MAY BE BLUFFED INTO WRONG PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 October 1918, Page 5

MAY BE BLUFFED INTO WRONG PEACE.

GERMANY AIMS TO KEEP WHAT SHE CAN. JWHII.K PREPARING NEW FLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION. (Received 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. Frequent comment in London on the IxdnetcT case is that if Germany .'ihas really ended militarism, as Hcrr Erzberger claims, then the new civilian power of Germany must bear the blame for the latest atrocities. It means (either that Germany's now constitutionalism is a sham, or equally odious as Jnilitarism so far as submarining is concerned. Sir Auckland Geddcs, Director of National Service, says that Germany "is trying to find a way of avoiding defeat. His great fear is that we will be Muffed into a wrong peace. The request for an armistice is part of that •echeme. There is no evidence that Germany is tottering. She is preparing Icr greatest submarine campaign. Germany's aim is to keep what she can ,in order to prepare for world domination. Mr. A. .1. Balfour, in a luncheon to the American Press delegates, referred ! 4o the Lcinstcr. lie said that the Germans professed to have changed their constitution, but apparently they bad not changed their hearts. They were l»rutes when they commenced the war and still remain brutes. Tbe Leinstcr •carried no military stores, and served no military purpose. Tbe torpedoing Was pure barbarism, pure frightfulness, deliberately enacted in broad daylight. One wuuld have thought the Germans would shrink from repeating the •crime which brought America into the war, particularly at a moment when America, perhaps more than any other belligerent, \vau deciding Germany's fate. It was incredible to think that this, and other even more destructive and cowardly crimes against helpless civilians and prisoners, did not commend ..themselves to the German people.

"Freeman's Journal," referring to the Leinstcr outrage, says that Prussian

•militarism is as ruthless in defeat as in victory. The "Irish Independent ' lopes that retribution will bo exacted, while the -'Irish Times'' trusts that ■jrecruitirii,' in Ireland will be stimulated. London newspapers remark that the so-called reformed Germany must le judged by its deeds, not professions, and revive the Kaiser's recent message to the nation, saying that he would bo wage war that when it was over he Should be able to recall every act with a clear conscience. Mr. IL Pollen, the naval writer, points out that while President Wilson lenuires the evacuation of territory as a preliminary to the discussion of an armistice, he makes no stipulation iv regard to the very weapon whichibrought America into the war. President Wilson should demand the surrender _f submarines as a further preliminary.—(A. and 2LZ, Cable.)