The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1918. PUNISHMENT—NOT VENGEANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1918. PUNISHMENT— NOT VENGEANCE.

The pronouncements recently made by the British Prime Minister at Newcastle are such as the Empire has been anxiously awaiting for some time past. That they will, be received with much satisfaction will be taken for granted, for the spirit of justice is strongly developed in the British race—that justice which' Mr Lloyd George so well described when he said: "Unless someone.is held responsible for the war. which has taken millions of the best young men of Europe, it will mean that, there is one justice for the wretched criminal and another for kings and emperors." That is the right way to talk, and the statement will be applauded by all civilised nations. Had Germany been victorious she would have exacted the utmost that was iu her power. There would have been no question of justice, but her vengeance would have been as remorseless as was her policy throughout the war. That is the difference between civilised and Christian Britain and the barbaric Hun. All Britain demands is that the authors of the most criminal war in history shall be tried and if found guilty—as they must be—then that they shall snfffir for their crimes in the same way as an ordinary law-breaker. The only difference belween a traitor and a hero is that and the other succeeds. "Tne i losing 1 partv must pay; Germany mnst/nav to the limit of her capacity'." Mr Lloyd George si fife* definitely that "whoever plotted the Wiir. outraged international law and humanity, and onsrht to be held responsible." That is true justice, and entertaining these sound views he is boundto lake the necessary steps to give them legal force. Tt may be assumed that both France and Britain probablv Belgium also, have a fairlv complete list of the-erimes committed by the Germans before and during the war, and in many cases the actual perpetrators are known. Tt would be contrary to the ends of justice to allow any of these criminals to escape the punishment they deserve, but it would be an act of unpardonable impropriety not to strike first, at the fountain head and arraign the ex-Kaiser and his co-conspirators at the bar of justice. 'King George has distinctly stated that the blood relationship existing between him and the dethroned "Wilhelm will lie deemed by him as of no account as regards putting the ex-Kaiser on trial for his crimes, and the latter will assuredly find that his taking refuge in Holland will not stay the long arm of justice. He is still dangerous, even more so than Napoleon at Elba, and the only real basis for permanent peace will be to make it impossible for any of the Hohen--zollerns to rise to power again in Prussia. Nothing should be left to chance. When Mr Lloyd George asked his Newcastle audience what they would do with the exKaiser, there were many shouts of "Hang him," and "Shoot him." He .and others must first have a fair trial, and the law can then pronounce judgment and sentence wiii follow. The Soldiers' and Workmen's Council in Berlin appear to be taking steps to investigate Hun crimes in Belgium, presumably with a view to punishment, but it would be far preferable and desirable that the criminals should be impartially dealt witli by a British tribunal than by Bolshevik methods. Another point dwelt upon by Mr Lloyd George was the punishment of those responsible for, the murders and devastation caused by submarine piracy. The use of these murderous craft was in defiance, of nil accepted rules of international war. They became, not instruments of honorable warfare, but of a vengeance born of hatred. Germany's object in. employing these weapons was twofold—the destruction of the British Navy and starving England into submission by destroying her overseas commerce—sinking without warning and without a trace. Both these aims were completely frustrated, but many lives were lost and much of the world's shipping ruthlessly destroyed. It is not for using submarines as a legitimate weapon in naval warfare that; the question of punishment arises, but for the illegitimate and fiendish! design of murder on the high seas, and giving free reign to the lust of destruction of innocent merchantmen, fishermen and other folk taking "-> i-nvt in the wan even poinf t« ships bearing nil the regulation

distinguishing marks and lights. A series of maritime abominations aroused the horror and indignation of the whole civilised world, and the author of this savage piracy, von Tirpitz, was acclaimed in Germany as little less than a god. The British Premier now states that the submarine policy must bs punished, also those responsible for the devastations. Already Germany is feeling the first bitter pangs of her punishment, largely brought about by the iniquitous submarine campaign, for it brought America into the war and led to the complete defeat of the Germans who were compelled to sue for what is practically an unconditional surrender. There must, however, be specific punishment of those responsible for the murders at sea, just as there should also be punishment for those responsible for the air raids on British towns and the consequent murder of innocent men, women and children. The main indictments against the dethroned Kaiser are connected with plotting for and plunging the world into the most terrible war of all times: violating the neutrality of Belgium, conspiring for the overthrow.of Russia and making use of Turkey and other nations to further his aim of world conquest. There are, however, a long list of other crimes for which he is directly or indirectly responsible, and the Allies owe it to civilisation and humanity that he should not commit these outrages with impunity. Some of the greatest jurists, says Mr Lloyd George, have unanimously advised that the ex-TCin-peror 0 William was guilty of an indictable offense by invading Belffinm. for which he ought to be held responsible. There is no occasion to strain fine points of international law. Ills crimes are n Mot on the twentieth centurv of the Christian era and cry aloud ft.r just punishment, and civilisation pwiits the pronouncement of the sentence.