The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, l919. THE GERMAN COMEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1919. THE GERMAN COMEDY.

What tlie German political leaders expect to obtain by their various assertions, claims, threats and piteous appeals it is difficult to conjecture, but for some time past there has been enacted in Germany a comedy having all the characteristics of an ancient Greek play, and it would seem as if the Germans were indulging in a congenial diversion whilst awaiting the promulgation of the final terms of peace. The different characters have been well distributed so as to heighten the stage effect, but with a purposeful design to enlist the sympathies of the Americans, to arouse Jthe proletariat of the world by threats of vengeance, to bluff, bluster and make dramatic appeals in the hope of ultimately securing more modified conditions of peace than are likely to be imposed. Germany appears to be in a truculent mood at present, and Herr Rantzau, in his recent speech delivered in the National Assembly has, in a manner, summed up the position with a fair attempt to be logical, but as his arguments are based on wrong premises, the effort is far | more plausible than convincing. XJaj.il it ip publicly recogjuged by.

the German Government that the Central Powers have been defeated we must expect all sorts of wild frothings and deliberate misrepresentations. German spokesmen can neither be believed nor trusted. Take, for instance, Herr Eisner, who, replying to protests against his admission that Ger many was responsible for the war, put forward a statement that it was necessary to make such a declaration so as to impose 011 the credulity of the English and other delegates. The new Premier has presented a series of demands based on the assumption that Germany has neither been beaten nor convicted ; the restoration of the German colonies is claimed; AlsaceLorraine are asserted to be still part of Germany, her prisoners must be released and repatriated, she must be admitted to the League of Nations with equal rights, raw materials must be supplied to foster her industries and commerce, she has wilfully abstained from carrying out the armistice conditions. Herr Rantzau has the audacity to contend that as Germany is prepared to submit the question of blame for the war to impartial men, that no war costs should go to the victor, and no territory be evacuated by the conquered. He also {suts forward a protest against the enemy retaining their prisoners to do the work of repairing war damage "as slaves." It would have been far more discreet on his part to have kept silence on the matter of prisoners, for the gross inhumanity and brutality meted out; to prisoners in Germany is one of the outrages for which severe punishment should be inflicted. No one will be misled by his absurd statement concerning Germany's right to free trade and the injustice of being quarantined if she carries out the peace terms. Had she loyally carried out the armistice conditions there might have been some merit in the contention, but instead of demobilising there has been set on foot a campaign in favor of the restoration of a strong army, Colonel Gadke contending that Germany must be able to mobilise her whole manhood so .that an effective army can be produced "by stamping on the ground." The threat that Germany cannot enter the League without colonies is as idle as it is puerile, for it is very certain that she cannot enter the League until permitted so to do. It is somewhat late in the day for Herr Rantzau to admit that the future colonial policy of Germany must be more humane, for, not having any colonies to govern, it is quite unimportant what she would do if she were given the chance—her colonies are gone, and the sooner this is recognised fully and absolutely the better it will be. Herr Ebert threatens that if the Entente enforce its destructive decision Germany will not sign the peace treaty. As to that time will show the value of the threat. Whether Germany signs or not the terms will be enforced. It is all very well as part of the grim comedy that Germnay should bluster and proclaim there are limits beyond which she will not go, and to threaten that if the peace terms I are not acceptable, then Bolshevism will be let loose on Europe through Germany. She is powerless to control either the terms or Bolshevism, and it is only playing to the gallery to make such [preposterous assertions. It is evident that Germany's great need ijust noy is the application of leeches to her bombastic blood, and this remedy will probably take the form of a huge drain on her resources to repair the ravages of the war and reimburse the cost to the Entente Powers and their Allies. The fear of losing her mercantile marine to replace the Ships sunk by the submarines is greatly disturbing German economists, but it is a penalty that the guilty and losers must pay. The longer the delegates take over settling the peace terms the greatel will the demoralising process in Germany be, and the delay is holding up the work of reconstruction. Besides this there is the prospect that until Germany has been brought to submission the comedy she is enacting may drift into a tragedy that prompt and stern action would avoid. AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION. 'I he proposal which was brought before the Tarauaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard ou Wednesday, having for its object the erection of a social hall for the nurses at the hospital, as a fitting war memorial, is one that should commend itself to the community. There is a considerable section of the public having decided views against the erection of monuments as memorials to fallen soldiers, and it is quite possible there are some who regard such structures as undesirable. At the same time it may fairI ly be assumed that a really serviceable memorial, which would not only be an outward and visible evidence of honoring the valiant men who have made the supreme sacrifice, but would also be a very practical recognition of the war work of tile nurses at the front, and of those who, with equal bravery and zeal, fought the more insidious enemy iu our midst—the influenza—would appeal to every resident of the district. It was a happy inspiration to light on such a desirable I means for perpetuating the work of the I fighters as the provision of a social hall

where the nurses who are day and night employed in combatting disease may obtain intervals of relaxation so necessary to enable them to maintain cheerfulness and vigor in carrying out tlieir arduous task. The scheme is one that should be supported throughout the Taranaki hospital district, and should appeal with telling force to all. Few realise the extent of, the tremendous strain on the nurses in the war area, or during the epidemic, but everyone recognises they nobly did their duty, and should feel glad to have an opportunity of giving practical evidence of his or her gratitude towards these heroic women. It is estimated that £IOOO will be required for the proposed memorial, but it may cost more. We agree Mr. Halcombe, who fathered the scheme, in feeling assured that there will be no difficulty in obtaining the desired amount, and it can safely be asserted that the proposal is so particularly appropriate that it needs no advocacy. Moreover, it is one of those objects to which all should contribute according to their means, for the larger the number of subscribers with their mites, the greater will be the value of this war memorial. What could be more fitting, now that the war is over, than to provide a haven of peace for reinvigorating weary nurses in the intervals of their work of mercy t