The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. GERMAN DESIGNS ON AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1916. GERMAN DESIGNS ON AUSTRALIA.

In to-day's cables from Amsterdam appears an extract from the Neue Zurchsr Zeitung, in which it is stated that the measures under consideration for meeting Germany's post war financial liabilities include war indemnities, the whole yield oi the Australian tin mines and of the South African gold mines, besides a tew other trifles that may be found useful. It is certainly interesting to learn how Germany proposes to rebuild her linancial structure which, by the time the war ends, will have become a heap of ruins. Doubtless, Australia will be greatly interested to know the part she is to play in Germany's financial regeneration. The timely hint given should enable our sister Dominion to make satisfactory arrangements so as (o prevent Germany being disappointed if the stock of tin is not so extensive ni the Huns expect, but whether the Commonwealth will be disposed, out of sheer pity for ttie desperate financial straits of our present enemy in chief, to accumulate a large stock of other valuable minerals—such as gold for instance —wherewith to supplement the yield from the tin mines is not quite so certain as the Germans could desire. We are not told in what manner New Zea land is er-.pccted to augment the German relief fund, but there is gold, coal, w r.i!, dairy produce, and a few other trifles thet might bo of use. The Neue ZuiYher Zeitung does not disclose whether .the Australian and South' African contributions a!"' to be charitable gifts or compulsory mandates. Possibly this may depend on Germany's position at liu close of the war. At present, Britain, the Dominions, and ithe Allies are deter mined to prosecute the war to a successful conclusion, no matter bow long it lasts. The consummation of that policy presupposes the crushing of Germany, and there is even a wicked moven.eiit on foot—from a Teutonic point of view—to shut Germany out of Iter antewar trade and commerce, so that her prospect of indemnities and compulsory acquistion of the tin and gold mines of the British dominions does npt seem as if it would m(iterialisc. If it were not for her diabolical methods, Germany's plight in the near future fchould be sufficiency desperate to evoke pity. But what makes us think that Australia will not be eager to shower her treasures on the Huns is the undoi/bted fact that they have for many' years past been awaitin;; :i favorable opportunity to take possession of the territory comprised, in the Commonwealth. There seems to be authentic pfoof that at the time of the igadir incident, when the-German fleet so' mysteriously disappeared from KaioCliau, that it set sail for Xew Guinea, there to iwait orders to attack and take possession of Australia. An-elabonate chain of powerful wireless stations was sei up ')/ Germany, and a complete system of espionage was' organised—even missionaries being paid spies—in v.-hich the German Consul General played an important pa-.t, a? J id the officers of t';e subsidised trade steamers, so that the German Intelligence Department was supplied with minute details of everything in Australia that would be likely to facilitate the execution of the Teutonic nefarious designs. The final development of this hideous system was recently revealed when two German prolessors, i-cting as delegates at the conference in connection wiih the British Association for the Advancement of Science, were arrested and interned, it being found that they were active spies who were in possession of complete plans of tiie country, as well as other incriminating documents. It is quite conceivable that Australia would be a most desirable addition to the German Empire, but the Australians prefer to continue their loyalty to Britain, and who can cavil at their wisdom in this respect ? It is extr.emely probable that 'he nam..' system of espionage (hat was. developed in Australia lias been duplicated in New Zealand. It is these and other black spots on the German system of attempted world domination that render pity for their economical condition cut of the queslion. On tlv con trary they act as a mighty clarion call for the service of every fit unit of the manhood of the Empire to rally round the grand old flag, with the fixed and inflexible purpose of crushing the un scrupulous enemies who, for their own aggrandisement, have entered upon a mosr unjustifiable war that is taking a terrible toll on life and inflicting unprecedented suffering and misery on million? of people. If the German pros*

is willing to accept advice, wo would suggest that it should wait until the numbers go up before regarding the, race as won, and that instead of carving lip the map of the globe to their own satisfaction as if the world was at. the Kaiser's feet, they should pause and contemplate the not improbable contingency that Germany may be the under-dog when the war ends.