UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1918, Page 3

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.

To the Editor. Sir.—Preparations aro being made throughout the Taranaki Province and, doubtless, elsewhere in New Zealand, in anticipation of the receipt of news that Germany lias knuckled under and accepted the Allies peace terms, which, virtually, means unconditional surrender. Unfortunately, perhaps, there is still well founded reason to fear that peace will not conio so speedily as our optimist would have us believe. The military caste in Germany still hold the reins with a powerful grip, and, although that hold has.been shaken by the events of the past three months, it is still •sufficiently powerful to make a peace hi the Vmmediate future at least improbable.

To the German army officer there is a glamour, a fascination, in his surroundings, and a selfish appreciation of the advantages which his rank affords him, which make it almost certain that lie will uot rclinguish. those advantages until the position is absolutely hopeless. That Germany is still by a great majority held in hand and 'governed by the military caste is indisputable, and'it is also indisputable that the latter hare still the power to do a great deal of mischief before the inevitable end comes. To f.n- that (he increasing revolutionary movement will soon result in the German soldiery being compelled to face overwhelming; odds is a very comforting assarance from our standpoint, but is it true? Munitions and disciplined trocp3 a;-e jiiore than even essential to success in warfare, and the disorganised mobs, .."ho arc. plundering at Kiel and elsewhere in Germany, can only do harm in the confusion, and interference occasioned by their uncontrolled movements. The real danger is in the steadv advance, of the Allied troops on the Western front. Against that advance the-Germans may fight desperately, and yet inflict heavy losses on the Allies, but the ultimate result will be the same. Ho may be lucky enough to hold back the advance into another winter and obtain less hurnilitating terms from an enemy who is intent «/n terminating the war before se.-wv .veatho/' has rgain forced; their armies into .vir.ttr garters, and who, if a determined stand 'should be made, may on that account be induced to be more lenient. If this- last move should he unsuccessful, and Germany is reduced to a surrender unconditionally there will begin the disintegration anil' ultimate disappearance of that, colossal military system which has bo long held the nation in bondage, but which, during the last k\f years, the German people have been educated into worshipping with a uevotici ,/orthv of a better object. With the call of _,eacc under such conditions the German soldier doffs ibis uniform, bids good-\vC to a loved profession, «nd is los', to flew 'mid the civilian massca fc y.-hom nc ylaa imbided a contempt and dislike »'hicli will impair I»J3 usefulness as a citizen for years to some. With ui->ch <>, future hwiew will he accept tha Allies' ultimatum without a final, desperate struggle? I think not. Two of the r-eace delegates who lire at present conferring with Geneval Poeh ara Gcisiaa geiWi-alj and may bo conscieitior.-j advocates of peace, hut, in the last i'oiv /n-i, the Allies have bceu taught to have riispi'ious of anyono dressed in Oe:iu.an uniform. That the Kaiser ha.-; «)xl.'cated Joes not smooth -inc. path ic an appreciable extent. He has beer. <i past number for somo tiaie. If truj it is cheering to know t-hai ilesident TV'i'son has decided to lca'.'e final peuw; arrangements in the much more capable iandu 'J. General Focli. Mr Wilson's irresolute /nethods do not, certainly, indicate that he is a man to rely on m\\en huge hostile armies arc face to wwe, and the writer must confess to an anxious time awaiting the latest manifesto i'rom the President while 'ho tngineared the t jeace problem. \\".V.i, personally., the bi?st of reasons to deniro an iaxly cessation of hostilities, I earnestly hope that the war will be continued relentlessly until Germany sJial! ba eompefled to accept the only ttrm.s ?;t present offered—"unconditional surrender." Our prestige ha* been often imperilled Jn Hie by the ragaries of our statesmen, under the pressure of iwrovealed influences, or jnder the gui:e as culpable influence of chivalric treatment of a conquered enemy. Surely the lesr.cn huight them during the past four ~l'rtv. of constant bloodshed and revolt I ii_' excesses will bo a warning, and cauio them to carefully safeguard the interests of their own people tn every possible way.—l am. etc. J.tt.S. Kjnafa, 10th Nov.