A GERMAN MARE'S NEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13455, 6 April 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

A GERMAN MARE'S NEST.

ANG 1,0-J A I'ANESE LEAGU K AGAINST AMERII 'A-G Kit MAN Y. [l- It"M or OWN COItIIF.SCONUF.NT.] London, February 22. j A nit an i) new male's nest has just been | discovered by Commander Capelle. a- Ger-: man naval officer, on the retired list, who has written a book in order to explain to his countrymen why England and .Japan have concluded an alliance, and against whom these twr. countries are coiicentrat- j ing their forces. It is perteetly evident,: he contends, that both England and Japan are arming and preparing for a great- war. | England makes no secret of the fact that ; she considers a. life-anil -deal struggle with Germany and the- United States inevitable,; and "the .Japanese nation is being inces-: santly driven forwards by hunger and ambition." The alliance between England and Japan is, in the opinion of Commander j Capelle, unnatural front several points of {view, but chiefly because both countries' 'pursue the same aims in the East. The] alliance is no peace alliance: that concluded in 1902 was directed against the coin- 1 moil enemy, i'ussia. and it has been renewed now with the object ot breaking the influence of America. According to the author, the Government of the United States is fully alive to the I situation, and it considered its own interests when it offered its services to assist in bringing about peace between Japan and 1 ; (Russia. The United States saw that no-: thing was to be feared from I'ussia for; many years to come, but they were not de-; sirous of seeing Japan's ambition fed fur-! titer by increased successes over the enemy.; and for the same reason used every effort 1 to get the Japanese conditions reduced to 'a- minimum. The war and the peace have 1 left Japan poorer than ever, "and Go-! vernment and people are again united in. the intention to secure by another war! what- their two last wars did not yield j them." Japan has a growing population! which needs opportunity for expansion. j None of the territory which the two previous wars have brought under Japanese influence is calculated to provide a- home! [for her excess of population or to assist! } the Home. Government financially. Coin-! mander Capelle comes to the conclusion! that all that Japan desires can he sup-! plied by the Philippine Islands. The l possession of these by Japan would he j of eminent advantage to her from every point oi view, economically. politically, 1 and strategically -and tlici.- is no doubt, that in the industrious hands of the Japanese this group of islands would soon i occupy a position of the utmost import-

jmice in the world's politics, and in mariI time matters generally. The author says : | I "The United States of America, and! I Japan feel instinctively that differences are: jarising between them which, as was the I case with Japan and .Russia, must sooner or later be decided by force of arms.: As was the case with Russia, these (lit-; j ferences are here again aggravated by (the tact that l-'ngliind has ,i verv pro-i ; unit need interest in seeing the United! I Stales involved in a war calculated to; ; weaken the hitler country, ami to frus-' ■Urate ito pan-American efforts." He adds: 5 " We (i.e.. (Jermany) should. therefore. not ! I close our eves to the probability that Iwe are on the eve or a war in i lie course jot which the Philippines are to he wrested ! from the United Stat in the interests of .Japan, T.hile Kiiglard '.'.ill endeavour in j pi'olit liv t lie op port unity to . meolida i | her influence on he American continent. ' illicit i. a! present oil the wane." Japan has ntieli vantages on her side | that she need not despair of gaining her [object. The superiority of her fleet and of : her army, lor example, the inadequate ■ means of transport possessed bv the' i Americans: the possession of the Pesca-, !(lores group, which form an excellent base "tor naval operations against (he Philip- ' pines. whereas America's nearest posses-; ■ sion is the Is],md ot (; ua i. about 1500 I sea miles distant. Moreover, Japan would take care that the war breaks out before i the opening of the Panama ('anal gives |America easy access to the Pacific. i Now comes l'.nglan<l part in the I scheme. In the view of Commanded('apelle. Kriglund is menaced politically and economically by the United States," and must take measures to avert the threatened dangers. It would be difficult, however, tor her to assume (lie offensive in view of the vast length of the Atlantic coast of the United Stales, and consequently she is seeking to attain her ends with the help |()f the Japanese. I'.ngland. he assumes, : will not content herself witii merely sup|i porting -Japan financially ; she aims at the establish in America of a great union , I under the leadership of Canada, to which i tall the other republics of the Xew World , .shall belong. As the realisation of this idream might cause Kuglish and Herman i commercial interests to clash, "Kngland | will not hesitate a moment to assume the j offensive against us if tin- Covernmenf . I considers that the interests of the eountrv ■ j would thereby be furthered. '1 he author :j strongly urges the necessity of preparing , to meet this contingency, and of sparing ■ no ellorts that would conduce to the proi iduction of a' great Herman navy, up to I date in every respect. 1_ Ibis idea exactly tits in. of course, with the views so strenuously held by the ! Kaiser, and the writer should find favour , .with his Sovereign. At the same time. ; I the mere notion of a secret plot between , I I'.ngland anil .Japan to crush (rennany and America is almost a shade too lanital.

Doctor: "Get to bed at —you're in a high fever—burning thirst, I sup- , ife ?" Patient : "Yes. dreadful.' Doctor: "Oh, I'll send you something to relieve that." Patient: ''Never mind about that, doctor. You cure the fever; I'll manage the thirst myself!"