The Press Wednesday, May 22, 1918. German Camouflage."

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16218, 22 May 1918, Page 6

The Press Wednesday, May 22, 1918. German Camouflage."

The latest utterance of Count von Hcrtling, the German Imperial Chancellor, is reminiscent of the tono ir» which ho and his predecessors and colleagues talked about Germany's purpose in the war sonic months ago. Thoro have been several changes in their expressions of that purposo, each one boing adapted to suit tho circumstances of the moment. For instance, when sho declared war, Germany was all for conquest. With the altered outlook which folio-wed her first reverses, we learned, from statements by the highest Gorman authorities, that Germany had been grossly misunderstood, her real aim in waging war being only to defond her existence and resist tho assaults of her unprincipled enemies. That pose lasted for a long time, its continuance being marked by several "peace offen- " sives," by which, while suggesting impossible torms, she tried to convince her own people, who at times showed a profound dislike of the war, and the neutral nations, that her sole aim was to bring about peace, and. without oxpressly saying so, that she wanted neither conquests nor annexations—except, of course, the control of Belgium, the possession of Alsace-Lorraine, and a few othor trifling matters. Then came tlio revolution in Russia, and the collapse of that country, the successful invasion of Italy, and the milftary party, never quito silent, but at times rather less noisy and aggressive than at others, took heart again, and one© more talked of conquests. Tins spirit found ample encouragement in tho success that followed Germany's bullying negotiations, backed by threats of force, -with Russia and Roumania, ancl the Pan-German party no doubt saw all their aims in the way of being accomplished when the Kaiser, in a message to the President of the Prussian Lower House, said, referring to the German occupation of the Baltic Provinces: "The victory in the East is on© of the " greatest triumphs of history. That it "assures the Baltic lands to Germany, "humanly speaking, for all time, is a "great joy and satisfaction to me."

That is a note that has been sounded | With increasing loudness and insistence in Germany of lato. It has found expression not only in public utterances of politicians, but in books and newspaper articles, in which the most extravagant claims aro put forward regarding the only terms on which Germany will make peace. A Dr. Lonick, the author of a new book, '"Clearness About War "Aims,", declares, for instance, that Germany must receive the greatest *indfemnity that can be fixed, and also (leaving on ono side tho benefits that must be reaped by Austria and Bulgaria) all British, Fronch, Belgian, and Portuguese possessions in Africa. Britain must surrender Gibraltar to Spain, grant independence to Ireland, renounce Malta and all her other sea bases, and probably givo up a portion of her fleet. Egypt and Mesopotamia must bo handed back to Turkey, which would simply mean placing them under German control. Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine do not seem to be mentioneel—their occupation is, of course, taken for granted.

It is a long way from the spirit of the Kaiser's message, and from these vainglorious dteams, to Count von ling's statement: "Wo are now fighting for our existence, and for the "peace which Ave long for." That, of course, is mere "camouflage," intended to hoodwink the restless German nation. Underneath it lio all the ambitions of.Germany's ruler and her military leaders. .With what strength of purpose thoy have pursued their object is seen in tho map of Europe as .it is to-day. General Smuts has rominded us that there was a timo when "we used "to talk a lot of nonsense about the " Bochc." But it is a long timo since anyone talked, as some did after the battle of the Marne, of tho Allies "marching through Berlin by Christ- " mas"—which is probably the sort of talk to which he was alluding. We have learned a groat deal since then; among other things, that the war can only bo won by such concentrated effort as we never dreamed of three and a half years ago. That, we imagine, was the lesson that General Smuts meant to drive home to the minds of tho Clydesido workers. It is, a lesson which all will have to study more closely before we can confidently look for vjctorv.