AMERICA AND GERMANY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9621, 29 March 1917, Page 6

AMERICA AND GERMANY

MOTIVES FOR Wftß BURLIN' BRLIKVF.O WILSON WAS BLUFFING. From Our .Special Correspondent. LONDON, February ». What were Germany's motives in risking war with the United States? that is the question which everyone is asking in view of the devedonraents of the last few days. Many theories have been advanced, more or less dogmatically, and to each, though not to all, some objection may be .urged. The wisest- and most reasonable assumption is that Germany took account of all Ihe possibilities and all the dangers of the Rolie.fi, she decided to pursue, and that, weighing the possibilities against the dangeis she came to the conclusion that in her existing military and economic straits tile risk was one which she had no alternative but to take. Any idea that her decision was in any sense a hasty cue may he entirely dismissed. For months post slw must have been preparing for tlv l subn-.irino campaign of aupef-fright-fulness which she is now launching, .cue mav have hoped that American warnings were mere bluff, and that in anj' eeso President. Wilson would never go to the extreme length of .declaring war. She entertained the same hope about Great Britain's attitude at the Commencement of the war when she launched her legions against Belgium and France. But though she hoped for the host she was fully prepared for the worst, and there can hardly be any doubt that this has been her attitude also towards the American danger. And one can imagine very much the same line of reasoning being pursued in Berlin in both instances. America also has "a contemptible little army of little more than a hundred thousand men, and in the military sense at least Qerjnany counts confidently on the unitea States being unable to influence a milltary decision on the Western front at any rate until the spring of next year. And bv that time tho optimists in Berlin calculate that if only they can starve England into surrender the war will be over and Germany will be in a position to dictate peace on her own terms.