The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1918. WHAT REPARATION AND RESTITUTION MEANS TO GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1918. WHAT REPARATION AND RESTITUTION MEANS TO GERMANY.

There 'has been so much said and written on the subject of restoration and. reparation by the enemy that one aspect of the question has almost escaped notice, namely, as to what would be the effect on Germany'if she were compelled to give up all the territory occupied by her during the war and make reparation for the forced labor of captives as well as restoration of the loot seized and 'damage done- German designs on Russia, Finland, Ukraine, France, Belgium .and other sources of economical strength have led thoughtful people to consider calmly and seriously what Germany lias gained so far by means' of her armiesAn interesting light is shed on this subject by a pamphlet issued by M. Andre Cherada;. c. who ia regarded as probably the greatest authority on Pan-German-ism of the present day. If we study a map of Europe marked off so as to show the domination of Prussian militarism something like a shock will be experienced at the discovery tliat the domain of true militarism extends to-day over nearly a million , and a half square miles, as compared with two hundred thousand before the war, and that the population under German rule, temporary and premanent, has risen from sixty-eight millions to one hundred and eigli,ty millions. These are figures that mnv well provide food for serious reflection, -but they by no means convey an adequate idea of the extent of German gains by force of arms, by tyranny, by slave raids, by intrigue looting. M. Cheradame, after examining the facts of t'he European situation, has arrived at the conclusion that, as things stamd to-day, the territorial dream of the Pan-Germans has practically materialised. This is evidently von Tirpitz's idea, foi- .lie has recently asserted at a Pan-German meeting, that to give up Belgium would make the Germans the laughing stock of the world. Apparently von Tirpitz has completely and purposely ignored the oft-repeated assertion of his royal master that Germany was engaged in a war of defence, and not a struggle for conquest or aggrandisement—a fiction fhnKlmuld now be finally consigned to oblivion. Thai soine of 'M. Chcradttine's statements are opeir to question is obvious, but he has been at considerable pains to place German gains prominently before the world, and the result of his efforts will certainly cause considerable surprise. For instance, lie asserts that even if the Geiv mans were to consent to the withdrawal of the armies of occupation from Belgium, Poland, France and Russia, their economic hold on these countries would give them virtually everything they seek, while the no-indemnity formula would leave Germany far wealthier after the war than prior thereto. lie argues that "by reason of long premeditation and preparation, the war has cost Germany far less than it lias cost the Allies. Germany escaped the squandering of money and resources that is an inevitable result of improvisation. Moreover, among her 3,000,000 prisoners of war and 40,000,000 inhabitants of occupied Allied territory, the German Government has secured a vast amount of labor practically gratis. As regards the actual cash outlay, France alone lias spent 38

per rent, more per head of her population than Germany; while the Allies in genera] have spent £5,7(10,000,000 more than the Central Powers, without reckoning the war outlay of Serbia. Iloumunia, Greece, .Ta])an, and the United States. Thus Germany, while spending much lc::a than her enemies, has realised war profits of which the present value is immense, and the future valur, were she allowed to retain them, would be incalculable." M. Choradaine also contends that every German occupation of territory .has paid her fax more than it cost, and to suggest that Germany has I>ec7i ruined by the war is to create a belief that she is unable to repair the ltavoe she has wrought, or even to give back the equivalent of the immense thefts she has committed. This contention is backed up by an estimated value Of the occupied territory, which is set down at'£6,400,000,000 on a pre-war basis. If these figures are anywhere near the mark, and taking into account the value of commandeered labor (Belgian, railways alone being set down at one hundred and twenty millions sterling), while the wool captured in France is valued at twenty-two millions and the despoiling of the Belgian banks at twenty-four millions, there would appear to he some truth in the remarkable .assertion. There is also to he taken into account the oppressive fines, levies, forced loans and taxes, as/well as the value of the coal, iron, minerals and other articles 0 f value commandeered or looted. Even allowing a considerable discount on the figures quoted, there is a huge total to Germany's credit, and that fact completely justifies tne "Hies in the policy they are pursuing ih carrying on the war until victory 1 enables them to obtain that reckoning which will compel the spoilers to make full restitution. It should also convince the pacifists of the necessity lor ridding civil-: isation of a system tliat permits such pillage and brigandage by a nation of armed desperadoes.