ENGLAND AND GERMAN ASPIRATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 186, 6 August 1914, Page 8

ENGLAND AND GERMAN ASPIRATIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —We have now another example of the methods and tactics of Germany which I have at various times through the columns of tti.s l'ress drawn attention to. The folio ving suggestion may sound strange coming from an ex-British soldier (-who rather pride themselves on their clean methods of fighting) but "when you fight the Devil, fight him with fire." The Home Ministry ehould throw fmp scruples to the •winds, and at once without further delay, and also' without any formal declaration of war, concentrate the whole of tueir naval strength, and force conclusions with the German fleet. In case of a British victory, I would suggest complete annihilation of the German fleet. This may seem a fiendish suggestion but I ask you to consider what is the root cause of all the present European unrest. It is the unreasonable aspirations of a power, which doee not really require to hold naval supremacy, to contest the supremacy of the seas with a power whose very existence depends on its naval sea power. There will be no European peace until it lias been fully demonstrated that Britain intends in future to demand that no other European country even attempt to outbufld her in battleships. This is Tio more unreasonable than for instance Germany demanding to know reasons why a neighbouring nation should vote a specially laTge sum of money for military purposes. —I am, etc., C. W. STEWART.