TO THE END.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12821, 17 April 1916, Page 8

TO THE END.

(Maximilian Harden, in-an extraordinary article in his paper. '-Die Zuku.ft." depicts Germany as unwilling to be compelled to lay waste fresh areas of the world and redouble her triumph of death, but as no lousier able to be content with an interminable defensive. The article, as translated from the German by the London "Times," is as follows.) 1

Six months ago the Germans could be content with defence, holding and using what they had conquered. Now it is too late.

Can we wait until the enemy has spied out every feature of our system, military and war ecunoinic, and there.creeps upon us a state of want which at present is falsely reported '! A third harvest would be more difficult than the second. It would be difficult to make good our'supplies, not of men, but of important raw materials, and our expenditure of money would increase immoderately.

After three years of blockade, others would occupy those places in the markets from which it seemed impossible that German trade shoulfl be expelled. Dare we wait? No!

'There is still a short space of tin*? during which Germany might come to terms. Without loss* of "honour licf enemies might make a decent and enduring peace, which would not bar the way to gradual reconciliation and European harmony. These peace offers, it is suggested, miglit include a little disarmament, a little international Socialism, and a proposal to pool war expenses. If these proposals are refused, Germany will have paid the last debt she owes to the'world and humanity and proceed to be more frightful than ever, with complete indifference to the views of neutrals, especially the United States. We do not want to be caught in the pinchers between a miserable peace and exhaustion by a long war, with the consolation that a long war will devastate the world, enemies as well as friends. We will not wait upon your pleasure. If there must be death, we will determine the hour. No neutral State could expect us to think of its advantage or comfort rather tlian the security of our life.

If a dispute with the United States caff be covered oyer with any respectable" formula, there need be no splitting of hairs after a settlement of the Anglo-American dispute about the right to export and the making of cotton contraband and so on has become hot.

But if Great Britain is yearning for proof that we cannot wound her heart with submarines and aircraft, and if she will not discuss peace until this has been proved, the Unfted.State3~'jijust reconcile itself to the convict ion .that .no. further hesitation will cripple our:sTrbniarine warfare and ho Stars or'Stripea-Avill protect a ship in the war zone'. We are not tired, not afraid, and nineteen, mouths of war have Tiot. paled our resolution', i A worthy, sln'd nioderate peace would :be welcome"*' but 't]te enfeebling of the German power--tp.-strike—never!