THE NEXT WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 March 1921, Page 9

THE NEXT WAR.

GERMAN STANDPOINT. ' BERNHARD! CONSIDERS PEACE A DREAM. A REMARKABLE BOOK. General von Bernhardi has written another remarkable book about the “next war.” There is nothing ’emarkable in what he says on the technical side. His theories on the technique of slaughter are not changed by the lessons of the European struggle They are only developed on scale of frightfulness, and arc generally m accordance with the theories of other military strategists who have written on the subject. What is remarkable is that his political philosophy of force is more strongly entrenched than ever by the events of the last few years, and that he still thinks Germany has a great future —by way of military conquest. The surprising thing to those who do not know the German psychology is that he should think it aloud.

The idea of nations “living in peace side by side’’ is nothing but “a beautiful dream,” which moves him to a solemn kind of laughter. As long as men remain men, force in its wildest sense will determine the political and cultural importance of States. In the last resort it is the foundation of all intellectual progress. He has a profound admiration for the recent achievements of the German Army, and a profound contempt for the politicians whose supineness lost a war in which, he says, Germany was never beaten in the field. His picture of a peace-loving Germany whose simplicity and unpreparedness provoked her enemies to attack her has an appearance of childlike innocence.

“STUMBLED INTO THE WAR.” Tn the judgment of history we shall have the glory of having pursued an absolutely honorable policy and carried out the ethical teaching of , Christianity. . We stumbled into the war without any political preparations at all. Bismarck would have turned in his grave if he could have seen such a lack of proper precautions. It is impossible not to admire the naked frankness of his advice to his country in order to make sure that next time she shall be on the alert. Here are a few of his obiter dicta for the benefit of the German nation:— War is nothing but the continuation of diplomacy by other methods. The U-boat weapon must to the highest pitch of capacity, notwithstanding the present peace conditions. (“That both this and the reorganisation of the army are possible, he aptly points out, is proved by the years after 1806, in which ‘‘'2oo,ooo men were trained under the eyes of the French garrison instead of 42,000, the number permitted.”) We must hdt be afraid of making secret preparations for war or beginning it ourselves. It is the greatest cruelty towards one’s own people to lack the courage to begin a necessary war. If the statesman is always to keep the initiative, he must realise that his chances are proportionate to the military power behind him. War can only be waged offensively if it is to have any prospects of success. FIVE-MARK VOLUNTEERS At the end of the book we are presented with an enthusiastic description of the devastating possibilities of the modern resources of war, and this unregenetate apostle of force then pauses to point out that “the course of policy which leads up to such a war” must be in the hands of men who know the ambitions of the States of Europe, and “therefore realise against what forces they may have to fight and what resources are at their own disposal.” lie pours contempt upon the post-war “Five-Mark Volunteers,” and asks .whether such men, “who only obey when they want to and otherwise do exactly what they like,” are in a position to form armies such as modern conditions required. Let Germany substitute for Soldiers’ Councils a reinstated Chief of the General Staff! Then all will be in trim for the next war.