THROUGH GERMAN GLASSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 6

THROUGH GERMAN GLASSES.

ENDING WAR BY AIRSHIP AND SUBMARINE. NO HOPE OF A FAMISH IS A "'paradox of the English temperament" io found by the "Kolnisc/io Zeitung" in tVic fact that \v\\\\c we condemn tbe militarism of (irrmanv we applaud that of .Russia, whicJi is being , iwpd. not as we understand \t "here, to rhevk < Jerman aggression and punish German crimes, but most unjustifiably, lo "'destroy Germany ofi a worWVowet." That lias now become Uip attitude <>f all the officially-inspired Gorman newep&pere. Wat, iWwjr'n sne "wvOl orcparcd for it almost day and night for twenty years, and only awaited the moet fav-1 owraWe moment, to strike, was "never \n Germany's thoughts." ESGUAXDS TLMOROrs NAVY. Since, however, ebe lias been "driven into it." there is nothing for Germany to do but to "strike to win." and the Cologne journal intimates that the next step to be taken is one that will shorten ■ the war and cripple her enemies: — Uii<rland, as well as France, who forgets her praiseworthy humanity in warfare under English influence, maintains tha.t slie vrill avail herself of -every possible means of shortening the war. We have an even greater interest in shortening the war —self-preservation. Before all else, consideration for ouv women and children compels iib, with the greatest right, to try every means to ibis end. As .the English high sea Fleet declines battle, there remain for us only submarines and airships. Whether we wish it or not. »c must attempt to hit England's life-nerve centre, ber commercial fleet. The waging of war on sea has been changed by the advent of submarines and airships. Mines, of course, constitute a danger, and we should naturally desire from humanitarian motives, to minimise tlie sacrifice of lives, but the use of our submarines against the English commercial navy "will certainly serve to shorten the war. The euphemism (not to employ a harsher term) with regard to our "declining" a 6ea-ba£tle may. perhaps, be forgiven in the circumstancee. The German people, who have been bled so mercilessly on behalf of the German Fleet, must be given some explanation to account for that fleet's idleness. .NO MORE STERLING EXCHANGE. Some financial aspects of the war an? put forward in the "Berliner Tageblatt" by Dr. J. Jaetrow. of Berlin University, who. with valiant optimism, already sees the doom of sterling exchange:— Only very gradually have the English begun to appreciate the fact that the closing of tie seas, by means of which Germany wae to be starved into submission, would hit other nations besides Germany, and, therefore, deal England a eerious blow at the same time. Without a shadow of doubt the effect has been that New York is becoming a commercial rival to lion don. German commercial circles have no reason to look askance at this American success. On the (•ontrary, the difficulty which, has prevailed up to the present of giving the mark exchange a place of importance is considerably reduced when the sole power of the sterling exchange ceases to exist, and whatever the result of this war may be, it is already certain that the domination of sterling exchange is over; MENACE TO OUR OCEAN TRADE. Rash comment on the increase in wheat prices in England ie deprecated strongly by the "Dcutsche Tageazeitung 7 ':— We should consider it extremely dangerous, and even foolish, to extract from this increase in wheat prices in England any hope that the strength of the British nation to earn' on war may soon he crippled or that famine may make its presence felt in the land at no dietan t date. Aβ long as Great Britain commands the Atlantic over and on which she can obtain food supplies and raw materials for heT population, it is quite out of the question tliat really important rebuffs will ensue from this cause. The dissatisfaction about the present increase of prices,' and the recollection of Napoleonic times show, however, how important it would be rf we could attack Great Britain's ocean trade at the very roote, namely on the south and west coasts of the island and seize it permanently. THOSE IGNORANT AMERICANS! The American attitude of antagonism towards Germany ie explained in the "Berliner Tageblatt" by Dr. Rudolf Eucken. The learned professor of Jena traces it to the ignorance of the American people! With very f«w countries did we stand in such friendly relations and euch active and not only material connectione before the war ac with America. It must surprise us, therefore, all the more that the majority of the American population, especially in the Eastern States, should take up such an unfriendly attitude towards us, and ehould give expression to euch -unfavourable, nay, even malicious, opinions. Certain American papers showed the European position in a remarkable light. There lived together in peace and friendship, like the souls in Paradise., the noble Servian, the culture-loving Robsiao, the altruistic Englishman, the retiring Frenchman —and then comes the malicious wolf, the German, with hie greed of conquest and his barbarities, and disturbs the peace of nations, turns to discord thie beautiful harmony! History will correct all this. And we, who esteem America so highly, who admire the greatness in her, and expect greatness from her, earnestly desire that she ehould keep an open mind for the great events ot'the present crisis, and survey them from <her intellectual heights. We wish .that our greatness should awaken an echo in her, end also elevate the American soul. •So far it has only had the effect (in a purely Pickwickian sense) of elevating the American boot. THE WRONG WAY ROUND. Auetro-German operations in the eastern theatre of "war are reviewed by the. "Kolniec.he Zeitung," which foresees speedy disaster to Russia: — Austria lias now entered the third phase of the Russo-Galieian campaign. during which the Russians have been permitted to come within firing distance of Cra«"ow. it will soon be seen that the AustroGernian strategy which permitted this advance was correct and proper, notwithstanding the sacrifices it, imposed on Galicia. "Unless -we are completely deceived, th*-d«a«ea_fi( Of l§tMs Cifts^gßj^

be reached before the walls of Warsaw. With adverse pressure on Warsaw, Ruseia will no longer find it possible to I maintain her advanced wing in Ciftlicia, and will be compelled to institute a j general retreat. , j The true reward for thp self-eaerific-j ing Austro-Himgarian confederacy will then be obtained through the immediate assistance of (Germany, with the happy result that the Russian foe, seriously •weakened, is compelled to retrace hie stops. A happy commentary on this is found ir\ an Italian 'humorous journal: "Sire, the are on the run!" "And are my brave troops running after them?' ""So, ehe; in front , ."