The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1917. WHY THE WAR WAS NOT AVERTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1917. WHY THE WAR WAS NOT AVERTED.

In commenting on the German Chancellor's speech in the Reichstag, by way of reply to Viscount Grey, the Manchester Guardian made some trenchant remarks which throw considerable light on the Tie termination of the German military clique to rush into war and drag Austria with ,'lier into the-struggle. By way of putting the position clearly, the Guardian pointed out that the main political object of the party in Germany that brought about this war was to make it appear that their country was fighting for its very existence against a malignant combination of enemies. By this means they hoped to reconcile Germany to the awful sacrifices that she is making, and at the same time to hide their own criminal responsibility, The Chancellor realises that if his people knew who made the war it would be over in six months, and the r.rimin;il« who made it swept out of place for ever. He has therefore labored to put the responsibility upon Russia, the contention being that, with Russia preparing to attack, it would have been suicido for Germany to wait. The Manchester Guardian puts the following question's to dispose of the theory:—

"First, if the Russian menace was so formidable, how was it that Germany thought Austria; alone wa.s capable of dealing with it, ami, in fact, left her alone while the wliolo strength o.f the German amy was thrown west? Secondly, is it not the fact that, so far from being afraid of Russia, not only thc Government but Vofi-Krupp and ail ■the makers of munitions in Germany believed that the Russian artillery was in so bad. a state compared to the German that it would be folly for Russia to go to war? Thirdly, is it not ii fact that on the very day on which Germany issued lier ultimatum to Russia Austria had agreed with Russia to submit her ultimatum to Serbia to a Conference of the 'Powers? And lastly, is it not tho fact that on the evening of that day both Von Jagow, Secretary of State, and Von ftmmerman, Under-Sec-retary, both begged the Kaiser to delay the issue of the German order for general mobilisation, and failed through the opposition of the Minister for War and the General Staff?

Il is now thoroughly well recognised that the reason for the German ultimatum to Russia was not due to fear that- Russia would wage war, but to fear that, unless Germany hastened the outbreak of hostilities, Austria would make it up with Russia, and there-would lie no war. It was not international po'ilies that made the war, not a coniiiraoy of Germanvs ill-wishers, but a •onspiraoy of a clique within the State, if a Government within the Government, actuated by opinions which may not be those of all Germans, but are bein;/ fastened on Germany to her eternal shame. No One knows these things better tha.n the Chancellor (says the Manchester for 110 one has more cause to know them. The same inner c.li<]ue which forced on the war is now attacking hiin, sometimes openly, more often by treacherous intrigue. It is the game of the party that made tlie var to hide these facts. It is our duty to expose them. And the best service V-tfc we at home can render to our "ountry is to proclaim them a s often m possible. And for the German ■rnrile the greatest, perhaps the only :'rn|i'il)nl,ions that they can now make In (lie peace that most of them desire

In disown tlic hateful military eon--elracv which is dragging fair humanity to muddy death. The tacts are indisputable, yet for many years German authorities Imve made a business of circulating insinuations that Germany was being hemmed in liv a hostile coalition lh l.hc object of ruining Gorman commerce, destroying the Onnw. llect, and thwarting the nalur*! 4»*«4i>pmcnt 'if Germany v IJj jaattcrod tJigjg,

was not the slightest foundation for these statements. They served a purpose and were part of the scheme for a great war in which g Germany was to have the world and its wealth at her feet. That was her dream, from which the awakening has been a great shock, as well as the death knell of her hopes. The conspiracy of a clique plunged Europe into a war of unparalleled magnitude, and the punishment fhould certainly be commensurate with the crime. '