The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1917. THE GERMAN COLONIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1917. THE GERMAN COLONIES.

"If we had only known at the outbreak of the war what we now know, we would have had a greater number of U boats in the Pacilic and things would have been very different.'' Such is , a remark made by the Berliner Tageblatt in commenting on the question of Germany repossessing her colonies. "If had only known"! That is a question that all the belligerents may well ask, but we have got to take the situation as it is, irrespective of ''what might have hecn." Germany has lost her colonies and it cuts her to the quick. It is the fortune of war that she applies to her seizure of Belgian, French, Serbian, Roumanian, Russian, and other lands, but for Germany to be deprived of a single inch of her territory is a crime that calls for vengeance. That is the light in which the inspired German press is now entering upon a crusade for colonial territory. No doubt they 'wish'it to be inferred that there is not the slightest doubt as to Britain being compelled to give up the captured colonies, but they even go further. They revive Germany's plan of conquest and retention of South American territory and brazenly advocate that Germany's aim of the future should be to array Central and South America against Anglo-Saxonism. They then go a step further and propose that compulsory emigration should bo instituted so that whether the German people desire to emigrate or not they should be made to. The object in view is, of course, to create not so much avenues for expansion as bases for dominating tho nations of the earth. Now that submarines have proved such valuable instruments of aggression in German hands, their employment as a means for aggrandisement becomes only too obvious always assuming that such a plan would he tolerated. This wild talk, however, while containing the germs of the policy Germany would like to carry out, is probably only indulged in to hearten up tho people by raising a mirage of a world wide German Empire, and so prevent the spread of oppression which the present outlook, unless relieyed by such fanciful dream pictures, would otherwise engender. There may also be an ulterior move in the direction of influencing the well engineered peace agitation of no annexations, which it is evident Germany construes a* no annexations by; her

enemies. The one great impenetrable barrier to German hopes in that direc-, tion is presented by the absolute necessity for Britain to retain the captured German colonies as the only acceptable guarantee for security against future trouble. South Africa is not likely to again nurso the viper that has stung her, and the presence of Germany again' in the Pacific is unthinkable from the Domuiions' standpoint. If a reason is required for this policy, it can be found in the reply of President Wilson to the Papal Peace Note. Peace, cannot be based on the restitution of the power of Germany, or any nvord of honor pledged by Germany. l; We cannot take the word of the present rulers of Germany as a guarantee of anything enduring unless it is explicitly supported by the conclusive evidence of the will and purpose of the German people. Without such guarantees, treaties, agreements, covenants, and territorial adjustments, if made by Germany, could not be depended upon." Until Germany is democratised there is no hope for her future. She must remain a pariah among the nations, and steps taken to ensure her impotence to carry out evil designs against their freedom and peace. We do not want the German colonies in the way that Germany wants Central and South America. Retaining them is merely an act of prudence. It is not now a case of: ''lf we had only known." Wo know—to our cost—and not to profit by that knowledge would be criminal folly that would inevitably lead to disaster. Germany has made her bed and must now lie in it.

THE WEARING-DOWN PROCESS. As the war proceeds it becomes more and more apparent that it is no part of the Allies' programme to attempt, to break through the German lines on the Western front at present. The war has shown that before this can be done the enemy has to be thoroughly beaten. And first he must be weakened That is exactly what the British and French armies are doing. They are applying a ceaseless, patient pressure, with mathematical exactitude, and sapping the strength of the enemy. It is a long but sure game. Our objectives now are strictly limited, and they are invariably completely won. Each step forward is meticuously prepared. We do not strive to break through to the Rhine by one big decisive blow, but at a definitely attainable object—the possession of some vital point, on which the coherence and stability of the enemy front depends. The British have this summer been engaged in "bleeding" tho German army. Already they have accounted for sixty divisions, which have either been used up or'withdrawn; the British, have desperately depleted Hindenbcrg's strategic reserve; they have weakened the moral-of tho whole German forces by accustoming them to defeat. The British advance has been ceaseless ns it ha, been determined. It started last year on the Somme, where the German casualties ran ■ito (100,000; it continued throughout the winter, with the result that the enemy withdrew to stronger lines; it has been sustained throughout this fighting teason and is still proceeding. Tho pressure is relentless. All the time the enemy is suffering heavy casualties. So are we, for that matter. We, however, can'stand the los-es; they don't reduce our fighting force. But the Germans cannot. They reached the limit of their man power two months back, if we accept conservative estimates. Tho Germans are Btill fighting stubbornly and withstanding the heavy knocks to which they are being subjected, for the reason that the demands of the eastern front are easing off owing to Russia's failure. There are another ten weeks left before winter puts a stop to artillery movements, and during this time the same process of attrition ivvill doubtless go on. It is clear the Anglo-tFrench are not seeking any spectacular, heroic dash as at Loos in September, ll)ly. They will push on, killing Germans or putting them out of action. It is not a question of breaking through or recovering territory. The main purpose is to weaken the forces of the enemy, so that in time, probably next year, his lines will become untenable, and disintegration will follow. It is mentioned in the cables that the enemy has called up his 1919 classes. This, if true, is good news. It proves ho is mortgaging his future, and that the end will come all the sooner. Meantime, he is showing plenty of fight, ho has enormously strong lines, and be can only be beaten by die Allies wearing down his manhood. That fact emerges plainly from this year's campaign.