ACCESS TO CHANNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1917, Page 5

ACCESS TO CHANNEL.

ENEMY. AIMS ADMITTED. The RlieinischJWestfaclische Zeitnng, the organ of the great industrial magnates, in an article on the principles of a German peace, harps on the plirase,, "Our enemy is in the west." The journal declares that conciliation with the western enemies is impossible, and' it believes that the Chancellor to-day recognises that "our ultimate aim is to push through to the west and the ocean. Whatever offers resistance 'must be crushed." As regards the last German colonies, it says:— If we should not succeed in reconquering what we have lost, we believe that the French provinces are worth three times as much as our colonies, and wo will take compensation out of France. Let us daily tell the French that every foot we can win is ours. We need not waste words over Belgium. We require access to the Channel, and we need Antwerp. Whoever wants Belgium must take it from us. Great Britain is more assailable than Russia, ami London can sooner be destroyed than Moscow, because Moscow costs blood, London only torpedoes. We cannot and do not desire to destroy the British Empire. But the complete delcat of France, tranquility westward and respect on the seas of all continents—the German peace which we all desire must at least bring us this. Interesting in connection with this article is another in the Dusseldorfer General Anzieger, by the Centre Reichstag Deputy. Dr. Jaeger, who especially dwells on the future of Belgium. He says:— As regards Belgium, we must insist that the great quantity of German blood shed in Belgium since 1914 must not have been she<i. in vain. In the first place, Belgium must be our guarantee for a good portion of the cost of the war. Moreover, we must retain permanently the Meuse line, with Liege and Nam nr. We must not allow these districts to he used by the enemy as points d'appui. The portion of old Luxemburg which has become Belgian may perhaps be ceded to the Grand Duchy, After saying thai the Walloons might be ejected from their homes, Dr Jaeger continues: We must leave Belgium her dynasty, but bring her politically, xnili. tarily, and economically into closer relations with the German Empire. In Holland the writer expects that there will soon arise a desire to seek the support of a strong independent naval and lane Power, which will guarantee her valuable colonial possessions.