The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1916. HERR HOLLWEG'S SPECIAL PLEADING.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1916. HERR HOLLWEG'S SPECIAL PLEADING.

The German Chancellor, Herr von Beth-mann-Hollweg, lias yet to learn the value of a still tongue. Would that we could add that ho has yet to learn the value of truth, but for that duty he has neither the will nor the power. It will be (seen by this morning's cables that Herr Hollweg has been making what is described as the most comprehensive speech since the war. The summary of his utterances rather induces the opinion that the Chancellor has at last come to the conclusion that his country is actually in danger, so much so that he felt impelled to indulge in'a bluff of greater pretensions than ever, in order to completely throw dust into the eyes of his people, who, if they accept his tissue of wilful misrepresentations, will certainly be rudely awakened before long. Herr Hollweg professes not to understand the possibility of any intelligent man sharing the enemy's hope of starving Germany, as she possesses excellent corn bread reserves, and he even poses as a prophet as to Germany's next harvest being better than for years past. If the Teutons are so well provided with foodstuffs, all the desperate anti-block-ade tirades, submarine murders, Zeppelin raids and other samples of frightfulness are mere exhibitions of deadly animosity and not reprisals. Surely the German Chancellor cannot expect that such shallow special pleading will carry conviction even to his own woefullydeceived countrymen. The on e fact that gives the lie to the Chancellor's statement is the doling out of bread tickets, let alone the food riots. It is amusing to learn that Germany respects the legitimate interests of neutrals. Since when? What about Belgium? "Our enemies," he says, "show no trace of readiness for peace." Aye, there's the rub, for the British ißremier has stated that the final destruction of Prussia's military power must be the first condition of peace, and the Allies have endorsed that policy, the full meaning of which is just dawning on the Chancellor's subtle brains. He will not admit i this, but blatantly asserts that Germany's reply is the sword, insidiously laying the blame on Germany's enemies for continuing to devastate Europe. Then comes the most remarkable explanation of Germany's aim that was ever evolved. "Our aim is to unite and protect Germany so strongly that nobody will again be tempted to attempt to destroy us, and to compel the world to recognise our right to free development." Poor, ill-used Germany! Forced into war in self defence—so says Herr Hollweg. It is quite conceivable that Germany's aim is now to unite for self protection, but what was her aim when she started war for which she had devoted forty years' preparation? World domination. Not a word of that now, nor of the despicable methods of espionage that preceded the war. It is self protection and the right of free development now. Pleading between the lines there can be seen ample reasons for our contention that Herr Hollweg sees the writing on the wall. But he still blusters and threatens, while bringing his specious arguments up to date, and here wc see a real reason for the Chancellor's remarkable speech. Not only is Prussian militarism to be crushed, but Germany's trade and commerce, whereby the war she brought about was made possible, is r.o be shattered. This appears to be the final straw that will break Germany's back and Herr Hollweg mcetg this menace of a lasting commercial war with the' imbecility of a bully.. In effect he says: The more violently you hit us, the harder will be our return blows. Well, so must it be; only, Germany cannot escape th e knock-out blow. Herr Hollweg pretends to ridicule the idea that Germany is nearing the end of her military strength, and he quotes the battle of Verdun a3 an answerable argument to such an insinuation. Most people conversant with the Verdun operations viU consider that he could not have made a worse selection, for the Germans completely failed in the execution of their great offensive, which was supported by her maximum strength in order to force the Anglo-French to make a general attack before they were ready. But they have learned a bitter and immensely costly lesson, the full effects of which will be seen hereafter. "We look to the future full of growing confidence," adds the Chancellor. Let the Germans by all means take what consolation they can out of the outlook, but the onlookers may well regard the growth of that confidence as being so stunted that it will soon shrivel and be no more. Until the end of the war arrives the Germans will doubtless use their campaign of frightfulness for (Jl it is worth. The spirit which' animates the Hung is aptly 1

set forth in the Hamburger Nachrichten, which says (relative to the destruction of the vessels Sussex and Englishman), "whether the vessels were torpedoed by a German submarine or not, who cares about such trifles in Germany? The ships belonged to and were used by the enemy, and they were destroyed. That is all we care about." If Herr Hollweg were only half as outspoken as the German press, the Teutons would more readily recognise that there can be but one end to the war, and that instead of fighting for self protection they are becoming demented and merely indulging in a savage lust of murder and destruction, v ;tl . :■ ■ I