The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1917. PRUSSIANISM GONE MAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1917. PRUSSIANISM GONE MAD.

The Gorman Note to the United States and the speech of Hcrr von Betlnnttnn J Holhveg tire typical examples of the dementia that lias taken s\icli a strong Jirip of the Government of Germany. At the same time it is obvious that there is method in this madness. Few, if any. rational people can read the German N'ote without being shocked at its contents. We do not expect the truth to appear in any German communications, but there are limits even to mendacity, :uid the Teutonic official minds are grop ing for those limits in ever-increasing depths of mire. It is a woefully pitiable hpeetacle that Germany presents to the world. She is lost to all sense of bono/, (ruth, humanity, and straight- dealing. From the day her troops swarmed into "little Belgium she became the outcast of Europe, and as such she has stopped at no baseness, cruelty, or atrocity, but has gone on intensifying her barbaric methods until she has reached the climax by a declaration of unlimited piracy by means of unrestricted submalinings, whereby she hopes to starve England into submission —at least (that, is what sho professes. Assuming that the threat is a prelude to action, there is only one element of uncertainty, and t.mt is the course of action that will I>2 taken by the United States. On the part of the Allies this last resource of ihe Huns will not find them unprepared. The institution of unlimited piracy has been talked of and written about for some time past, so that Britain and her a'lies have been able to formulate their plans for effectively coping with the trouble. It is reassuring to learn that Uie Allies aro quite prepared for the emergency, and that they have, assembled a large fleet of light cruisers and other fast vessels to act as submarine chasers. By a fortunate coincidence slr. Asquith has just delivered a speech which in its calm confidence of the ultimate issue should have an inspiriting ill'ect on the Empire, for lie speaks with that authority and inner knowledge which carry conviction. At present all interest is centred on the action of President Wilson. Will he rise superior to his typewriter methods and show himself worthy of his exalted position ? Germany has flung a challenge to America that must either be taken up and dealt with in virile fashion, or America must sink into the position of a nation of craven cowards. Already this aspect of (he question is recognised, and there ia an insistent demand for drastic action. It is extremely improbable that President Wilson will act in a hurry, and'it is expected that he will forward a Note | to Germany, the effect of which will be I an ultimatum. Knowing what we do of ' his methods, it would be inadvisable to place reliance on the statement emri'.iating from Ottawa that President WilsJii had delivered passports to Count Bernstorff, although there is no question that the German Ambassador's absence will be preferable to his presence. The aespatcn of a Note is such an invariable rrle that we may confidently expect il to be again adopted, although (Icrmsnj having igain broken her pledge there ii nailoy. if tiw K

Slicli a Note in any way resemble the Genuau reply to tlic President's Senate speech (which it undoubtedly will do', then the 'President will have to do what lie might very well do straight away. We know that President Wilson will ,io his utmost to avoid joining in the war, kit the time has come when timidity must give way to national honor. Looki>!? at Did matter superficially it seems r.iemlible that the German authorities should be so mad as to provoke a war with America, for thereby they havey everything to lose and nothing to gain. There are a large number of Germany's huge vessels of commerce now interned in .American waters, and in the event i ' hostilities these vessels would be use.l to carry goods for the Allies, and thus become a prey to German submarines; bat that is only infinitesimal as compared with the enormous financial loss which would accrue to Germans in the United States. Well may the curious wonder why Germany should apparently run her head into such a noose. Hut there is another aspect of the question Germany is defeated, and she knows it; but the German people have been kept in the dark as to the true position. Faced with two evils, the wily Huns are sec-king a way out to save themselves from the terrible consequences of disil Intoning the people. They dare not admit defeat, anil they an- afraid of tin fiitnre. hence the cunning plan of goading America into a declaration of war. with the almost certain sequitnr of ether neutrals joining in. Then she could say to her people; "We cannot hope to succeed against the whole world. To light on means the loss of t- e whole nation and its resources. We cannot commit such a crime, so we must sue for peace on the hest terms we car. get, otherwise the Fatherland will be ground (o dust." Jf the truth were known this view would probably embody the reason for Germany's policy of desperation. She can see that the Allies are determined on striking a decisive blow, and is scheming for a way oui' of the maelstrom that will give the military caste n chance of emerging from H e fray without being set upon by the ii' ople. It is a frail hope, but a drowning man will clutch at a straw.