DANGER TO BE FACED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 90, 6 August 1914, Page 4

DANGER TO BE FACED.

Discussing the ’European crisis editorially on Monday last the Auckland “Star” remarks: “Even if England would not regard the occupation of Belgium by Germany as necessarily involving her in this great conflict, it is difficult to sec how she can, avoid being drawn into it by the strongest of all motives—the urgent need for protecting her own interests, and insuring herself against risks for the future. ! We are by no means oblivious of the horrors of warfare, and we regard a great international conflict such as is already in progress as one of the worst misfortunes that can befall the human race. But we,cannot blind ourselves to the probability that if Ellwand elects to stand aside at all costs, and keep clear of the risks that participation in such a struggle must involve, she will find herself face to face with even more serious dangers later on. Ff Germany should overcome France, England’s turn will certainly come next. One of the greatest of Germany’s historians has said; ‘We have reckoned with Denmark, with Austria, with France—we have still to reckon with England’; -and it can hardly be doubted that if Germany succeeds in crushing France once more she will, sooner or later, use the fleet she has built up with such gigantic efforts for the purpose for which, in the words of the German Navy Act, it was first planned—‘to contest with the greatest naval Power the control of the sea.’ And if England leaves Russia and Franco to fight Austria and Germany by themselves, whoever wins or loses, it is positively certain that when the day comes for England to defend herself against Germany, she will stand alone.”