THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1915. THE KAISER'S GUEST OF HONOUR.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 429, 7 August 1915, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1915. THE KAISER'S GUEST OF HONOUR.

Tin: Kaiser, we were fold the othe” (lay, has issued a special invitation to Dr. Sven Heflin, the Swedish explorer. to accompany iiis triumphal i-nt ry int o AVarsaw. Only those who have read Dr. Hedin's book. “With 1 lie Gorman Armies in the West.’' ran fully appreciate the reason for extending to hint this marked indication of Imperial regard. in that book, written early in the war. the author gives the experiences and impressions of two months, from the middle of Sept ember io the middle of No\ember, spent on the German western front. He pays hig-.t and, n« we hate learned io our cost, well deserved tribute to tlie splendid ( rganisat ion of Gorman resources in iiH'n and material, and also to the tight mg pu.aliiy. of the German armies. On their leaders, 100, ho showers praise that is. perhaps, not. altogmhi r extravagant. But tinniest notable feature, of this production is ihe persistent deninn-i.-tl ion of Britain for taking pttrl in the '.\ar. a demmeiat ion that is court ie< I lit language that would v.eli bei-omo the most j’erv idly patriotic and prejudiced German. lie confidently foretells st final triumph for t'.to Kaisi-r. with humili.-il ioji and degradation for Bi it ain and her Allies. His strong bias may perhaps hast )>e shown, m brief, I,'. <| noting from Ins fueface to the English translation of his book. This ]>i(‘!'nee is more especially directed as a. roph Io ilt - criticism of the original work which had appeared in the London “Daily Telegraph" over (fie name of Mr. William Archer. “Mr. Archer.” he

nns. “complains that 1 have not once in. : ■ ■(lneeil into m;, Hurra tn e ,-an li.-i.-sh or condemn.it or y utter:;?)cos r< Germany's ccnduet (.! tlie tttir. Tite fact is that I. had n<* occasion tor sut-li nt tvrarice:-. M \ self-imposed task was merely io describe what I saw with mt own eve:;. . . . and during the two

,n.ontlis I spent <>n the German western front. 1 did not see a single instance'’- the. emphasis i ; Dr. Hidin's “of cruelty t<» prison ux or v.onmleii. let alone ill-treat-ment of tile civil population. The «lermans mandaiited ti-.e same in- < orruptil.ly severe and just disci pline that existed, according To the i est imcat.v of bistort, in the Swedish armies wliie’li Gustavus Adolphus and Charles NIL led to victory (luting-. the epic period of my own country." This eulogy ol the selirt strain! of the German soldiery read-' curiously in th'- hg.ht ot the rcpori since made l>.v the ( ommissioti of Investlgatimi of whii-li Lord Bryce was president. It was written. cerlainl.v. as tar back tis Fi-hrtiary last. I ml. <-vmt then. Dr. iledin miisi haw- been singularly fortumilc. or singularly blind, if. in i lie coiirso o! two months' association with (he (let-man armies, be saw nothing deserving' of (ensure, or. at least, of disapproval. Hint he ’nas since permitted himself n;i cxim - --i'.ii of any cliiingc of opinion is r.esl evidenced by the singular honour that has now been extended to him.

As io Briiam s motives and <!<-r--many's reseniinent he. says: “.\|c. Arclior has something to say about mt 'outspoken contempt foj- Engla’nd.' Here in- is mistaken. 1 ’rue in; hatred towards England, an I have never ent ert .lined any feeling of illwill to its great and admirable people. it is ony the part which 1-aigand lias played and plays in this ttorid-wide crisis that 1 abhor ami di-j>!r>re. . . • The hatred o' England which pert arh-s Germany i"nrw—:i Began on the Ith ot August, ,ifil i. prior to that date it dirt nor ... 1 deeply regret that

, England';? gmdmg staicsmcn were i not'able to avert a situation which must iuevit ald v bring misfortune upon their eminliy. Did the Englis.i Jpeople itself”- again Dr. lledin iit a lies - ’ ‘dp*ir n this war. I hat ■Tiiostion will He answered >n th* early future. " Dr. Hodin has had hi; answer by now, but possibly tie is not I'i’epared to admit that it is the one* he impliedly expected. With regard to the suggested possibility of Germany's ultimate deleaf. he breathes nothing but fiery inrtignajion "In conclusion." he writes. •‘Mr. Archer says. It would be curious to know* whet her Dr. Hedin now feel'-' so confident of Germany s nfinnwa as he did in the golden prime? As io that, alter the events which hare occurred since 'the golden prime.' especially< on the (■usieiii front, mv f’aiih in Germany.s tietorv is more unshakable than mor. Ti is very kind oi .Mr. Archer h ,-av that German culture is not in danger. T really think that he iright. The Germans have shown I hat thev arc men. capable ot defending ' their cult ure agamsl.J might'almost say. the whole worm, and I pile those who thought thar bi the united forces they would be ibio to reduce Germany to a second or third rate power.’’ This whole-u-nuk‘4 panigvrip would surely be a-* im e.nse in the nostrils of the Kaiser, ami. as it has been followed by much more of the same kind, we can well understand how Dr. Sven Hodin is chosen from among the neutral writers 7 to be the. imperial guest of honour on an occasion 'which, in the estimation of both host and guest, no _ doubt, justifies ms words of adulation.