Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1916. GERMAN SUBMARINE POLICY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXX, Issue 146086, 13 October 1916, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1916. GERMAN SUBMARINE POLICY.

In tho course of his Reichstag address, tho German Chancellor, Dr. yon Bethmann Hollweg, referred to the advisability of hanging the German statesman who hesitated to use any vital weapon against such an enemy as England. At first glance this suggests that the Cfrancellor has been forced to submit to the views of the yon Tirpitz party, and that a renewal of the submarine campaign is imminent. We have, however, been told on several occasions recently that, although the advocates of submarine ruthlessness were expected to oxerfc considerable pressure in the Reichstag, there was not much likelihood of tho Chancellor going back on Germany's definite promise to the United States of America. We have also been told that General yon Hindenfcurg is on the Chancellor's side in this matter, and that an official gag has been placed on that virulent exponent of German ruthlessness, Count Beventlow, for attacking the.German idol's alleged weakness in this respect. Another sug-

gestion that there was to bo no changeiit Germany's submarine policy was contained in the Berlin report received via Berne. This message stated that at the eleventh hour a bargain had been struck between tho Chancellor and tho Socialists, who would jointly oppose the , extremists and their policy of i:'rightfulness. We must not-, however, overlook the use of the word "vital" iv the Keichstng speech. The German Chancellor knows that in the submarine Germany does not possess a vital weapon against England. It may be capable of seriously inconveniencing England by destroying ji percentage of her merchant ships, but Germany cannot create during the course, of the war a submarine licet which would be capable of striking a death blow at Great Britain. This is the opinion of tho German Chancellor himself, but it is not the opinion of the whole of the German people nor of tho submarine enthusiasts, such as

Count Heventlow, who are misleading the people. "The German people have been led to attach exaggerated importance to the power of the submarine," says the "JMaval and Military Record," and for a long time fairy stories have been circulated throughout the Empire of tho extent of the damage iniiictod on the British mercantile marine. Judging by the tone of the German papers, civilians throughout the Empire have been convinced that, contrary to the views of the Chancellor, England can be brought into a condition of starvation if underwater craft are employed without regard either to international law or the dictates of humanity. The increasing restrictions on food supplies have tended to consolidate opinion against the Chancellor and those who are supporting him. The worse those conditions become the more determined will tho advocates of ruthiossness wax, and it is probable that we may witness an early resumption of piracy. Such a, development will be accepted in this and in other countries as an indication of the desperate straits to which Germany has been reduced. We know, and neutrals know, that though the submarine may inflict loss upon us, it cannot seriously affect our lighting capacity."