ELIMINATING THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 3

ELIMINATING THE GERMAN LANGUAGE.

4 A MENACE IN AUSTRALIA.

(rBOH OTJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, November t>In certain parts of the interior of Australia and moro particularly in South Australia, there are districts and townships where nothing but German is heard. English, is understood, generally a but all business and social intercourse is carried on in German, which, is the native language of the older people, and which, the younger generation understand fairly well. Au astonishing number of these young Germans are to be found in the commercial and professional classes in the Austratralian cities —and a remarkable number, too, are in khaki. Tnat trait of tne Teutonic character, which, makes a regard for the Fatherland endure ttucugh several generations is the disturbing feature of the Australian-Ger-man population, and it provides Australian statesmen with, a difficult problem. Many German-Australians are loyal; many others, just as certainly, are traitors at heart. Many of them are in the internment camps; the majority of the others are under police surveillance, and a number still move freely about without hindrance. The South Australian Government is doin E what it can to guard Australia against a menace from within, but, as one Minister, when criticised, remarked plaintively: "One can't intern whole communities." In past years, the German have had German schools, in which German children have been taught, in German by German masters. The system has been strongly attacked in Parliament several times, and though no one wanted German schools that honest British deaire to allow all possible freedom to the stranger within the gate, has resulted in the continuance of the system. The position was reviewed at the outbreak of war, and it was decided to allow German to be taught during a certain period. But this did not please the public, and now a Bill is before the ,Couth Australian Parliament, and tnU probably be passed through quicklv, excluding German altogether from the curriculum of the primary schools. It will be hard on the German communities, but, in view of all the circmmstanc.es. it is difficult to see what else could have been dona.