HOW TO PUNISH THE GERMANS

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 25

HOW TO PUNISH THE GERMANS

THROUGH THEIR POCKETS. ' (By "C. D. L.," in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph.) How is the Boscho to bo punished for all the misery he has brought into the world by his ill-conceived plan to rule Europe? Ho is a thick-skinned individual, and does not possess the finer feelings of the French or the Italians, and I have never Dut him in the same class. It did not require a visit to the front in my case to convince me that the offender must be suitably punished, and in the only way he understands, and that is through his" pocket. No one who has followed the progress of the war since Germany tore up the " Scrap of Paper," invaded Belgium and France, and committed the horrible atrocities set out in the Bryce Commission Report, can have any doubt that the Germans themselves are to blame. The German generally is a greedy beast. As a servant he is servile. As a master he is a bully. As a partner he is never satisfied and happy until he has played the part of the cuckoo and got rid of his partner. A German gentleman is such a rarity that we have failed up to now to meet him. As a nation, they have fallen away in civilisation and deserve to be ostracised for many years to come. Wo have expelled them from our clubs, from our Chambers of Commerce, and are slowly taking over any businesses or interests belonging to Germans. For three years we have done without German goods, and it is to be hoped that the Imperial Government will decide in the interests of the Empire to impose a tariff of at least 50 per cent, on all such goods in future.

In the meantime, we can all individually do our bit by agreeing not to buy German goods, nor to do business with Germans. We can sti'engthen the hands of our Government and our Allies by signing a declaration, as individuals, so that whatever happens, if our Government fails to exact just reparation (which God forbid), we can show our detestation of Germany in a patriotic and practical way. We have nothing to lose, as the following figures will show: Exports to Imports from Germany. Germany. 1910 .. .. £37,020,000 £61.829,000 1911 ~ .. 39,283,000 65,250,000 1912 .. .. 40,362,000 70,048,000 1913 .. .. 40,677,000 80,411,000

If we sold nothing to Germany—if that country and people were wiped oft' the map of Europe, and we made all that we have foolishly imported, we should be better off by 40 millions per annum. By under-cutting, by Government bounties, and in other ways, Germany has flooded our markets with cheap manufactures. This has kept wages down in Great Britain, whereas in IJ.S.A., whero German cheap goods and others were surcharged a stiff tariff, wages are high. Germany has not bought 40 millions from us because they had any affection for us. but because they could not make these particular articles themselves. We can do without Germany in the future and we can make this perfectly clear by signing and framing the form illustrated in Saturday's Sheffield Telegraph, and hanging it up in our offices or shops. The above figures show how the Germans were increasing their trade with us. They were supplying cutlery and parts, razors, scissors, etc., in ever-increasing quantities to Sheffield dealers and manufacturers. They were competing with, and, to some extent, dominating tho large and heavier products of our East End Works. They had no need to go to war to conquer Europe. Their commercial methods would have put them on top in manufactures and in exports, and in a few years, but the\ could not wait. Germany was divided into two camps the military and the commercial. The former had to show that they were worth the enormous sum they cost. Tho commercial were content with peaceful penetration, and resented the time taken up by military duties, and the heavy taxation for the Army and Navy. The military camp won the day, hence the war. They have lost the great military victory they expected, and the commercial world of Germany has had a set back from which it must be our endeavour that they shall not recover. If the Allies will enter into an understanding not to do business with Germany for ten years after peace is declared ; not to allow German ships to enter their ports, and to refuse to parley or confer with her so long as the Hohenzollerns are in power, the end will be materially advanced. The German people would be

told practically to got rid of their preaent rulers, otherwise there will be nothing' buj further bloodshed and hard slavery fojr them in the future. Our army is sup. plying pressure on the battlefield. We can apply pressure that the German commercial world will understand and fear, because, as I havo said, the Hun is a greedy beast, an his feelinga are in his pocket.