile Vossiclie Zeitung, the illusion will be speedily dispelled. As yet, she has not had to face the full force and strength ef the Allies, and when &he does there will foe no springboard victories, for the struggle will be the most stulbborn and detidly t.lnat the world has ever seen. Of the ultimate issue there is no doubt in tile minds of all the Allied nations, and. whether the end lie near or distant, the 'peace that will follow the struggle will not lie based 011 the ruin of the Allies' amies, but on the sacred rights of freedom and justice, and the crushing of the German military brutality and oppression. The jump from the Vistula springboard is likely to land tlie Germans into a pitfall from which-they can only be extricated bv the compassion and humane action of their conquerors.