Untitled

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1918, Page 4

ban Allies. He says his people are starving, and wants the conditions of: the armistice modified in order that they may be saved from starvation and anarchy. He wishes Germany to go on economically developing her resources, and have free intercourse and noninterference with transportation. In short, he wishes to be placed in the same position as if he had won the war and was master of all he surveyed. The Allies would be foolish to allow themselves to be influenced by these plausible representations, wliich are suspiciously like elaborate camouflage meant to gain points at the expense of the people Germany has so grievously wronged. Possibly Germany is short of food. All the European countries are short, for that matter. Who is to blame for the*shortage? "Who is to blame for the position in which the Huns find themselves to-day? No one but themselves. The Germans deliberately instituted the indescrirninate sinking of ships to starve the Allies into accepting a German peace. Count Czernin admitted some time ago that the Central Powers felt compelled to try unrestricted submarine warfare to shorten the conflict. "There is such a thing," he said, "as being victorious at the front .and defeated at home. The food situation here is most pressing. ;.Our people here are half-starved all the time." How did the submarine campaign operate? Just the reverse to what was intended. It first of all brought America into the conflict. The Germans took that risk, but were so selfinfatuated arid ignorant of the workings of the mind of other nations that they discounted the possibility of America ever having to be seriously reckoned with. British seamanship, with American assistance, beat the submarine campaign, which did shorten the war, because of the immense forces America put into Prance. A good many ships were sunk, but no loaded transports. The protective measures were too complete. But a good many other ships were sunk. Now comes the day of reckoning. Every ship sunk by the Germans meant that there would be less tonnage available for German needs when peace came. It was predicted at the time of sinking that Germany would find herself unable to get the food and raw material she required because the amount of tonnage available for the world's needs would have been so seriously depleted by her own acts. This is what has happened. The j Germans are crying for food, saying that their country is on the Verge of starvation, and imploring a relaxation of the armistice conditions. Let us see how the Germans behaved when they vainly believed that they were the top dogs, and meant to rule the earth. In the first place, cast our minds back to the time when Americans, before they became belligerents,, endeavored to feed starving Belgium and northern France. Every obstacle was put in the way of Mr. Hoover and his helpers,' and not a little of the supplies were taken by the German military authorities. Mr. Hoover never got a _ fair deal in the carrying-out of his humanitarian work, for the reason that it was part of Germany's infamous war policy to starve their victims to death. In' Poland, for instance, where the Americans were not able to give relief, the Germans deliberately starved the population, with the object of making room for. their own countrymen. "By starvation," said General von Kries, "we can accomplish in two or three years in East Poland more than we have in West Poland (that is. East Prussia) in the last hundrec years. This country is meant foi Germany," went on the keeper o starving Poland. "It is a rich al lnvial country which Germany ha needed for some generations. W. propose to remove the able-bodici Poles from the country. That leaves it open for the inflow o German working people. By am by we shall give back freedom t Poland. When that happens Pc land \yill be autonialieally a Gei man province." In Belgium, Gei era I von Bissing was quite as car did as General von Kries in Pc land. "If the relief of Belgiui breaks down," said von Bissinj "we can force the industrial popi lation into Germany, through sta: Vation. Germany will then ovei run Belgium. When the war i over, and freedom is given bac to Belgium, it will be a, Germa Belgium that is restored. Belgiui will be a German province." Gei many has a black record of crim that cenfuries of contrition wil hardly expiate. Their treatmen of Poland, Belgium and Franc will never be forgotten. All th j-'fine, the Allies will for'the salt of humanity do w\\\-' is possibl to give relief to iaa &ci-.uianfc.>»

show that they are not animated by motives of vengeance, now that; they are witkintheirpower. At the same time, stem justice must he lone, and the oppressed peoples ;iven precedence. As for relaxing he conditions of the armistice, iiat is a mistake the Allies, who :now the wily nature of their oes, are hardly likely to make at his stage. The Allies are hent on aying the foundations of an enduring peace, and will not permit German supplications to disturb their plans. The Germans, as the American press says, are "all yellow", and in peace, as in war, no chances should be taken with them.