Holland and Neutrality.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15463, 16 December 1915, Page 6

Holland and Neutrality.

There may bo seme sinister significance in the prosecution of Mr Sehroedcr, the editor of the Amsterdam "Telograaf." for endangering his country's neutrality by giving expression to his vigorous hostility to the "scoundrels" in Central Europe who caused tho war. Lately there have been sonic rumours that Holland has been "squared" by Germany, and that tho Allied Powers have nothing to expect in that quarter. Thcro may thereforo be as much concern for German interests as for Holland's neutrality behind tho prosecution of Mr Schroedor. There are frankly proGerman newspapers in Holland, and no movement against them is reported. It is difficult to believe that a puro zeal for neutrality has inspired the Dutch authorities, especially as it is known that tho "Telegraaf" has been placed on Germany's black list, and that endeavours hard been made by tho Germans to move the Dutch Government to taktf action against it. Upon these points time alone can give us certain information.

Although it is a very fine newspaper, the "Telcgraaf" was probably little known outside Holland before the war. There can bo few countries now in which it is not well known through the fine cartoons of Louis Hacmaokcrs. specimens of whoso work hare been reproduced by innumerable illustrated journals. Since the beginning of the war Mr Itacmaekers, who is 4G years of age. and a good artist and cultivated man. has concerned himself almost entirely with the war. "Raemaekers," a French j critic said recently, "has continued his j"crusado for justice unafraid of ."menaces or attacks. Thus-ho has ; " succeeded in showing his follow-citi-"zens that ono may remain neutral "and even a pacifist without imposing " on his convictions a cowardly silence, "as so many of his contemppraries "have done. In doing 6o he has un- " sparingly wielded the whip of his bit"ing satire. In flaying the ''pol"troons and egoists," says the same •writer, Raemaekers "has rendered his | "country a great moral service, for he j"has helped to clear tb e national at- | " mosphere, and has brought timid, "hesitating and troubled minds to a " better comprehension' of the humane.*' It is, we suspect, Raemaekers, and not Mr Schrocder. who is really tho causo of tho probably German-inspired prosecution. Tho Court, in acquitting Mr Sehroedbr on one charge, said that hlo article "had no effect whatever in Hol"land or beyond its frontiers.'' This may bo true, but Ilacmackcrs's cartoons have- been widely reproduced, and have had -a great vogue in America, where they have certainly helped to influence opinion strongly against Germany. Two of Raomaekcrs's cartoons may bo described that his point of view and method may bo understood. Ho pie-! turos civilisation as a won. emaciated j woman, bound and gagged, her face dca<l with despair. German Military ism, a coarse half-drunken brute, holds an automatic revolver to her head. "Ahi "I not a flno fellow?" lie demands. Again, he draws on "Apache," holding in his hand a knife that drips with tho blood of a woman lying dead and stripped on the street. A sleek, potbellied mau of the bourgeois type stands by, well-dressed, cane in hand, and with upturned hypocritical eyes. Tho artist's legend interprets this man's thoughts: "That fellow has only robbed " and murdered his ncigh6our. Shall "I call him a bandit? No—'-I'll greet "him politely. That's mbre neutral."

Perhaps it is because they often furnish a biting criticism of American neutrality, by picturing the infamies which leave Mr Wilson unmoved, or moved only to tho point of declaring himself too proud to do anything but overwork his stenographer, that t/io "Te.'ograaf's" cartoons have been in successful in America. Those nevitral nations in which cowardly and rnlculnting opportunism in the Government leaves unaffected the generous "human instincts of tho mass of the peo/>le, have been more deeply impressed by the violation and assassination of Bdlgiunr than by anything which has happened in tho war. A Power which, b.v fraud and violence, can sot out to extinguish a small people appears to enlightened neutrals to be wholly evil, and the deliberate judgment of these neutrals after the war will bo even nrore hard and severe than their present generous wrath and pity. The Dutch authorities responsible for the prosecution of Mr Schrceder can look forward to a futuro condemnation by all those, Dutchmen, and they are a majority, tfho have not required the German ?nonace to themselves to sharpen their rage and horror at the German crimes in Belgium.

the activities of the belligerents on most of the European fronts. The completion of the Allio«>' retirement from Macedonia is announced from Paris. The official communique fayk the whole of the French forces arc now On Greek soil, and tho Bulgarians havo not attempted to cross tho frontier. What is really a very fine military performance, namely, the successful withdrawal of the .Allied forces with comparatively small losses of men and material against overwhelming forces, is construed by the Bulgarians a*, a grave defeat. They claim that there is not a single enemy soldier on Macedonian soil. No doubt this is satisfactory to tho Bulgarians up to n certain point, but their aim wa ; , to prevent the French ahd the British from withdrawing intact, and in this they failed. A Teutonic touch is given to the enemy's boastful communique by the statement that tho French fought more bravely than the British, from which it appears that German "hate" is how part of tho Bulgarian creed. In view of the splendid work of the 10th (Irish) Division, we can afford to ignore the insult, which our bravo Allies will be the first to repudiate. The Bulgarians say that they fought against 170,000 Allied troops, who had GOO field guns and eight heavy howitzers. Those numbers are doubtless exaggerated. It has been estimated that the Allies opposed 160,000 men to 200,000 Bulgarians and 150,000 Germans. There is no doubt mat tho enemy followed up tho Allies with overwhelming forces, and suffered very heavily. A statement of the oncmy's losses would take much of the gilt off his lwaEted Miccess. What tho next move in tho Balkan campaign will bo time will show. It is credibly stated that an agreement with Greece is in sight, and that the Greek troops are being withdrawn from tho Salonica zone. Mcanwhilo tho Allies are completing their preparations to hold Salonica. Troops aro paid to bo landing day and night. Tho report from Salonica that Bulgarian and German troops havo crossed the Greek frontier is discredited by tho ofEcial stoU ments of tho belligerents, the Inii garians announcing that their pursuit is now stopped. There is no news the Albanian,zone, but a message from Itomo says it is reported that Italy will shortly bo able to land 50.003 man in Albania. Thero i'h again an entire absence of official news from the Russian and Italian theatres. The French mention a successful raid by forty-five aeroplanes on tho enemy's lines end works. Tho Turks report that warships shelled their positions at Anafarla in tho £uvla Bay sector, and claim to havo repulsed an attack at the southern ond of tin peninsula. Tho announcement that Sir H. L. DorrienTSmith has bcon appointed to the supreme control of tho operations in German East Africa gives promise of a Vigorous campaign in one of the two colonies in which tho enemy's flag still Hies.