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The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1918. BEYOND AND BEYOND.

There is always a mystical atmosphere surrounding the beyond, while there is also a magnetic influence which impels the adventurous and ambitious to penetrate further and further afield. In the case of a nation like Germany, where the lust for aggrandisement has become an obsession, the beyond appeals with great farce, for world domination cannot be obtained until the beyond in all directions has been annexed 'by intrigue or conquest. The latest Pan-German cry is "Hamburg to Herat," though it is only an old yearning in a new guise. iPossession of the Ukraine was desirable for several reasons—for supplies and for control of the Black Sea. Then came the desire for the beyond—the oilfields of tho Caucasus. Across the Caspian lies the entrance to Persia, beyond Persia there is Afghanistan, and last, 'but by no means least, beyond Afghanistan is India—the Berlin to Bombay dream that has for many years dazzled the envious eyes of the Teutons. Not yet within their grasp, but, as they fondly hope, appreciably nearer owing to German domination of Russia- The German menace in connection with India has been regarded more or less seriously in the past, and is still sufficiently grave to justify measures to cops successfully therewith, though it is evident that the prominence given .)list now in Germany to a scheme for a German controlled railway to India is due to the desire to create alarm in Britain, "Control" is Germany's magic word—her miintpriag uxi uaivemJ

lever. Accordingly we find that one controlled paper puts forward the assertion that a Berlin-Bagdad railway could never bo more than a commercial ambition, jut that a Berlin to Bombay line would eliminate Britain as an Imperial Power. The statement, however, is not correctly worded, for it is olbviou3 that before such a railway could exist Britain would have ceased to ibe an Imperial or any other power, so that to enable the dream to materialise Britain and her Allies must be crushinglv defeated and tiie world domination of Prussian military despotism have become an absolute fact, and that can never be. The lure of the beyond is the will o' the wisp that will plunge Germany into the abyss of fate. With Britain swept out of her path, Germany's railway to Bombay would, of course, be easy of accomplishment. Between the terminus of the ■Russian Asiatic railway system and the Indian frontier is a gap to be bridged of four hundred miles, so that if the section between the Black Sea and the Caspian came under German control — directly or indiretcly—then there would be no obstacle to the attainment of German ambitions as regards India. Germany is even now scheming to control Turkistan, which would be useful in case of an alternate route being necessary, as well ag being a factor in German control of the. heart of Asia. Undoubtedly, Germany aims at dominating Afghanistan as a means of solving other problems. The mere suggestion of these wild schemes discloses the illimitaibility of German ambition. It is, therefore, only a prudent measure that India has taken in deciding to raise a new army of half a million men. India is not likely to be soared so long an Britain is a Power, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and just at present Germany has her hands full to overflowing with tasks that brook no delay. There 19 still one beyond that will upset all Germany's calculations and that is she cannot go beyond the limit of her strength. All the other beyonds are lures, but that of capability dominates the outlook and when strained to (breaking point will pull down the edifice of Kaiserdom and hurl the vicious system it represents into millions of fragments, and then—and not till then—will Germany and the nations ibe free. Beyond that is peace.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19180530.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
647

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1918. BEYOND AND BEYOND. Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1918. BEYOND AND BEYOND. Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 4

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