The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1918. UNREPENTANT GERMANY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11443, 24 January 1918, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 1918. UNREPENTANT GERMANY.

RECENT cables which have told us of the changes in high officialism in Germany, and the principles of the men who are now in the ascendant, should convince the densest pacifist that a peace on reasonable terms is at present impossible. All the men at the head of affairs who condemned frightfulnoss, and were in favour of a peace without territorial or monetary exactions, have boon displaced by snarling annexationists. The fact, however, need not surprise us. It is the outcome of the Prussian psychology—a thing apart in the w'orld—compounded of conscienceless brutality and avid greed of power and possession. It is also right to credit .them with attributes that all mankind admire. That- is the will to do,, and the capacity to bear suffering in the execution of projects without which ambitions are merely vain imaginings. It is only when these are used in the slaughter or enslavement of other peoples that they become morally objectionable. It is interesting, however, to "note-how on the one side German morale, German money, German energy constitute the driving power for the whole of its Allies, while, on the

other side, if the British were to i follow the Russian example, [and desert the war, its European allies . would like a column of water. Bearing in mind, therefore, their mental qualities and the savage Inst of conquest to which they are always likely to te directed when the opportunity occurs, the necessity is imposed upon the Allies of giving no peace to the Gemma until they have been absolutety crushed.

The most disastrous agreement to which the Allies could give their adhesion would, he one which would leave Germany in a position to renew the war in the course of a few years. And this 'is . what German leaders are already planning. There are two books now being w idoly and ollicially circulated in Germany, and the utmost vigilance is maintained to prevent copies from finding their way out of the country. One of these urges what it euphemistically .describes as “Secondary Marriages.” In other and plainer words, plurality of wives—the Eastern practice of polygamy. The other is by a General who is Deputy Chief of the German general staff, and is entitled ‘‘War Deductions.” They are supplemental to each other. Briefly expressed the conclusions of the Deputy Chief are that a German victory jn the present war is impossible. He says:—Our motto”should be a limitation of our war aims for the present. The strength of the German arms is not sufficient. We must bogain again, taking more radical measures, making more extensive preparations, increasing the number of [those liable for military service and the strength of the reserve. ” The book demands that Germany must for all time maint du her world power by future victories, asserts all tire old aspirations, palliates Gorman brutalities,and scorns the League of Nations’ proposal is Utopian. “Only armaments,” ho says, ‘‘can constitute a guarantee of peace. ’ ’ The other book, in endeavouring to familiarise the Gorman public with the notion of polygamy and prepare the way for its adoption, is trying to ensure the necessary amount of cannon fodder for the time of the next assault.

The probabilities are, therefore, that when the junkers and the Kaiser actually realise their impotence to defeat the—Allies they will endoavou to secure a peace on a basis that will allow of a rapid reorganisation of their forces and a resumption of the war as soon rs possible. That would be a terrible catastrophe, faudj the only formula possible for the permanent peace of the world is that of President Wilson, which insists [upon the abolition of the bloody-minded Hohenv.olicru and bis satraps. It. is true that chore are not many signs yet of their coming downfall. It is difficult for the ordinary German to throw off the chains which have become imbedded in his flesh from nearly flfty years of wearing them. But there are favourable omens. Austro-Hungary is apparently deadly weary of the war and the suffering it entails, and the conditions are such that it is not at all impossible that we may soon find it proposing a separate pe.ee. South German}- appears to he nearly as weary cf the Prussian yoke as the Austrians, and any defection in that quarter would certainly be followed by the desertion of the Turks and Bulgarians, when the'A Hied armies would soon he able to dictate the terms cf peace at Berlin. What is heingjjpl-ilnly indicated,jfcoo, is that to the war of the gun and the bayonet is being added the war of the stomach. There [is partial starvation all round. It is far more acute in enemy countries than in Britain, as the disorders in Austria indicate, and in the last resort, if arms cannot secure a victory the fuller stomach can.