The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. HERR HOLLWEG'S HYSTERICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917. HERR HOLLWEG'S HYSTERICS.

The truth of the old saying that the mountain labored and brought forth a mouse was never more convincingly exemplified than in the belated speech which has just been made in the Reichstag by tiie German Chancellor. The dolivery of this oration had been purposelv advertised for some time past, and Inspired references to its contents published so as to whet the appetite of all interested, and more particularly to stimulate the work of tlu German agents in Russia, having for its object the cessation of hostilities by the Russians. With consummate cunning Herr Holhveg has - been also using the Socialists to forward his own dominating purpose of sweeping Germany's enemies from lnr path. Hints of constitutional reforms, relaxation of press censorship, affording facilities fpr visiting other countries lavishly visiti'.)" Socialists and in every direction leadin;; them on to act js pawns, because lie recognises the iffif) to which they can be put, are such

as to'further his schemes. When lie has no further use for them he will cast them off like an old garment, and laugh them to scorn for their folly, or persecute (diem as dangerous enemies of the State, though he and his country may have to reckon with them in the no distant future. His attitude towards this powerful bocjy is apparent by the contemptuous manner in which he referred to what he regarded as the imaginary internal troubles of Germany.. At present he is the master and they are the dogs, but he will probably discover that even well disciplined dogs can turn and cripple or destroy, those who have held the lash. Those who merely casually read the Chancellor's hysterical p-onouncements on war aims, peace aims and after-war programme cannot fail to be struck that he is obsessed with the cult of frightfulness, while those who read between the lines can discern the claws of the vulture where Herr Hollweg would have us see the feet of the dove. It is as plain as the sun at noon day in a cloudless skv that the Chancellor's object was to obscure his real meaning—if one existed—beyond a barefaced attempt to catch Russia with a bait .that is far less conspicuous than the hook he is using. To induce Bussia to lay down her arms and trust to Germany's professed benevolence is a scheme 011 which Herr Hollweg is concentrating all his energies, for if it succeeded no honor that his Imperial master could 'bestow would 1)0 too great a reward, and yet Such a calamity for the world at large would not end the war; it would merely prolong it. The idea of success is, however, preposterous. Meanwhile Russian inaction is playing into the hands of the Central Powers and retarding the work of the Allies. It will be noticed that the Chancellor followed the tactics of the soap box orator, not only by talking round his subject, but) by relying on catchy questions rather than aruginr.nts or straight forward talk. When these questions are analysed they amount to nothing more substantial than froth. He well kne» that nothing he could or;would say was likely to influence any jf the Allies except Russia, so that he indulged in flamboyant language and bombastic terms, highly spiced to suit the taste of the people for whom the speech was really meant. The usual Teutonic stage properties are to be found in evidence. There is the blatantly deliberate He as to being forced into the war in selt defence, whereas Germany btegan the war byi one of the. greatest crimta in history and forced Britain to int/brvene on 'behalf of heroic Belgium, tnd to determinedly prosecute the wan in order to ensure the Vvorld's peace. I The ruthless and despotic militari&yi otattussia is a cancerous growth tli^it 4 li>ftßot be remov-' ed by the surgeon's |knif(\ %The only sure means for its is to tear out its roots by theVi&op 'powerful explosives that al "i ski" have provided, and thisys the process the Allies are now using rp rid the world of the ghastly evil. Ailf&err Hollweg's

banalities about the aim!/ of h' s coun-' try's enemies, territorial i compensation and reparation are not Worth a moment's consideration, It be for the victors to determine the f.ertn& of peace; Bussi.i recognises this, apd the sane leaders of the country arc.content that it should be so. Herr Hollweg boasts that Germany is in as goAd a position as ever, 1 thanks to her arfnics and submarines. It is merely a species of madness produced by desperation. We Qan afford tc ignore his vciledlthreats and to treat his assertions as teing on a par with tho German wireless messages of never varying success. / Both are in the same category. Wef shall have no cause to complain if, ijis is to be hoped, the Chancellor's speech, serves to disillusion the Russian/extremists. The war must go on to the end, and then it will be seen whether the programme of taking on fresa strength as glowingly depicted in Holhveg's peroration will materMeanwhile we can dismiss with profolund disgust a speech that i& a eomfedy of statesmanship and a fitting si'ipbition of veiled despair.

THE "GO-SLOW" GOVERNMENT. Writes the Dunedin Star: —Sir James Allen issued tlirough a- l'ress interview Ilie other day a message, (o the people mi i lie Dominion urging them to make up tlicir minds to begin now to net with tno strictest economy in everything. The intention of the Acting Prime Minister was very good, and the issue of the message very, very timely; but surely its irony was almost delightful, "To begin now to "aet with the strictest economy i 9 everything." This is, if you like, an ingenuous confession of the character of the Administration. After almost three years of destructive war, who, save a member of a "go-slow" Government, would huve talked—as though it were a discovery—of making up minds to begin now to act with the strictest economy in everything? If tlio matter were not grimly serious it would be an administrative farce. Tt is a pity tlnit the National Efficiency Board have not been instructed to report on the efficiency and economy of the National Government with a view to classifying members and their activities into four classes, like the board's interesting classification of industries and occupations, e.g.—A, most essential; B, essential; C, partially essential; D, nonessential. Such .o report would be valuable at the next General Election. But there is nothing in being sarcastic over the peculiar faults of the National Government. Tliey are far, far beyond the influence of sarcasm. Let cold facts be the condemnation of their "go-slow policy." Months ago the National Government, recognising a time of trial, established the National Board, and provided them with a list of no fewer than twenty-seven important subjects for investigation. hroughout that formidable list the basic principle of inquiry was national efficiency anil economy. Subjects of direct national economy were placed far down the list for inquiry. The last inquiry on the schedule of subjects was this:—

25. To inquire'as to what measures may be necessary or advisable with a view to promote thrif: and to discourage luxury. Undoubtedly the Efijcienev Board have worked hard, and must have shamed hardened politicians with the businesslike manner of the board's methods an.l the thoughtfulness of their recommendations; but so far there has been no report tos to the best means of promoting thrift} and discouraging luxury. Apparently the Government, most of whom belonged, to the short-war school tliat fortunately has be-on closed of late, desired that national economy should bi the last sacrifice. What, has been done by the National Government to enforce national economy? Nothing at all, evcept mouthing about the need for it, which is worse than nothing. Extravagant expenditure on non-essential goods and pleasures has been more extensive this year than it was even in the first 12 gioomy months of the war. Thousands of people in New Zealand seem to think that the world war is nothing mofe than a military and a naval conflict. They ignore the grim fact that it is also a terrible economic conflict, consuming with furious intensity gold and all that makes gold valuable. "It is only right to state," declares the Acting Prime Minister, "that there is, reason to take precautions against the further dislocation of our shipping." A grave and timely warning. But, notwithstanding the serious shortage of tonnage, there appears to be no rigorous control over New Zealand's import trade. From January to the end of March this year the Dominion's imports totalled £1,000,000 more in value than the total during the first quarter of last year. And close on £1,000,000 of the £0,000,000 (total value), was spent upon the importation of silk goods, millinery, confectionery, bicycles, motor cars, benzine, music, pianos, furniture, liquor, tobacco, and Heaven only knows how many sorts of pickles and sauces. And yet, and yet, twentyfifth 011 the National Efficiency Board's list of important subjects for thorough inquiry is the question as to what moa. sures may be necessary or advisable with a view to promote thrift and to discourage luxury! Heaven help the "goslow" National Government of New Zealand!