NIGHTCAPS, BEGONE!

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 3

NIGHTCAPS, BEGONE!

Even German cartoonists invariably caricatured. Michel with a nightcap on his head, signifying somnolent or lazy ways. Now the "Neueste Nachrichten" cries "Away with the nightcap ! " This organ of the armanent firm is or opinion that the Him nation is still asleep. At the forthcoming Peace Conference (the scribe apparently thought the Allies would Jump at Germany's offer) Michel must throw his nightcap m a corner. On that table on which the peace protocols will be spread out we must put our iron list, and we must not allow eurselves to be lured or put off the scent by coWideratlono of future friendships. The war has wakened the German nation, it has ' unchained the slumbering powers of giants. It has shown the world and us that we can be masters if\ we desire mastery. Never again A shall we be timid about placing our feet where we desire, to place them. We shall never again play tb» silly comedy of friendly relations between the Powers. This militant scribe, who, ahouting before his country is out of the wood, fully exposes the purpose of the peace overtures, goes on to declare that Germany has had enough of "friendliness,* 1 enough of feteing and feasting friendly princes and kings who are now arrayed against her, seeking to destroy her. Then he bursts forth again: Shall we again decorate our cities and shout hurrah when foreigners visit the places wnich they have sought to lay waste ? Never. Shall we again witness with patience those exchanges of brotherly kisses and embraces wbere ridolity and innocence are victimised by cunning and guile? Never. It is unthinkable that after this war against us and against our wives and children we shall ever again i appoint these kings and princes na field -marshals and regimental I chiefs of the Prussian, army. j "Vorwarta" expresses itself as exceed- \ ingly delighted with the blatant outburst of its combative contemporary and declares that it will bo highly pleased when an end Is made to the ; theatrical visits of foreign potentates \ to the Faderland. and inferentially of j the kings and princes of tho Faderland I to other countries under similar clr- I cumstances, and to the exchange of j kisses and embraces and hollow mili- j tary appointments. But that Iron Fiat on tho tnblo disturbs tho equilibrium of the organ of German Social Democracy. "Vorwarta" fancies the nation doesn't want the Iron Fist exhibited at all, either at the Peace Conference or elsewhere, and reminds "mouthheroes" of the "Nachrlchten" type that they would do well to conolder whether the nation has any need of a press or a Government which seeks to further the particular Interests of the very class responsible for nine-tenths of the calamities now raining- In upon the German people from all sides. If the j Peace Conference does eventuate, Ger- j many had better forget much that it would have been as well for her had never been.