GERMAN JUBILATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 8

GERMAN JUBILATION.

CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH. REVIEW OF THE WAR. CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. SOCIALIST INTERRUPTIONS. (Received December 10, 11 p.m.) . , ; Amsterdam, December 9. In anticipation of a monotonous peace debate the galleries were crowded when" the Reichstag met. The audience included Count Zeppelin and Admiral Tirpitz and Herr Dernberg. During the Chancellor's speech, Herr Liebknecht. Herr Ledebour, and other Socialists continually interrupted, shouting, "What about annexation? What are we aiming at?" There was general disorder until the rest of the House howled down the Socialists. The Chancellor was several times deeply moved, and gave way to tears. The declaration that Germany would not end the war unless given guarantees that there would be no repetition of the present state of affairs, was loudly cheered by the crowded galleries, but above tie din the ever-persistent voice of Herr Lebedour shouted "Annexations! Annexations 1" Dr. von Bethmann-Hollweg, the German Chancellor, commenting on Bulgaria's intervention, said . that the allies had since the commencement of the war made increasing efforts to induce King Ferdinand to join them, promising him most liberal portions of Austro-Hungarian and Turkish and Greek territory. Where the Allies Failed. "The allies," he declared, "not only gave away enemy and neutral territory, but did not spare Servia, for whose menaced integrity Russia unchained war, for whose liberation the entente pretends it is fighting. The allies asked Servia to make tentorial concessions. Servia was disinclined to agree, and thus our enemies remained at variance. The Bulgarians' justifiable national demands were after the last Balkan war considerably restricted in favour of Servia. Russia left Bulgaria in the lurch, despite the fact that Bulgaria had borne the main burdens of the Balkan war. Bulgaria thus saw the fruits of her victories going to Servia, and the latter given preference just because she was the nearest Power to Austria, King Ferdinand has now redeemed his pledge made at the end of the second Balkan war, namely, that the Bulgarian colours, which after glorious fighting and severe disappointments had been furled, would yet fly over her lost territories. " Servia, instead of seeking an understanding in order to save the country from the sacrifices involved by a fresh campaign, decided not only to oppose a united Austro-Ger-man attack, but also to attack Bulgaria." Eoad to tho STear East.

The gaining of an open road to the Near East," the Chancellor continued, " was a milestone of the war from a military point of view, : and its value could not be over-rated from the economic standpoint. It allowed the welcome arrival of Turkish produce in Germany. Thanks to Bang Ferdinand'.s farseeing policy, a strong bridge had been constructed between the Central Empires and the Orient, which would be used after peace for.the universal work of kultur." The Chancellor attacked the allies' policy in Greece. He re- ; proached Britain with using her .fleet to support a breach of Greek neutrality. Britain had managed ! to impress on the world the idea that she must punish Germany for ! violating the neutrality of Belgium,' but now the world knew that Bri- j tain was tied up with France without the British Parliament's knowledge. Sir Edward Grey was forced to join the war, voluntarily or otherwise, before the question of Belgian neutrality ever arose. Food and Cotton Supplies. " Britain," said the Chancellor, "is no longer justified in denouncing German militarism when she plays the hypocritical part with i Greece. The world now knows what the present world-slaughter is being continued to please Britain. All the reports that Germany is seeeking peace are foolish legends which the allies are spreading in order to - cover their military failures.' I cannot discuss terms now, but .the longer the allies force the war on Germany the stronger she will become and, therefore, the more severe ! peace terms will be. France demanded the regaining of Alsace and Lorraine, and Britain the crushing of German militarism, but the- allies had found on the battlefield both demands to be impossible terms. Germany's future must be i secured. There will be enough food, j possibly an over-supply, cotton is coming up the Danube, and the sup- j ply of copper and rubber is sufficient. Germany is prepared to carry the war into other fields." Western Front Squeezed. Reviewing the military situation ' the Chancellor said:"The Germans j and Austro-Hungarians are occupy- j : ing well-consolidated and strong de- ■ fensive positions in Russia. We are ) always ready for a further advance. I It is true the French and British, with greatest contempt for death, ! have squeezed our front in the west at some points, but the breakthrough, which was to be forced at any cost, failed like previous attempts. The Austro-Hungarians firmly hold defensive positions in Italy and have repulsed continual Italian attacks carried out at gigantic loss of life. The fact that Italy is blowing to pieces peaceful towns whose deliverance she is attempting hardly compensates for military failures. " The economic situation in Belgium is almost normal and the pro- ! duction of coal is increasing. The I Russians left Poland, Lithuania, '■

and Courland in complete anarchy. We have established new police, rebuilt the railways and roads, and introduced municipal statutes giving the Poles an interest in public life. ** Our troops are brilliantly overcoming all the hardships of the Servian mountains, and the Turks heroically and bravely Keep watch at the Dardanelles, the immediate fall of which Mr. Asquith predicted in the summer. The Dardanelles to-day stand firmer than ever. The Turks at Bagdad have also given the Eritish an appreciable blow." Calculations Flawless. The Chancellor concluded : " Our enemies can do nothing against the logic of facts. Our calculations are flawless. No uncertain factors shatter our firm confidence. If our enemies are not yet inclined to yield to facts they must do so later. The German people are unshaken in their reliance on their strength, which is invincible. It is an insult to try to make us believe that we — who are going to victory—are inferior in endurance and activity, internal and moral power, to our enemies, who are still dreaming of victory. No! We shall not yield to words. We shall resolutely carry on the war which the enemy wanted in order to complete what Germany's future demands." (Prolonged applause, which drowned a few Socialist interruptions.) ANOTHER TALE. MARSEILLAISE IN BERLIN. • PEOPLE WANT BREAD. Times »nd Sydney Sun Services. London, December 9. A message from Zurich asserts that at a recent peace demonstration in Berlin 10,000 persons assembled at night in Unter den Linden, sang the " Marseillaise," and yelled, "We want peace and bread!" Mounted police dispersed the crowd, many being arrested. The newspapers are forbidden to refer to the demonstration.