ENGLAND AND EGYPT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 12 January 1916, Page 5

ENGLAND AND EGYPT

GERMAN AMBITIONS f IN EGYPT. In tno Berlin Institute for Oceanography Professor Roloff, of the University of Giessen, lectured to a distin•niished audience on "The Threatening of England in Egypt." It.is a theme

says the "Daily Chronicle" of the l;stJl November, which has occupied attention in Germany for some time, and press and school are alike intent on the education of public opinion. Herr Roloff pointed out that to strike England in Egypt is not a new idea. It was an idea which Napoleon acted on in 1798. At that period only the sea way was open to France, to-day Germany has an assured overland route, and modern means of transport. At that time there was no 'Suez Canal, the closing of which now would greatly damage England. At that time also the importance of Egypt If or England was nothing, like so : great as-now. Napoleon knew the value of the country which he was eager to annex in lieu of France's lost empire in America. Egypt was also to be a. support for him in his operations against India. England, of course, was panic-stricken regarding, Napoleon's plans, but she managed, nevertheless, to defeat him at Aboukir. Napoleon returned to France, and the maritime sins of a decade could not be made good. He abandoned the expedition in 1801. After the historical dissertation Professor Roloff turned to the new expedition which .was being planned. ' Matters are now quite different. In the olden days England >va3 victorious by means of "her sea preponderance, but to-day Germany is her superior on land. And as differences are great on the material side they are perhaps still greater bni the moral side. France, under Napoleon, fought for herself and for her -own advantage. She. sought a monopoly of Eastern trade and the hegemony of Europe. The victory of .France, however, would simply have meant; the substitution of French in place of British rule. But Germany has no plans for dominion. The Central European monarchies are doing battle to free countries under the unjust rule of England. Their policy is not smash Turkey into fragments, but to strengthen ••her; -not to subjugate the nations of the East, but to make it possible for them- to adopt European Kultur. Professor R'oloff concludes as follows: —A victorious ending fcr Germany to this struggle would;mean' profit not only to. the-Orient, but profit to all the small .States. The aim- of France was the exclusion of all others, and therefore she met with - opposition, ;even from the Eastern peoples themselves. Germany's exertions for the free development of their powers will result in the progress of all Oriental nations.