GERMAN PLANS FOR ECONOMIC WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1917, Page 6

GERMAN PLANS FOR ECONOMIC WAR.

CONFERENCE OP CENTRAL POWERS AT VIENNA. A BIG CARGO FLEET. Considerable importance was attached (0 the conference of representatives of Germany, Austria-Hungary, ' Bulgaria, iind Turkey which began on 10th August' ».t Vienna for the preparation of an economic agreement (states a message from The Hague to the New Yot'k Times). Germany has been pretesting Vigorously against what she calls tho wicked machinations of the Entente for tountering economic discriiu'iiations, euch as were practiced in the past but in the meantime, with her usual foresight* edness, she has been preparing far-reach-ing protectionist plans. Germany's idea is to create a solid economic union with Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey tvhich would mean absolute fieniian dominion over all the natural resources in those far-stretching regions, and foulcl free Germany for a State-aided littack on the world markets. An enormous scheme for the reconstruction of the German mercantile fleet at a cost of many milions of dollars is sufficient indication that big ideals .are eontemplated. Doubtless, too, Gt'iuany Is beginning to fear the competition of America's merchant fleet after thei war. I'he greatest stress has been laid on the reconstruction of the fleet. Largos sublidies are to be granted, graduated according to the rapidity of the compkticn pf the vessels after the war. Undoubtedly the character of the eeo homie conference at Vienna has been modified since America's entrance or. the scene. Germany, is most anxious to liscover -vhat if any, economic agreements the Entente and America have made. The Hamburg-to-Bagdad scheme, which is nearing completion, is an economic agreement with Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, with Germany in chief command as economically th? strongest. Germany's other scheme is the fiolidarity of European interests, rith the ultimate hope of including nil Continental Europe against Great Britain and the United States. Meanwhile the question of annexation Is once more in the foreground, and the Pan-Germans are again on the warpath Tor an annexationist offensive and aro fighting the majority peace resolutions. Rcventlow, in the Tageszeitung on llth August, openly asserts that Germany floes not intend to abandon al! idc? of the partial annexation of Belg'um. "the Kolnische Volkszeitung considers that any unofficial expression of peace t;nus Jiould be forbidden. Meanwlub tile Het Yolk raises the question whet ier ihe majority Socialists have abandoned all Imperialistic aims. It is evident that the Radical Tage Jlatt and the Socialist Vorwarts are pieious of tho Cabinet, so far as Belgium is concerned. It must be renumbered ihat the majority resolutions against annexation never were definitely accepted by the Michaelis Ca^inat. The Vienna Arbeiter Zeitung asserts (hat the military, not civilians, will filially settle the question of annexation and the like. Vorwarts objects to Michaelis being made a colonel, as t indicates a strong military prestige still Existing.