The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1913. GERMANY’S DESIGNS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 55, 6 March 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1913. GERMANY’S DESIGNS.

Should disaster occur and war break out between France and Germany, ,tbe position Holland and Belgium would occupy is not a pleasant one, as both countries are almost certain to be marched through by the German Army. King Leopold had, it is known, promised the German Emperor not to oppose the passage of a German Array through his territory, and years ago a German newspaper announced that “the path to German expansion had been cleared,” as no interference was to be permitted with the Dutch Government’s policy—said on the authority of an ex-Foreigu Minister of the Netherlands to have been dictated by the Kaiser in an autograph letter to Queen Wilhelmina of Holland—of fortifying the coastal defences of Holland at the expense of the land frontier which faces Germany, According to the Pall Mall Gazette, military experts are agreed that the fortified line of the Meuse, between Germany and France, would be an effective barrier against German troops advancing to invade France from the east. It is held that the character of the military preparations of Germany and particularly the railways and the construction of special! sidings for entraining troops, indicate the probability of large German forces, in the event of war, attempting to turn the French barrier forts on the Meuse by crossing Belgian territory. Jt is no secret that the German Government has already assured the Belgian Government that should such a necessity unfortunately be forced upon the German authorities, the passage of troops through Belgium would be merely a temporary expedient, and that Belgian independence would be safe, provided that Belgian neutrality were maintained during the war. In the event, however, of France being crushed by Germany, it would be impossible for Belgium to resist the expansionist activity of Germany. How Britain is atfected by the independence of Belgium being threatened or violated by the massing of foreign troops, has an important bearing. Great Britain is one of tin 1 signatories—Prussia, Austria, France, Russia, and Holland being the others—to the Treaty ol London, IKB9, which gave autonomy to Belgium, though that treaty does not hind Great Britain to take up arms in defence of Belgium’s independence. There was a treaty ratified in ISA) between Great Britain. France and Belgium which specially stipulated that tl ? armed forces of Britain should

protect Belgian neutrality if it were infringed by either belligerent. But the treaty was not promulgated until the danger which it sought to guard against teas over, the victory at feedan having ended it. Hus treaty lapsed a year later. Very frequently attention lias been called to the fact that Germany has been busy building railways to the Dutch frontier, railways for which there can be no com-

mercial justification. Their use is therefore undoubtedly in case it is desired to pour in a great military force at short notice. Not Jong ago, Mr, Robert Blatchford, a well-known Eng-j lish publicist, declared that Germany intended to annex Holland and Belgium at an early date. A very stiong anti-British feeling was prevalent throughout the Netherlands during the Boer War which enabled German influence to make great headway in the country. It is also pointed out that similarly the. campaign in England against the late King Leopold’s administration of the Congo Free State— Belgium’s most valuable colonial possession—aroused intense indignationin Belgium. German writers make no secret that Germany needs the Dutch harbours and means to ultimately possess them. It is most vital to Britain’s interests that she is not successful in this ambition.