MOTHER COUNTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17702, 31 January 1918, Page 6

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE GERMAN COLONIES

WHY THE ENEMY WANTS THEM

RETURNED.

GENERAL SMUTS’S SPEECH.

Reuter’* Telegram*. (Received January 30, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 29. General Smuts, lecturing at the Royal Geographical Society, described the East African campaign. He said that it was clear that the Germans had decided to develop the country, not as an ordinary colony, hut as a tropical possession for the cultivation of raw materials. They systematically discouraged white colonisation. Harsh as the German system was, he was not prepared to deny that it was perhaps 'the most scientific and in the long run the most profitable form of exploiting the tremendous natural resources of tropical countries. The German colonial aims were entirely dominated by the far-reaching conception of world politics. Germany’s ultimate object in Africa was the establishment of a great Central African Empire, including the British, French, Belgium and Portuguese possessions. They were now claiming the return of the colonies in order to resumo their march towards this objective. They aimed at securing recruiting grounds for vast native armies, and naval and submarine bases on the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, dominating both ocean routes and twinging tile Anglo-American sea power to nought. The native armies would be useful in the next great war, to which the German General Staff was already giving serious attention. The untrained levies of the Union of South Africa would go down before these Germantrained hordes, who would also be able to deal with North Africa and Egypt, without requiring the deflection of any white troops from Germany. This would also meau a great army planted on the flank of Asia, whose force could bo felt throughout the Middle East as far as Persia or even further. The British Empire could not allow; the militarisation of the natives or naval submarine bases employed for schemes of world power. The conquered German colonies could only be regarded as guarantees for the future peace of the world. He was sure that this opinion was shared by the vast bulk of the dominions. They had been largely responsible for the destruction of the German colonial Empire and the consequent prevention of the German military system spreading to the ends of the earth. They should not be asked to consent to the restoration to militant Germany of fresh footholds for militarism in the Southern Hemisphere, endangering the future of their rising communities. They wanted a new Monroe Doctrine for the south, for protection against European militarism. THE FOOD PROBLEM. ANTI-HOARDING CAMPAIGN. LONDON, January 29. A vigorous anti-food-hoarding campaign has begun, especially in London. The local Food Committees are re-

ceiving much confidential information. It is understood that some hundreds of summonses will be issued shortly. ,WAR BORROWING. BRITAIN AND GERMANY COMPARED. (Received January 31, 12.00 a.m.) LONDON, January 30. Sir Edward H. Holden, chairman of the London City and Midland Bank, said that Germany’s total borrowings totalled £5,100,000,000, and Britain’s £4,900,000,000. Germany’s issue of paper money before tlie war was ?44,000,(X)0, and now it was £984,000,000.