The MANAWATU DAILY Times Thursday, March 26, 1936. Fear Grips Europe

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 72, 26 March 1936, Page 6

The MANAWATU DAILY Times Thursday, March 26, 1936. Fear Grips Europe

“ There are in Europe at the present moment two great countries which are apprehensive of encirclement, a tear which had a good deal to do with the War of 1914, the tear ol tiermany that she was being encircled,” said Mr. Lloyd George, ' speaking in the peace debate in the House ol Commons. “There was Russia, and France and Britain —and Germany talked ol ‘a ring ol iron.’ Germany is again frightened of encirclement by two immense military Bowers, the most tremendous military Bowers in the world in their skill on the one hand and in their resources and virile man-power Imd infinite courage on the other. “The French Army is a powerful force led by men ol extraordinary intelligence and great capacity lor leadership. In liussia we see about the bravest and the most dauntless people in the world, and they are well equipped. Germany secs Russia with her population ol 150,000,000, with her army ol 0,000,000 trained men including reserves, and with a very powerful air force, and with her equipment infinitely better than it was in the Great War in transport, in artillery, in tanks and in everything which makes an army ol that kind irresistible; and it is an army with great numbers behind it. “What about Russia ? Russia is frightened of Germany, and well she may be. Further, wc see Japan more powerful than ever, more ambitious than ever, more aggressive than ever. Russia is frightened of Japan. There arc two ol the most formidable military nations on earth, which have been making ■war for unknown centuries, with war in their traditions and war in their instinct and blood, both frightened. A courageous animal which is frightened is a most terrible beast when aroused. What is to be the result ? ” War Not Inevitable When I hear it said that “there will always be wars” I feel that I am listening to ignorant and wicked words, writes Mr. Llewellyn Bowys in Dorset Essays. Without doubt there were West Saxons and South Saxons and Mercians and Welshmen and Scotsman who spoke in the same way about the future policy of our own island, and yet now we take for granted that we will have peace in England. Civil behaviour with nations as well as with individuals is largely a matter of habit. If there is any administrative machinery sufficiently strong and sufficiently well-organised to enforce peace, disorder ceases and chaos draws back. Only man, in all the animal worlds, bands together to destroy others of his own kind. The timber wolves hunt down the elk and the moose, but they do not conspire to murder each other with howling outcries in the frozen forests . . the very rats know better manners. How is it that man, the head and crown of all, should so abuse his gift of intelligence 2