The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1919. THE DAMAGES BILL AGAINST GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1919. THE DAMAGES BILL AGAINST GERMANY.

According to the New York "World's Paris correspondent a tabulated statement has been compiled showing the amounts claimed by the various countries for damages against Germany in connection with the war. In dollars the total appears to be formidable, but if the French and American billion is taken (a thousand million) the moderate sum of under nine billion sterling represents the demands, whereas the Germans for a six-months campaign against Prance in 1870-1 exacted an indemnity, for mere war expenses, of two hundred million sterling, besides the ceding of Alsace-Lor-raine, Metz and Strasburg. If a comparison is made between the £150,000,000 claimed by the United States with the three billion sterling claimed by France, and the billion and a half by Belgium it will be seen that the two latter claims are very reasonable. It appears to have been agreed that Belgium's claim is to take priority over all the others, France and Serbia coming next. The justice of this arrangement must be apparent, for Belgium's need is intensely urgent, her industries having suffered so severely that her economic condition has become extremely acute. "We cannot forget that it was Belgium's heroic stand in barring the German advanee that saved the situation at the outset of hostilities, and for daring to stand in the path of the tyrannical invading Germans, Bel gium had to bear the full measure of Hun vengeance. Originally her reparation bill was set down at £250,000,000, but her present claim is for £1,500,000,000, and even then she will be a heavy sufferer, for her factories and plant were wantonly destroyed, it evidently being the intention of the Germans to ruin the country for all time—and they did their utmost in that direction by stripping the country bare, destroying what could not be readily removed. That the French claim heads the list is a matter ol' : course, and though the amount is just double that required by Belgium there is no comparison between the devastation inflicted upon Northern France and Belgium Trench warfare desolated the country, railways were destroyed everywhere, towns and villages reduced to ruins, coal mines damaged to the utmost possible extent, forests smashed to pieces and every national activity paralysed. Twice within half a century France has suffered heavily from German military invasions and it is only just that she should receive substantial damages. Britain's claim of a billion sterling is more than justified by reason of the luthless bombing of towns and villages by Zeppelins and aeroplanes, the sinking of merchant ships, their crews and passengers and the wanton damage caused to innocent non-cambatants and to property. In the case of Russia and Poland, the claim of less than a billion and a-half would hardly seem adequate to repair the damages inflicted on

these countries, and it is quite likely the full claim has been subjected to severe pruning. Serbia and Koumania are each claiming £2OO. COO,OOO. When it is realised what both these countries suffered at the hands of the Germans and their allies it would seem that the claims are very moderate. In Serbia's case there is every reason why the utmost possible reparation should be made, for when the enemy had her at his mercy he ground her almost to powder, peVpetrating the most horrible massacres and devastating the coun try. Roumania also had her full weight of the hand of the oppressor, her resources being seized and immense damage inflicted. It is pleasing to note that Serbia's claim, with that of France, takes precedence over all others except Belgium. It will take many years before Serbia can recover from the effects of German rathlessness, end her need for prompt relies is very urgent. It is somewhat difficult, if not impossible, to arrive at any reason,-ible conception of liow the claims of Greece, Portugal, China and the other countries are made up, for it has to be assumed that the arc restricted to reparation of damage caused by the >var. Appa:ently ihe question of indemnities lias yet to be decided, and the Dominions are certainly expecting to be reimbursed, to some extent at least, for their war expenditure. The conference is to be applauded for placing the most urgent claims first on the list, nnd it is to be hoped that prompt payment -Will be demanded. Although there is no desire to handicap Germany too severely, justice demands that every effort shall be made to rehabilitate the devastated area and re-establish the industries that have been wilfully destroyed. In this process of destruction Germany was actuated by malevolence and greed, therefore there can be no qualms about making her pay.