Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1905. THE HIGHWAY OF THE OCEAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8208, 2 August 1905, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1905. THE HIGHWAY OF THE OCEAN.

The " Admiral of the Atlantic" seems to have postponed his debut in that character and retreated to a more limited area of the Baltic, wherein to display himself. He and his brother of the " Pacific" have simultaneously discovered that their titles could not be practically sustained. The one indeed was uncerimoniously bundled out of the larger waters ; and the other, making a virtue of necessity, has made a graceful retreat. But even here the would-be master of the ocean highway finds himself dial" lenged, in a manner that leaves him no option but to submit. It would have been monstrous had the Kaiser been permitted to " demonstrate " unchallenged within such a short distance of British waters; and the Government have compassed the situation with commendable promptitude and completeness. Impressive as the Kaiser's squadron may be, we can rely upon it the British fleet will support its traditions. The Danish tribute to England will probably make the Kaiser very angry. What does this restless potentate really want ? His arms are moving nervously over the world's chess-board, but he appears to be finable to determine upon a definite move. Turkey, Morocco, Scandinavia— each in its turn has been his objective, but so far nothing has come of it all. It would be a good thing for the peace of the world if Germany could annex a big slice of territory somewhere for colonising purposes; it might be a safety-value. But there is little hope for that. There is no slice available, and if there were, the military methods of German occupation would render any scheme of real colonisation abortive. It is wonderfully creditable to French public opinion that war has been averted, for, undoubtedly, the Kaiser has flouted and insulted France in a manner that, only a few years ago, would have made war inevitable. The Kaiser's position must be exasperating to him. The Austrian Emperor hangs on to life, it would be difficult the handle Holland, and any dream of Germanised Scandinavia

would be .but a dream, that is. v.cry certain. The Kaiser has a good deal of the restless ambition of his great predecessor Frederick, but not the corresponding shrewdness of that tough qld warrior. We may regard him perhaps as a blessing in disguise, inasmuch as his activity and übiquitous character have a wholesomely stimulating effect upon our defence organisations.