A REVELATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 342, 31 October 1908, Page 5

A REVELATION.

ECHO OF BOER WAR. KAISER SENT PLAN TO BRITISH ARMY. GERMANY FURIOUS. BERLIN NEWSPAPERS IN REVOLT. \ CONFLICTING DUAL POLICY. (bi ntiaEArn—mess association—corrutanT.l Berlin, October 29. Considerable discussion has been aroused hero by the recent publication in the London "Daily Telegraph" of a remarkable interview, in tho course of which tho German Kaiser, speaking to a representative Englishman, frankly expressed his disappointment at the fact that large sections of public opinion in Gref>t Britain mistrust German offer's of friendship. The Kaiser is represented as saying in this interview: "We must be prepared for any eventualities in, the Far East. Only those Powers having great navies are listened to. When tho future of the Pacific comes to be solved, possibly Britain horself will bo glad that Germany has a fleet, when both may speak on the same side in the great debates of tho future." . Official circles in Berlin regard the account of the interview as being substantially oorrect. Berlin newspapers comment angrily on tli3 Kaiser's remarks, and suggest that Sir Frank Lascelles, British Ambassador to Germany, was his interviewer. [Sir Frank Lascelles, British Ambassador to Germany, is hated by a section of the German newspaper world. Last year the "Riechsbote" charged him with circulating stories that led to accusations against the German' African explorer, Dr. Peters, for alleged cruelties to natives. The paper stated that a certain German journalist was paid with English gold to oirculate as many 6tories discrediting German colonial policy as possible.] The "Tagliche Rundschau," the favourite paper (published in Berlin), declared that seldom indeed has one of the Kaiser's demonstrations occasioned more mixedfeelings and more anxiety and regret than this message to the British people. '"This very frank and most important Imperial statement," says tho paper, "creates the impression that it has done away with all hope of final stability and tranquillity in our policy. The Kaiser's and the Government's policies work-along different lines, and must disturb one another."

ENCLAND'S "BLACK WEEK." i —• —- KAISER TO THE' RESCUE. HE CHALLENGES THE VERDICT OF POSTERITY. GERMANS GIVE THEIRS: AT ONOE. (Rec. October 30, 9.55 p.m.) Berlin, October 30. Of the passages in the. Kaiser's interview, one, that is exciting the, strongest indignation throughout* Germany refora to a plan of. campaign prepared for British use in tho South .African War. 'In this passage the Kaiser declared: ' ■ • About tho. time of .England's "black weok," In December, 1899, i bade one of my officors procure, as ' , far as he 1 could, tho exact numbers. \and : positions of; the opposing forces In .Sciithi.. | ; i>ut what • . I. considered; thebpst : plan jof oamlialgn, submitted It to my ' ; Staff for oritlclsm, and .dispatohed it to England. That document awaits, among tho ! ' - State papers of. Windsor, the impar- , tial verdlot of history. 'And, as a matter, of curious coincidence, let me add that the plan I formulated ran very much on tho same lines as that actually adopted by Lord Roberts, and carried by him into successful operation. ; Berlin messages ,show that the picture of the Kaiser, as an, unbidden strategist, planning tho annihilation of a small : and valiant race, kindred to tho Germans, is bitterly commented, on. THE GERMANS AND BOERS DECEIVED. ' SECURITY AGAINST FALSITY.' t,)») NEW DREADNOUGHTS AT TWO-TO : ONE. (Rec. October 30, : 11.30 p.m.) London, October 30. Tho "Daily Mail" publishes an open letter to the Kaiser by" Mr. W. T. Stead (the ■peace propagandist who advocates the laying down of two British warships to Germany's one). Mr. Stoad says that if the Kaiser, by means of his interview, had intended to destroy the arguments of the opponents of the two-to-one shipbuilding programme, he could not have succeeded more completely. Mr. Stead comments on the campaign plan prepared by the Kaiser and his staff for the use of the English army in South Africa at the moment when tho whole of Germany believed that the Boers had been unjustly air tacked by Britain, and adds Britain's only security against some possible warlike Impulse of a . future Kaiser, or tho present Kaiser, is our Immediate beginning of six Dreadnoughts. THE PRO-BOER COMPACT? FRENCH VERSION OF HOW IT FAILED. ALSACE-LORRAINE. Paris, October 29. With regard to the point emphasised by the Kaiser—that his friendship to Britain was proved by his refusal to receive tho Boer delegates and by his refusal to listen to Fiaijco's and Russia's appeal to job them in summoning Britain to terminate the Booi war—a different version of the incident is current here.

It is stated in influential quarters here that M. Muravjoff, then Russian Minister, suggested that the three Powers (Russia, Franco, and Germany) should make friondly representations to Great Britain with a view to ending the Boer war. Germany, however, wished to make it a condition of this compact that Franco should agree to a maintenance of the status quo in Europe and thus consccrato afresh the Treaty of Frankfurt (concluded between France and Germany in 1871, at the close of tho Franco-Prussian war), and forego all hope of recovering Al-sace-Lorraine. France therefore declined to join in. ANTI-BRITISH TREND IN GERMANY. KAISER IN A MINORITY. ENGLAND MUST REMAIN ON GUAED. London, October 29. British people of all shades of opinion be: •lieve that the Kaiser is sincere, but as justifying British . statesmen in remaining on [•unrd, wit! waintidiiinjj tlio ofllolonnj of llio.

country's armaments, there is emphasised the admission in the "Telegraph" interview that the prevailing sentiment of largo sections of tho middle and lower classes in Germany is not friendly to England. Tho situation is considered to be relieved by tho fact that the Kaiser has shown himself as friendly to Britain, and by his adding: "I am in a minority in Germany, but it is a minority of the best elements, just as it is in England with rtßpect to Germany." A BOOMERANG. KAISER DISAPPOINTED AND HURT. (Rec. October 30, 11.30 p.m.) London, Ootober 30. The Berlin correspondent of tho "Standard" says that tho Kaiser is deeply hurt and keenly disappointed at the unfavourable reception of tho interview ixi Britain. REVELATIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS. CONSTERNATION IN. PARIS. (Rec. October 30, 9.40 p.m.) Paris, October 30. Consternation is expressed in official circles in Paris owing to the Kaiser revealinq, diplomatic communications made to the German Chancellery. KAISER'S TELEGRAM TO KRUQER. INEXPLICABLE CONTRAST. In the light of to-day's cablegrams it is quite startling to remember that it was the Kaiser who, after the Jameson Raid, sent his famous telegram to President _ Ivruger, congratulating him upon maintaining peace and preserving his independence "without appealing to the help of friendly Powers." If, as seems to be admitted, the .Kaiser did act as strategist ,for the British War Office during the critical stage of the Boer War, he was aiding tho Power whom his telegram of a few years before had roused into making a naval demonstration against her enemies. It is admitted that the Boer War was prolonged largely through hope of European, especially German, aid.' And while the Boers were spilling their blood in South Africa, the Kaiser was instructing their enemy' how to spill it. THE BLACK WEEK IN 189 D. SERIES OF DISASTERS. 1 . On December 10, 1899, occurred the British reverse at Stormberg. General Gatucre, misled by guides, attacked a position by night, after a hard march, and was-driven back. The artillery alone averted a complete .disaster.' The British lost 31 killed, and about 500 captured; total casualties, 702. Almost simultaneously (December 10-11) came Lord Methuen's defeat at. Magersfontein. His attack on the Boer lines; was repulsed with groat loss. Grand courage was shown by the Black Watch, Gordons, Tories, and artillery under a terrific fire. Major-General Wauchope, Lord Winchester, Lieut-Colonels Downman and Coode, ID officers, and 167 men were killed. The total British casualties were 395. It was estimated that the: Boer loss was over 700. ■

A few days afterwards: disaster befel the British at Colenso, in Natal, t General Buller's advance,from Chieveley on'the Boer lines was repulsed. An attempt to: cross the Tugela River failed, 12 guns were lost, and Lieutenant F. Roberts, V.C. (only surviving son of Lord Roberts) was mortally wounded in trying to save the guns. Killed: Six officers and 134 men; total casualties, 1100/

On December 23, 1899, Lord Eoberts was appointed Commander-in-Chief, and left Southampton, with Lord Kitchener as Chief of Staff. History so far does' not record whether ha carried, the Kaiser's plan of campaign in his pocket. It was on February,' 13, 1900, that Major-General French, striking away from the railway line, and making forced marches, initiated the movement which resulted ill the relief of Kimberloy (February 15), and ultimately in the surrender at Paardeberg of Cronje and 4000 Boers. (February 27), the first crushing blow the enemy received.