THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909. AUSTRIA AND GERMANY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3194, 20 May 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1909. AUSTRIA AND GERMANY.

The visit of an Austrian squadron to Germany, and the fact that it is to go to Kiel, into the heart of the German naval defences, illustrates strikingly the march of the Teutonic alliance in Europe.' Austria has every reason to be friendly with Germany for its solid support of her recent treaty-breaking and land-grabbing adventures in the Balkans; but, as Germany is tenacious cf Bismarck's cynical policy, and will give nothing for nothing, the question arises, What is Austria to give in return ? There is not much room for doubt on this point. When the New Zealand Government offered a battleship, and if necessary, two, to the Imperial Government, it was pointed out in Germany that the battleships Austria is busy constructing are an effective answer to the colonial contribution. It is satisfactory to detect here an admi?sion that the dramatic event of Greater Britain as a factor in British naval power to some extent dashed the German ambition to rival that Power single-handed. But the practical fusion of Austria and Ger- f many certainly increases the danger of Great Britain's position; for she must now be prepared to reckon with both fleets in the supreme test of ritrength which .is apparently among the inevitable things of a future not remote. Thus the two-Power standard, in so far as Austria and Germany are concerned, is still demand-

Ed in England's Navy. Of course, it is highly improbable tlvat England would face militant Tentonism alone. The relations'of Russia with England are now excellent, and the former is [ not*likely to forget the manner in which her acquiescence iu Austria'.-! action in the Balkans was "forced by Germany, literally at the point of the bayonet. Something even more tangible i°> to be expected from France; but England cannot afford to rely upon either Russia or France, In the crisis the mighty armies'of Austria and Germany might silence either Power by a mere muster on the frontier. And, on the sea, France is dropping behind, while, for years to come, Russia will be impotent to help or barm. In a warship-building duel, two such populous and wealthy nations as

Germany and Austria will stra'n British resources to the utmost, and no time could be more opportune for an effective intimation to Austria and Germany that the strain on England will be shared by her daughter nations. Austria's intrusion into sea power is quite gratuitous. A self-contained land-Power, she has no need of a great navy, and, consequently, there is ample reason for concluding that she is building I to help Germany.