Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1914.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 37, 12 August 1914, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1914.

ere will have that opinion. New Zealand knows well that the Empire is at war with Germany, and New Zealand is helping Britain to the utmost, but the Empire is not necessarily Ut wa.r with all Germans throughout the British Dominions. We have no doubt whatever that the public of Australasia, where German immigrants, glad to find freedom in a new world, have proved themselves among the best of settlers, would be very pleased to have a modification of a decree which has evidently come from London.

ARREST OF GERMAN COLONISTS — » New Zealand' has a number of Germans who are good sturdy settlers; they have made their homes here; their interests are here, and they are regarded ac New Zealanders by British friends who admire the manly qualities and the steady industry of their Teutonic cousins. Yet come of these colonists are still liable for military service in their JAatherland; they are classed as reservists, and as such they, are being arrested and taken to Somes Island. We presume that this indiscriminate capture of reservists ie by order of the -Imperial authorities. It is inconceivable that the local Government would imagine that the dragging of peaceful settlers away from .their homes and families was a necessary precaution jfor the public welfare. The reasons for this procedure would be, mainly, three: (1) To prevent reservists from returning to Germany where they would join an army; (2) to* prevent reservists from doing damage or injury within a British country; (3) \o impress the German Government and Germans generally with the serious nuisance to themselves of a state of • war with Britain. How are German reservist® to travel the 13,000 miles between New Zealand and their native land? How many reservists here, so far from the chief theatre of war, are likely to resort to stupid tactics of wanton mischief, which would inevitably recoil on themselves? It is possible that the authorities may have good reason to arrest some Germans, of unsettled habits or uncertain charactei-, but well-behaved men, who are manifestly desirable members of the community, should not have the same treatment as the latest arrival from Germany. In Britain the position is different. The Mother Country is only a few miles from Germany, and it would not be difficult for reservists to slip across the sea. Moreover, Germans in England, if their liberty is not restricted, can find many ways of helping their native country by spying, signalling, damaging railways, and so on. Apparently the Imperial authorities afe working absolutely on the axiom, "Better to be sure than sorry ;" and therefore all reservists are alike, in all parts of the Empire. The difference between classes of German reservists in British territory may be plain for anybody to see, but there is to be no distinction ; it is arrest and imprisonment for all. A rigid enforcement of the order in outlying parts of the Empire is a blunder ; -it least, we »re wire .that the-gveat majority p| New Zealand- J