"AN HISTORICAL DAY"

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 28, 1 February 1917, Page 3

"AN HISTORICAL DAY"

ENGLAND'S POLITICAL CRISIS.

The latest German newspapers to reach London, those of 7th and Bth December I last, devote the . greater part of their more serious columns to two subjects— the fall of Bucharest and the resignation of Mr. Asquith. In a telegram from Berlin, under the heading, " An Historical Day,'.' the Frankfurter. Zeitung says :— "On the same day as the political world learns of the fall of Mr. Asquith, and therefore, perhaps, of his disappearance from political life, the glad news i comes from the Great Headquarters that we and our allies have occupied Bucharest. The best events deserve to be nghtly understood, and 'without any affectation we can say that between these there is a casual connection."

It is probably only a German metaphysician without, any knowledge of the realities that exist outside the clouds who could discover the "casual connection " between the two events mentioned, says ttie London Daily Telegraph, but this is only a. minor specimen of the flimsy stuff on which the German newspaper readers are, fed. The Hamburger .Fremdenblatt gets nearer to the root of the matter when it brushes aside all merely political considerations, and says that the war, and the war only, is the decisive factor. It observes :—

" It is precisely for this reason that we can only welcome the change in the English Government, and the predominance of Mr. Lloyd George and the group which is in favour of a war to the bitter end. We know now that England will still make a powerful effort. But were we not prepared for this? Was the former Cabinet inclined towards an honourable peace which would be acceptable to us? Is England so blind as to think that she can dictate, a peace to us which, in one form or another, will contain the germ which will kill the future of German worldpower? . . The chariot of England is rushing towards the rock on which it will be shattered."

This, of course, was written before Mr. Lloyd George had consented to form a Cabinet, and before Germany had proclaimed to the world her desire for peace. The Hamburger Nachrichteu also devotes a leading article to Mr. Asquith's resignation, and points to Mr. Lloyd George as his probable successor. After making great play with the word "dictator," and describing the now Prime Minister as the "leading and' driving spirit" in this country, the Nachrichten says :—

" Doubtless Lloyd George has rendered great services to England. What he has done as Minister of Munitions and as War Minister is important. Only a fool could fail to recognise that. We know this opponent and what he has done. But, while we know him and his powers, we fear him not, for fear can awaken no echoes in .German hearts. For we also know our own strength, which during the war. hae spread itself over half the world, and has just now won splendid, victories. We know all about England's last effort, and are prepared for it." i ... ■