THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1908. WITHIN SIX YEARS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3005, 30 September 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1908. WITHIN SIX YEARS.

The gigantic scale upon which Germany is developing her military and naval, strength renders the fact, that she has very much more in view than home defence, beyond dispute. Despite the effortß of _ those who cry peace, where there is no real possibility of permanent peace, the conviction appears to be steadily growing in the minds of the British public, and among many of England's leading men, that Great . Britain should most seriously and expeditiously set to work so as to be armed to the teeth for the inevitable and terrible struggle that must eventuate with Germany in the near future. The strain, born of the cost of Germany's military and naval programmes, is tremendous upon that country, and her financial will not permit of its being endured for many yeara longer. If it is admitted that Germany is preparing for war, not with the object of securing peace, but with the more usual object among great Powers, viz., that of making war when it saema to her to be advisable to take a hand in "the great game of kings," the next

question that naturally arises is "with whom will the conflict be?" There appears to be only one answer j to the question, and that is that I England is the enemy. There is, of course, most intense and widespread conflict between Germany and Great Britain in commercial affairs; in fact Great Britain, owing to her naval pawer, and the ability with which she carries on commercial warfare succeeds in considerably retarding the growth of German commerce. To Germany such a position is humiliating and irritating, while her leading statesmen, it would seem, regard it as intolerable. Hence it is —painful as the fact may be—that there is very grave reason to fear war between Great Britain and Germany. At Home the question is freely discussed—and this in itself cannot be regarded as a sign of peace —and opinions differ considerably. One of the most startling contributions to the controversy is an article by Mr Hyndman in the "Clarion," who declares that there is not the slightest doubt that Germany, under the leadership of Prussia, is steadily making ready at heavy cost, which 'the German Empire at present can ill afford, for a crucial naval engagement in the North Sea, followed by an invaskn of this country. This is perfectly well known to all our leading politicians, and conclusive evidenci of the nuth of this statement h on record in the War Office and at the Admiralty. Everything is being got ready with that scrupulous care and minute attention to detail for which the Germani have been famous in military matters for nearly half a century. In regard to the naval preparations no concealment whatever is even attempted. Within six jearj from date, it is openly admitted on both sides of the North Sea that the German fleet, designed and built specially for this one object, will be in a conditio:), if we allow things to take their course, to challenge our own Navy in home waters and very possibly to win. German naval officers avowedly look forward to th 3 day of the great engagement, ani drink their toa3ts, even in the presence of foreign guests, to their own success in the approaching encounter. This deliberate intention on the part of Germany to fight out the question of our naval security to a, finish is universally recognised on the Continent of Europe; and the most influential classes in Germany, as Englishmen who know German thoroughly, who visit Germany every year, ana are very friendly with Germans, readily admit, proclaim that 'England; is the enemy.' These facts which are beyond dispute and which are the natural and; indeed, inevitable outcome of intense commercial and political rivalry, as human affairs are ordered to-da?. The Germans also have quite as much right to challenge England's naval supremacy and to conquer Great Britain, if they can, as our fathers had to beat d.own the naval pretensions of Holland and France, or to conquer India and Egypt. 'I will make war upon yeu,' cried Napoleon, rushing u0 to our Ambassador in his ante-chamber on the rupture of the peace of Amiens. 'That, Sire,' said the Englishman, Ms your affair.' 'I will annihilate you,' 'That, Sire,' was the answer, 'is our affair.' Mr/Hyndman concludes as follows:--" We are face to face to-day with a much greater danger than any that ever threatened these shores from Napoleon; a'danger being deliberately worked up for u<» day after day, month after month, and year after year in a cool, calculating fashion, such as the great Corsican had neither the time nor the means to devote to his projects."