The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1918. GERMAN ANNEXATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1918. GERMAN ANNEXATIONS.

When it lias suited his purpose 1 , the Kaiser has stridently proclaimed that Germany was forced into the war in self defence. When the Germans entangled the Russian extremists into the socalled peace conference at Brest Litovsk they led the Russians to believe that the basis of the conference was to be Russian formula of "No annexations, no indemnities." The lookers on knew only too well the extent of this alluring sham, and waited to see how long the farce would last and now the inevitable has happened. Throughout the hollow mockery the Central Powers played with the Russian delegates much as a cat plays with a mouse, and German aims stand revealed as a war of conquest in which the wily Teutons are bent on acquiring the richest territory, on which they can lay their hands. It is interesting to note that among the first territory seized by these rapacious Huns was that containing the iron fields of France. Subsequently Roumanian wheat and oil attracted their cupidity, and now they openly proclaim their intention of annexing those parts of Russia which are renowned for their productivity. When Germany embarked on the war it was for the purpose of plunder and domination, and that is still her object—if not domination, certainly! plunder—otherwise how can she hope to recover her economical power which has boon wrecked by the strain of prolonged hostilities. Pan-Germanism has the upper hand, and the lever which thfise swashbucklers hold is not to be despised. From the first the German people have beed led to expect that their sufferings and privations were but the prelude to good times at the expense of their enemies, and this prospect has been dangled before their eyes again and again, especially when internal troubles became serious. The far-reaching consequences of Russian chaos arc now 'becoming apparent, and the Germans seem to have become intoxicated with the prospect of rich spoil in the shape of the pick of Russian territory, leaving for the Russians only what is of little or any use. In fact it looks as if Russia' would be absorbed by the Huns and that the German Empire would loom large on the mn of Europe if by any chance the war ended in favor of the Central Powers. It is quite impossible to even guess at what will be tile outcome of the present state of anarchy, lawlessness and bloodshed in Russia. That there muit bt

dismemberment is apparent. tin l only question 'being us to tlie extent oi. the cleavages resulting from internecine hostilities. Russia lias become the storm centre of inimical forces that are tearing the once great Empire into shreds, accompanied by the worst features of primal passions, and Russia's adversity is Germany's opportunity. ' Under the protext of "protecting the unfortunate inhabitants" of Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Northern Lithuania and Courland Die Germans are already proposing to occupy these regions in force, and it is asserted that the Kaiser may proclaim the annexation of these rich territories, besides occupying Tteval and Petroprad- Ukraine has already been caught ill the German net, and it will he interesting to learn how the Kaiser proposes to deal with Siberia. There are incalculable possibilities in the present situation only limited by the extent and duration of Russian madness. The outstanding feature to the lookers on must certainly be the spectacle of the German vulture hovering over the Russian carcase ready and eager to gorge itsell on the most tempting morsels, tor once the iron talons of this vicious monster can get a fair grip of its prey there | will be little but bones left to serve as evidence of a once mighty country. The pretext of "protecting the unfortunate ever imperative that the Allies should put forth a supreme effort against the Germans so as to paralyse their power to over-run Europe and annex all the •territory worth having. The brazen announcement. of German plans of annexation dispose once and for all of the last remnant of doubt as to what was Germany's real aim in making war on the nations, and completely justifies the determination of the Allies to put an end to Prussian military despotism with its inordinate lust of greed and power. No country will he safe from the Hun despoilers until this militarism has been made to bite the dust. Tt. would be a world-wide calamity for the Germans to foe allowed to win the war and trample sough shod on the weaker nations with even greater ferocity and (rightfulness than ever before. We can look with more or leas complacency on a dismembered and disintegrated Eusßia, but the spectacle of Germany seizing the richest portions of that or any other country is s o repellanfc that in the interests of humanity and freedom such a dire catastrophe should be prevented, 110 matter what the cost may be. The Allies are not only fighting for Russia, but for principles on which the future welfare.of the world depends—right and justice—and, in the light of Germany's aims, it is to be devoutly hoped the issue of the conflict will be such as to put an end to the atrocious doctrine that might is right.