"THERE WILL BE NO GERMANY."

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1916, Page 8

"THERE WILL BE NO GERMANY."

KILL, RETAIL AND WHOLESALE. The following article was written by Rudyard Kipling from Paris to a London paper:— We are passing through dark, damp days, which are not good for the soul. I have known some, black moments, 'and doubtless shall know worse. Tiie German is exploiting all the physical factors ,he is capable of understanding, and his Press just now is engaged in confirming the world in the idea of a motionless and unbeatable Michael, straddled across 'Europe and disdainful of his little enemies.' But the idea is beginning to penetrate the Teuton's head that this is not a war of victories, but a war of extermination for his species. We in England are better informed on this point than #o were a year ago. When a whole nation goes into the trenches there can be no victories, there can only be killing, and at least three nations desire greedily that the Teuton be killed in retail since he cannot be killed in wholesale. The German cannot withdraw from his present lines. He dare not, because he would have to explain that action to his own people. He must use himself up gradually, either by advancing and winning victories or by staying where he is. And when he is used up there will be very little of the German problem to settle. That is the end where the destinies are forcing, despite all the effort we have made to avoid it. The question of indemnity to Germany has disappeared by the force of facts. If she claims one, it will lie cheaper to continue killing. If slie demands peace without indemnity, returning to the status quo, what guarantees will there be that as soon as civilisation is disarmed she will not throw herself on us again? The moral law directing her life compels her to do so. That is why her ships cannot be allowed to go to sea again. She cannot wage any more war than she is now waging, because she is engaged on all possible fronts. She can defend and consolidate her conquest", but what good is consolidation when she perpetually has to throw men into the fringe of (ire burning all around her?

Allah has decreed that she shall perish by her own act, from the consequences ot the law that she professes, and through her own temperament. If the Allies had won five or six months ago they would have left Rermany still capable of regaining her lines. No Cermanv will remain. This may sound extravagant, but all that will remain will be a few peoples living on the eternal defensive in moral, social and political trenches. rant that everything in Germany favors a defensive impossible break: an influx of foodstuffs which cannot be stopped : a people indi finitely enthusiastic for war. Even then we must hold on —France, who has paid the flesh of her flesh; England, with her half-million •losses, and about to pay more; Russia, with her dead impossible to count. All the rats are before us in the same ditch, and, as far as England and the Empire are concerned, we can put (js many men into the line in Frnnce to hold the Teutons as the French have. Regarding the financial situation, if T were younger I would say an immense wage of prosperity follows every war: l ut I leave that thesis to people twenty years younger, and accept the commoner belief that universal ruin awaits us. Rut when the whole world is materially ruined cacti nation will be as rich as its neighbor. T imagine that in England, where small subscribers are pot numerous, a certain proportion of debt will be simply effaced or repudiated, for the very just, reason that men rich enough to lend big sums to the State are rich enough to lose (hem. Tt is immoral, but wc should only laugh; so should even the rich men forced to lose. Perhaps they would receive title of nobility, a compensation that would be an admirab'e and practical apotheosis for our national snobbery.

Anyhow, we shall see funny finances and the spectacle of Central Furone administered likc< an estate for the benefit of France.' Russia. England. Italy. Serbia. Montenegro. Japan. Australia, New Zealand. Canada, South Africa, India and Belgium. Those who till the soil will be rich after the war: those who do not will be. poor; but there will be no O'ennany.