The Evening Star FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1917.

Evening Star, Issue 16409, 27 April 1917, Page 4

The Evening Star FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1917.

Count Reventiow, the fiery apostle of what is known as PanWily Germany Germanism, would not, Fights On. it may be assumed, continue to tour Germany lecturing to audiences of varying numbers jnd with varying success unless permitted so do so by the authorities. The Government that struck Dr Liebknecht off the tolls, declared his seat in the Reichstag vacant, and sentenced him to a term of imprisonment because he dared to say in his own picturesque language that Germany and Gorman policy were responsible for the war, are not a Government that would hesitate to close the month and chock the eloquence of Count Reventlow if they so desired. Count Reventlow is the orator and evangelist of a Greater Germany—a Germany whose unimpeded rule shall stretch from the Baltic Sea to the Persian Gulf; the advocate of the most ruthless form of undersea warfare; a worshipper at the shrine of the Great Elector and the Great Frederick; and one whose presentday gods include Hindenburg and Tirpitz among the living, and the chagrined Zeppelin before that champion of the aerial bombing of open towns passed over to the great majority. The creed of Count Eeventlow is expressed by its author in ways that have caused oven men of like moral and intellectual kidney to rebuke him for th* savagery of his intent and the folly of his ambitions. 'When the German Ambassador at Sofia, Count Oberndorff, some —mVwed the general jnter-

national outlook he expressed the hope—why he expressed it does hot greatly matter—that the “ unhappy fratricidal war ” now draining “poor Europe” would end, and was answered by the prophet of PanGermanism in terms of scorn: Count Oberndorff is giving the Bulgarian people a totally wrong impression of the feelings which animate the overwhelming majority of the German people with regard to the war. “ Europe ” anij “the world ” or “humanity”, are matters of complete indifference To nis at this moment. They are mere empty forms which can have an extremely harmful effect by acting as fetishes for certain imaginations, and consequently weakening the realisation of hard reality and the will to victory."' Addresses of this stamp, which in practically similar words ,were being everywhere delivered by the Count and his followers, “sound to us” (said the Catholic ‘.Germania’) “ as though a moratorium had “ been given to Christianity for the duration “of the war.” As far as the outside world is concerned, that moratorium was given from the hour the German War Lords decided to put their faith in the power of their sword to the test. But it is Count Beventlow, at a tinio when the Germany of his frenzied imagination is tumbling to pieces about his ears, who persists in proclaiming to shouting audiences in Berlin the annexation of Belgium, of East Courland, of the Walloons and Flanders, of the incorporation of the ore districts of Briey and Longwy, and of a German freedom of the sens and none other. For such a one the history of the last two or three months has presumably been written in vain. He continues, says ‘Vorwarts,’ to rail at the British, “ whose lies, libels, and ras- “ cality had taken deep root in the hearts “of his hearers, and at Count Lichnowsky, “the former German Ambassador in Lon- “ don, because ho was unable to regard “ Grey as an accomplished scoundrel.” It is this same dreamer of dreams that are revealed from the housetops who, backed by the prestige of the “ Victor of Verdun ” —known to a mocking world ns the German Crown Prince—is now warning and threatening the German Government against attempts to make a separate peace with Russia. The motive for the protest is as extraordinary as is the protest itself. It is that the elimination of the Russian danger will weaken the war spirit and lead to peace without victory. Therefore there must be no such peace. Germany must fight on because she is winning, and only by fighting can she secure that Germanmade peace which Count Reventlow and his cra2y following demand. In the words of the ‘ Kolnische Zeitung ’ i The spirit of mu' ancestors, which a century ago shook off the yoke of Napoleon, once more spreads its pinions. A breath of _ that great time animates our days. We will risk all, dare all. Unworthy tlig nation that does not risk all for its honor. It is this spirit which must blaze in our nation. Therefore. German Sibgiriod, seize thy Balmung firmer, and Jet him rain down the hardest blows. Up, my people ; the flame signals smoke ! That these words reflect the spirit of the Government as well as that of their rigidly censored and supervised Press we cannot doubt.

In answer to the urgent demand that Germany should make known her war aims, a Berlin semi-official message states that- the Government have nothing to add to their previous communication, and will continue their policy undeterred by pressure. That, policy, it may ne recalled, is set forth in the one word “guarantees,” the connotation of which may be found in the most modern versions of the RevcnUow propaganda. Gormany demands territorial guarantees against future attacks. She brazenly assures the universe that she was most outrageously attacked by a gang of envious Powers at the instigation of England, and that she must insist on material assurances that there shall be no repetition of so foul a crime against a peace-loving Germany. Such, in brief, is the policy and aim of Germany as adapted for domestic consumption. That it-is a shameful falsehood, the crowning mendacity of a mendaciously infamous record, does not greatly' matter—to Germany. “All will be forgotten in the glory.” Hence the flinging of her youth and manhood into a maelstrom of unparalleled ferocity and slaughter between the Scarpe and the Sensee; and hence, too, the passionate declaration of Count E-eventlow that a return to the status quo ante, plus an indemnity,- would ruin Germany and Austria-Hungary. Possibly ; but, then, the Pan-Germanists should have considered that contingency before, not after, the fatal order was issued. They can hardly expect an outraged mankind to waste many tears over the fate of their outrage?— a fate, storm they never so loudly, that is closing In upon them with the inexorableness of Doom.