SLAV v. TEUTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12255, 4 June 1914, Page 8

SLAV v. TEUTON.

The recent newspaper war between Russia and Germany, which caused something like a panic on the Stock Exchanges of Europe, forms the text of an important article by Dr E. J. Dillon in the Contemporary Review on the present and future .relations of the two Empires. He sees in the "bitter comments passed by the G-erman Press on Russian military preparations a recognition that Germany has for the time being reached the limit of her capacity, in the matter of armaments, and that time is on the side of Russia with 'her-enormous area and growing population. "The German Press," he says, "would seem to have awakened suddenly to the fact that Germany's military efficiency has risen to the highest level it,is likely to attain-far some years to come, whereas during these years. Russia's strength, already redoubtable, will be- growing by leaps and bounds. Remembering their stock argument against the -three years' military service in France, that a nation whose population is 'hardly 40,000,000 cannot hope to vie with a neighbor who has nearly 70,000,000. it may hav.e occurred to these publicists that a State which numbers a population of hardly 70.000,000 cannot in the long.run hope to get abreast of. a rival which'-'boasts 170,000,000. Time, is on Russia's side, providing not only number, but quality. The longer peace lasts the more formidable will llussia become; and the less likely will she be to acquiesce "gratuitously in Germany's designs on. Asia-Minor or elsewhere. At present Russia is in a. position much inferior to that of her western neighbor, but she is showing'unusual vigor in the improvement of both her finances andher military establishments. Already her army is vastly better than it was at the time-of the Japanese"War, the officers in particular being better trained, and far. stronger in morale. The field artillery is armed with aim* said to surpass in .several respects those of the French and German armies, and the peace establishment has already been "increased by one-third. Not- only is Russia's effective lighting power being steadily increased, but, according to Dr Dillon, the spirit of the Russian nation is becoming more antiGerman every year. , This is partly due to the advantage which Germany took of her neighbor's preoccupation with the Japanese War to insist upon a commercial treaty, which has cost the Russian people 'hundred's of millions of roubles and - bestowed millions on the Germans. Much of Germany's present prosperity is to be ascribed to this "treaty. ' "Had it not been for the tribute "which hv this" instrument she imposed on the Slay Empire, her treaties with other nations and the profits which these have since brought her in would," Dr Dillon declares, "have been impossible. Now her present desire vs to have that treaty renewed, whereas Russia is resolved to denounce it as soon as the legal term arrives, and not to renew it in its present shape, come what may. These, differences, whiohv involves 'immense interests, vested as well as inchoate, will be sharpened into actuality during the next twelve months.''' In addition to the. sharp conflict of commercial interests, there is the very real .rivalry between the Slav and Teutonic races, of which races Russia- and Germany are the -respective protagonists. "This," Dr Dillon assures us, "is no mere dispute about territorial expansion, political designs, or commercial advantages, it is a "ruthless struggle for mastery in all domains of national and international existence, which, so far as one can now see, may at most be retarded by the diplomatic good will on both sides, but can hardly be settled with finality by any treaty or convention. For here we are dea'ling with an instinctive semiconscious movement, which obeys natural laws, and not with a deliberate selfdetermining agency, which may be modified by argument or swayed by persuasion. "Slavism and Teuton ism are fast becoming the two predominant forces in European politics, around which most other issues will tend to group themselves." This rivalry is a further menace to peace, ' because ; f the tension between Russia and Germany's ally, Austria-Hungary, which it constantly provokes with every development of the unstable Balkan situation.