WHAT MILITARISM MEANS

NZ Truth, Issue 579, 22 July 1916, Page 4

WHAT MILITARISM MEANS

« . The Criminal Cult of "Kultur" A Gorman theological professor, Professor Relnhold Sooborg. with an approach to truculent blasphemy, has rccontly said that "War la a work of love." This rhfislfl to refuted by tho vicious degeneration And disappearance of the Teutonic conquerors of Italy and Bpain. It la also refuted by tho ruined homes of Belgium and of France, and by tbo inextinguishable hatred of tho German, by the side of which hte own histrionic emotions aro moro paltry moutblngs. In tho first days of the war German professors, exultantly diffusing themselves In American journals and British reviews, were m tho habit of explaining what militarism had done for Germ/my, it hod drilled her work- ' men. It has promoted science encouraging chemistry In ordor to make Germany aclf- contained, discovering alloys for the sake of tho steel for tho jruno, eto^ otc All thia is a very atupld Ho. • • • The greatest work m steel alloys nan been don© tn Kngland anil In Franco. Germany waa but an aanlduoua copyist. Every ono of the inventions that war has utilised, from aeroplane* to asphyxiating gou, and from telescopic sights to wireless telegraphy, owed its origin to the needa and circumstances of peace. Not ono of thoao Invention* has had its origin In Germany. That country merely exploited tho discovertea of men of genlua m order to turn thorn against mankind. War never ad- ! vanced civilisation by a second. It ha« retardod progrewii. It is holding up even now nearly the whole scientific research of tbo world. It Ih dvitiroyIng wealth, it i* cutting down grnlus iintl talent and hope and youth and ideals before they have hod time to flower, if ft nation, m nplte of nil the aear» and ta.ilna nnd uufTerlng stilt Htumbltis on through wor to reach the light, it Is becauiia of the Indomitable vitality which MU«ialn«i tho«0 who light for ideals. Hut war by \\»o\t~-\a hell.