PEACE AND POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13843, 1 September 1908, Page 5

PEACE AND POWER.

IDEALS OF GERMANY,

SPEECH BY THE KAISEtt.

THE TRUE SOLDIBR SPIRIT. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received August 31, 10.35 p.m.) BERLIN, August 31. : ; The Kaiser and Kaiserin received an ovation on the occasion of a visit to Strasburg.

The Kaiser, in a speech at a banquet, said he rejoiced to be able to express his deepest conviction that the peace of Europe was not in danger. "It rests/' he said, ''on a too solid foundation to be easily upset by the incitements and calumnies provoked by envious and ill-disposed individuals. This firm security exists in the first place in the conscience of the Princes and statesmen of Europe, who know and feel that they are responsible to God for the lives arid prosperity of the peoples entrusted to their leadership..;'-

"On the other hand there are the will and the desire of the people to make themselves useful in tranquilly developing the magnificent achievements of progressive civilisation, arid measure their strength in peaceful rivalry .'■ VJ.

"Finally," continued the Kaiser, " peace is assured and guaranteed by Germany's power on sea and land, by the German people in arms' proud and manly discipline, and the love and honour of her armed forces. -Germany is determined to maintain them at their high level without menace to others, and to develop them as her own interests demand, favouring and injuring none." The Kaiser, in a 'previous speech at dinner at the Palace, alluding to the army corps inspection, referred gracefully 7to the presence beside the German veterans of many old French soldiers, fighters under Bosquet, Saint Armand, Pelissier, and Forey, at Solferino, Majenta, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. He added: "It must be true that soldiers' hearts are drawn to one another wherever the true soldier spirit lives." , -