The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1915. TEUTONIC MENTAL ACROBATICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1915. TEUTONIC MENTAL ACROBATICS.

Those who read the remarkable speech made by the German Chancellor (Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg) in the Reichstag, as reported elsewhere is this issue, cannot fail to be astounded at its wilful distortion of facts. It would almost seem as if the Chancellor saw things upside down, and that he had attained a unique proficiency in the art of performing mental acrobatics. The light" in which he places the Allies' negotiations with Bulgaria is astounding when conwared with the facts of the case, but to state that Russa had left Bulgaria in tlie lurch is a fiction that pays ft tribute to the German scientific perversion of facta. The cable mtMOfle ii by

no means a3 clear as it might be, but the tenor of the Chancellor's remarks may be taken to indicate that Serbia was the aggressor of Bulgaria as well as of Austro-Germany. This, of course, is on all fours with the impudent assertion that it was the Allies who forced Germany into the war for which she had been preparing for the best part of half a century. It 13 significant that Herr Hollweg lays considerable stress 011 Germany's need of an open road to the Near East, and it is only to be expected that lie should have expressed the nation's thanks to the Bulgarian King for his assistance in this direction. Hitherto Germany has boasted that she can produce all that she requires, but it will be noted that the Chancellor first regards this open road as a military necessity, and then as an avenue for Turkish produce imported into Germany, but above all is the road to bo used for "the universal work of Kultur." Turkey should certainly take alarm at such a prospect in view of the horrible atrocities committed by the Allies in the name of Kultur. Turkey and Kultur! The very thought of such a combination is enough to produce a succession of cold shivers. Surely Turkey, as evidenced in her dealings with the Armenians and Bulgarians, is sufficiently fiendish without taking a leaf out of Germany's book, It is not surprising to find that the German Chancellor takes exception to [ Britain's use of her fleet to protect her armies from Greek treachery. Such a course does not suit that part of the German plans which had for their aim the driving of the Allies into the sea. Britain's sea power is one great factor that Germany knows will suffice to thwart her boundless ambition. It is characteristic of German mental acrobatics that Britain's precautions are designated a breach of Greek neutrality, although the Allies were invited by Greece to land forces at Salonika. Equally fallacious is the statement that Britain desires to punish Germany for violating Belgian territory, and that *h« was tied up with France without the knowledge of the British Parliament, "Sir E. Grey being forced to join the war before the question of Belgium's neutrality ever arose." The thoroughness of the German lie factory is well understood, but that the chief Minister of State should officially make such a deliberately false statment shows to what depths of ignominy Kultur has brought the nation. The venomous attack made by Herr Hollweg on Britain indicates most plainly that the magnificent work carried out during the war by the British Empire is causing a dementia among the high authorities of the Fatherland, somewhat akin to that which prompts newly caged carnivora to dash against the bars. The Chancellor has made the discovery that the world's laughter is being continued to pleaseEngland. It was a brilliant conception, eminently worthy of the fertile imagination of a German. When the world laughs at Britain it will be at Germany's expense, meanwhile let the Germans laugh if they can only gc-t rid of the bad habit of snarling, and thereby publishing to the world their ill temper at not getting their own way. Germany, we are told is not seeking peace, but the longer the war lasts the more severe will be her peac terms. It is as well to know this, for it will justify tk« Allies in adopting the same'policy. All the bombast of the German Chancellor is mere playing to the gallery, and intended to revive the drooping spirits of the people, who are only allowed to know jast what the authorities permit. Napoleon talked in much- the same sort of way, but he fell, and in spite of all their boasting a similar fate awaits Germany. The deluded citizens of Berlin as they knock nails into the effigy of Hindenburg may swallow He'rr Hollweg's statements and endeavor to digest them, but what they are yearning to know is the extent of the terrible toll of blood and treasure which have been so lavishly expended, or, better still, when th'e promised victory will arrive. There must be some, however, who can read the writing 011 the wall, and for these the truth is far more valuable than arrogant boasting of invincibility of the armies of Germany and her confederates. The British people can accept reverses with equanimity, confident in the ultimate issue of this war against tyranny and world dominance.