The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1918. THE DOWNFALL OF A GREAT NATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1918. THE DOWNFALL OF A GREAT NATION.

To find anything like a parallel to the collapse of Germany Ave have to go back to the fall of the Roman Empire, hut while the latter was brought about gradually until the final phase occurred, Germany fell with startling and dramatic suddenness. There is, moreover, an intimate connection between these two great nations, inasmuch as Germania Superior and Germania Inferior found two of the six divisions of Gaul. The original Germans were half nomads, their chief occupations being war and the chase; living in clay hovels, and using helmets with horns on. Prom these barbaric beginnings Germany grew to a mighty empire, containing an area of 208,780 square miles, 26 states and a population of close on 65,000,000 people. Always warlike and desperate gamblers, they eventually became remarkably proficient in the realm of art, industry and intellectual attainment, but beneath this outer covering of culture there has remained the barbaric instinct and the lust of battle. Truly a mighty nation, which, if well governed and led into the paths of peace and rectitude, would have stood the test of time and become the greatest power on earth; but their lust for conquest and power has brought about their fall, and now that the revolutionary torch has been fired there appears to be every prospect of thorough disintegration. The German Empire, like its Roman prototype, has fallen from its high estate. To-day there is no Kaiser and no Empire, and the red flag of rebellion is waving over most of the states that formed the strongest federation in the world's history. For over four years Germany has been fighting the democratic nations, and to-day she is humbled to the dust, beaten, discredited, isolated and no longer worthy of a place in the councils of the great powers. It took the Germans over two thousand years to climb to the forefront of the nations and defy the world, but, having reached this eminence, the Empire crumpled up like a broken eggshell, after deluging Europe with blood, and devastating large areas of country, looting cities, towns "hud villages, and committing atrocities that are a foul blot on civilisation. It is a' striking example of how a nation of immense strength and illimitable resources can over-reach itself. There is no more remarkable instance in history than the downfall of the German Empire. Less than six months ago the Germans were in the full tide of their power, and now they have had to sue for terms of peace, and these terms are such as will reduce Germany to impotency for further attempts against the peace of the world, and relegate her to the position of a third-rate power. The Huns have met their fate, and by the time they have settled the reckoning arising out of the war they will realise that power and learning are of little avail when put to an evil use, and that cunning, intrigue and terrorism are poor substitutes for honesty, integrity and the arts of peace. By war the Teutons became the menace of the nations, and by war they have been brought to their knees. At the same time it is a sorry spectacle that meets the eye of the student of history. Unlike Rome, Germany's fall was not due to the love of luxury and its consequent undermining effects. Germany's strength was fostered by all known means, and science played a prominent part, in all State activities. Her emissaries over-ran the world in a marvellously organised policy of commercial and industrial expansion, her systematic and well-organised penetrations being supported by the State. Intellectual progress was stimulated to an exceedingly high pitch, and wealth flowed in from all quarters of the Globe. But all these advantages were made a means to an end—power. The old fighting spirit was never quenched; rather it was cultivated and fostered, till

Germany became the most powerful military nation in the world, and her naval strength grew by leaps and bounds. The Empire

:>wed its foundation to a successful war against France; its owes

its disruption to au unsuccessful attempt at world domination, and who shall predict with accuracy what may follow from the internal upheaval which is now at work? In all the pages of history there has never been such a downfall as has befallen the Teutons. It. is an object lesson for all time, and a warning against the futility of attempting to achieve the impossible. Five years ago Germany was'regarded with admiration for her enlightenment, learning and immense strength "in industry and commerce. To-day she is looked upon with loathing as a pariah whose word is worthless, and whose treachery and duplicity are only equalled by her barbaric methods. From the heights of she-has. ike

depths of Avernus, and tlie cruel, plotting, calculating monster who lias been the means of bringing degradation and humiliation on his once great country is a refugee on. foreign soil. The last of the German autocrats is weighted with a mountain of crime, and his country is passing through the furnace. It may be that the experience was necessary in order that the Fatherland may be chastened and purified before being rehabilitated. It is a country of lost opportunities. There were all the elements in Germany for the making of immense wealth, prosperity and happiness, but they were all prostituted to pander to mad ambition. Great as was Germany, she must need develop a mania for supremacy; but the time may come when she may rebuild her prosperity on new and sane lines, devoting to the arts of peace all fie useless energy that was formerly wasted on militarism, but it will be many long years before the memory of her crimes becomes dim and she can once more honestly look the other nations in the face without a thought of retaliation. We must be thankful that the menace of her militarism is removed, and that the nightmare which has been hanging over Europe for many years has been dissipated by the downfall of Germany, at the hands of the free, democratic nations of the world.