GERMANY'S LAST GAMBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1917, Page 3

GERMANY'S LAST GAMBLE.

HOLLWEG'S SPEECH IX THE EEICHSTAG.

U-BOAT WAI! 'I.IK ONLY ATEUXATIVE TO PEACE.

Amsterdam, January 3i. At to-day's sitting of Uie mam Committee of the Reichstag, the Imperial Chancellor, Herr von Betlmiann-Holhveg, made the following statement: — "On December li last year I explained before the Reichstag the reasons which led to our peace offer. The reply of our opponents clearly and precisely said that they decline peace negotiations with u«, and that they want to hear only of a peace which they can dictate. .By this the.whole question of the guilt for the continuation of the war is decided. The guilt alone falls on our opponents. Just as definite stands our task'. The enemy's conditions we cannot discuss. ' They could only be accepted by a totally defeated people. It therefore means fight. "President Wilson's message to Congress shows his sincere wish to restore peace to the world. Many of his maxims agree with our aims, namely, the freedom of the seas, the abolition of the system of balance of power, whicli is always bound to lead to new difficulties; equal rights for all nations, and the open door to trade.

THE FINAL GAMBLE. "But what are the pence conditions of the Entente? Germany's defensive force is to be destroyed, we are.to lose Alsace-Lorraine and the eastern provinces of the Ostmarken, the Dual Monarchy is to be dissolved. Bulgaria is again to be cheated of her national unity, and Turkey is to be pushed out of Europe and smashed in Asia. The destructive designs of our opponent cannot be expressed more strongly. We have been challenged to fight to the end. We accept the challenge. We stake everything and we shall be victorious. •'By this development of the situation the. decision concerning submarine warfare has been forced in to its last acute 6tage. The question of the U-boat Var has occupied us three times in this'committee, namely, in March, May and September last year. On each occasion in an exhaustive statement I expounded points for and against on'this question. I emphasised on each occasion that' I was speaking pro tempore and not as a supporter of principle, or an opponent principle, of the unrestricted employment of the U-boats, but in considers-, tion of the military, political and economic situation as a whole. I always proceeded from the standpoint as to whether an unrestricted U-boat war will bring us nearer to a victorious peace or not."

THE DECISIVE MOMENT. The Chancellor proceeded to explain why in March and May last he opposed an unrestricted U-boat war; why again in September, according to the unanimous judgment of the political and military authorities the question was not considered ripe for decision, fie repeated his previous utterance that as soon as he is in agreement with- the supreme army command reached the conviction that ruthless U-boat war would bring Germany nearer to a victorious peace then U-boat war would be started.

"This moment," lie continued, "has now arrived. Wo must, therefore, not wait any longer. The most important fact of all is that the number of our submarines has very considerably increased as 'compared with last spring, and thereby a firm basis has been created for our success. The second co-de-cisive reason is the bad corn haryest of the world. This fact now confronts England, France and Italy with serious dillieulties. Wo firmly hope to bring these difficulties by means of an unrestricted U-boat war to the unbearable point. "The «oal question, too, is a vital question in war. Already it is critical in Italy and France. Our submarines will render it still more critical. To this must be added, especially as regards England, the supply of ore for the production of munitions in the widest sense, and of timber for coal mines. Our enemy's difficulties are rendered still more acute by the increased lack ''of enemy cargo space. In this respect time and the U-boat cruiser warfare have prepared the ground for a decisive blow.

BLNDEXBTJRG'S ORDER. "The Entente suffers in all its members owing to lack of cargo space. It makes itself felt in Italy and France not less than in England. If we may now venture to estimate the positive advantages of an unrestricted U-boat war at a very much higher value than last spring, the dangers which aviso for us from the U-boat war have correspondingly decreased since that time."

_ After discussing in detail the political situation, the Chancellor continued: "A few days ago Marshal von llindenburg described to me the situation as follows: 'Our front stands firm on all sides. We have everywhere the requisite reserves. The spirit of the troops is good nnd confident. The military situation as a whole permits us to accept all consequences which an unrestricted U-boat war may bring about, and as this U-boat war in all circumstances is the means to injure our enemies), it is time it was begun.' AUSTRIA'S DECKAEATION.

'•The Admiralty Staff and the High Seas I'leeb entertain the firm conviction that <Jreat firitain .will be brought to peace by arms. Our allies agree with our views. Austria-Hung.iry adheres to our procedure also in practice. Austria declares a blockaded area around Italy.'' "No one among us," the Chancellor concluded, "will close his eyes to the seriousness of the step which ve arc taking. That our existence is at stake everyone has known since August 4, 1014, and this has been brutally "emphasised by the rejection ot' our peace offer. In now deciding to employ the best and sharpest weapon, we are' guided solely by a sober consideration of all the circumstances that come into question, and by a firm determination to help our people out of the distress and disgrace which our enemies contemplate for them. Success lies in a Higher Hand, but as regards all that human strength can do to enforce success for the Fatherland, you nmy be assured that nothing has been neglected. Everything in this respect will be done."