BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5483, 11 January 1905, Page 5

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

THE KAISER’S NAVY. AUDACIOUS WAR, SCARE AT BERLIN. LONDON, January 9. The Berlin correspondent of the “Homing Rest” reveals an audacious war scare in the Gorman capital, with a view to securing the augmentation of the German navy. Great Britain was represented as threatening an attack if the Gorman navy was increased. According to the correspondent’s friends, who claim to have had information from high officials, the Kaiser mobilised the Gorman fleet at Kiel, and only King Edward’s personal efforts averted a war. The correspondent adds: “ Several of tho Kaiser’s closest advisers encouraged the scare. All the danger now,, however, is averted, but tho navy remains mobilised.” Tho “Homing Post” hopes that tho statements will bo officially contradicted and disproved. A STORM IN A TEAPOT. (Received January 10. 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 10. Tho scare at Berlin was partly due to Germanphohe articles appearing in tho “Army and Navy Gazette.” which many people believed to be semi-official. The mobilisation at Kiel was merely part of tho naval manoeuvres. Th “North Gorman Gazette” says nothing has arisen to cause complications. In a speech made last November by Count von Burlow at the launch of the new battleship Deutschland, and m presence cf the Kaiser, the Imperial Chancellor said that the German sea power was a challenge to no one, that its need lay in protecting German interests in the rivalry of nations, and in offering protection also to those who left their German homes to carry German civilisation into other j lands. It was believed at Berlin that the i Chancellor’s words were intended as a re- j ply to those circles in England who regard the rapid growth of the German fleet as a source of uneasiness and as in a sense directed against England.