PROPOSED GERMAN CABLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11582, 21 February 1901, Page 5

PROPOSED GERMAN CABLE.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright.

Brisbane, February 20. The Premier lias received a letter from a well-known financial agent in Frankfort, Germany, stating that in order to make Germany, in time of peace or war, independent of any British lines, the German Government have decided to lav a purely German cable to Eastern Asia, reaching in China as far north as Kiaockau, and in Japan as far as Nagasaki. The German and Dutch Governments have signed an agreement whereby the Dutch Government undertakes to lay, in conjunction with the German East Asia cable, a branch cable connecting the Dutch East Indies with the German cable. The latter will run to German New Guinea, Caroline Islands, and other German possessions. The writer adds: "The laying of the cable will be undertaken forthwith.- It is already ordered in Germany." He suggests arranging for connection of the GermanDutch cable with Australasia "to give you a new string to your bow and a new link with Europe."

Sydney, February 20. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on the proposed German cable, says there should be little difficulty in arranging connection between the Commonwealth and say German New Guinea. We need not trouble ourselves about the nationality of the owners. The more cables there are between Europe and Australia the better, whether they are Germans, British, or French, and the good they do in bringing the continents nearer must overshadow" purely national objections.