THE GERMAN “VICTORY.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16737, 18 December 1914, Page 6

THE GERMAN “VICTORY.”

The more we learn of the German raid on the Yorkshire coast the more we are impressed by the utter barbarity of the enemy’s methods of making war. It is easy to read the motive of this apparently purposeless and wanton assault on undefended towns and peaceful citizens. We can imagine the bitterness of the men who are controlling tho German navy. They see the work of years, the expenditure of brains and money and energy, absolutely wasted, their commerce swept from all tho trade routes, their cruisers one by one chased ignominiously into neutral ports of refuge or 6unk beneath the waves, while their magnificent home fleet ia bottled up in impotent, if wrathful, idleness. They must do something to justify the existence of the grand navy. There was a cartoon in “ Punch ” lately picturing the Kaiser as a tourist inquiring at a ticket office for a ticket to Paris. “ Line blocked,” was the courteous reply. “ Then make it Warsaw,” he demanded. “ Line blocked,” was again the reply. “ Well, what about Calais?” was the Imperial and imperious request. “ Line blocked,” was still the response. “Hang it I ” came the disgusted comment : “ I must go somewhere! I promised my people I would.” The Gorman navy is in like case. It must gc somewhere. And so it descends on an unprotected coast and bombards unprotected towns, in flagrant violation of the rules of civilised warfare. There may be a deposition, in some quarters to express thankfulness that the Germans have at last ventured out of port, and possibly tho reader may be inclined to treat tho raid as a show of bravery where no danger existed. But regarded merely as a raid it was by no means an insignificant performance for the cruisers to steam out three hundred miles from port, to run the risk of mines and of encountering a superior force, and to expose themselves to attack by submarines. No doubt the Germans bad information as to the locality of tho main fleet, but they could not be certain that the coasts of Yorkshire and Durham were left entirely open to attack. It is not the dash out to sea that we regard as cowardly. It is tho end of the raid, the attack on undefended towns, the wanton tiling of civilians, and then the discreet retirement as soon as danger threatens. Wo can find some soul of goodness in thisi evil thing, however, because the attack will simply stiffen the British determination in tho war. Its very first result will be to stimulate the recruiting for the now armies. It will give the word patriotism a new sound in British ears, and tho sentiment a deeper meaning in British hearts. Tho Admiralty regards the affair as an incident possessing no military significance. We misjudge the British temper entirely if it does not prove to have been one of the most significant events of the whole war.