Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 44 Years.] WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1918. "FACE TO FACE WITH KAISERISM."

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 13604, 31 July 1918, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 44 Years.] WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1918. "FACE TO FACE WITH KAISERISM."

Iv < 'Pace to Face with Kaiserism," Mr James W. Gerard mentions a gibe of Bethmann-Hollweg at what the latter terms "shirt-sleeved diplomacy."' German officialdom always deplored the direct, unconventional methods of the American Embassy at Berlin, and the pub. lication of Mr Gerard's "Four Years in Germany" profoundly shocked their susceptibilities. Bethmann-Hollweg declared that, with, all their faults, mdiv. idual and national, th e hated Ambassadors of Prance and Britain would never have gossiped in print about their diplomatic experiences until all contemporaries were safely buried. But Mr Gerard, unmoved by the sublime disapproval of the Berlin dignitaries, has again entered the lists with a cheerful volume of reminiscences gleaned from his sojourn in Germany during the war, and "Pace to Face with Kaiserism" makes very interesting reading. Mr Gerard confirms the view of many American observers that in the conduct of the war there were two competing policies, that of the Fdreign Office and that of the naval and military services, which eventually gained the day. The former was convinced that it would be unwise to ignore neutral opinion; it opposed unrestricted ■ submarining, and is believed to have had the support of the Emperor. But the latter was too strong; it controlled the forces moulding public opinion, and censored the utterances even of the Imperial Chancellor. The Emperor must bear tho responsibility for all the sins of his country, but Mr Gerard'is rather doubt, ful whether his personal inclinations agreed with many lines of German policy ! by land and sea. Yet the guilt is his, for his was the final word of decision. He has the constitutional power to impose his will, and the force of character which prevents him from being a mere tool in the hands of his advisers. Mr Gerard is emphatic on the latter point. Whatever the defects of the Hohenzollerns, they know their business, and '

are thoroughly equal to it. A nation, he declares, which does not object to being hurled into unnecessary wars from time to timo could not have more capable dynasts. Mr Gerard writes discursively, and touches upon so many subjects tbst his book is a veritablo mine of information about Germany at war. One of his staff made a tour of prison camps, but was not allowed to hold private communication with any of the prisoners at Limburg, where a largo number of Irishmen were in captivity. Ho learned afterwards that Roger Casement had been trying to seduce the Irish soldiers, and it was obviously undcstrablo that the loyalists should speak to visitors about it. Out of 2000 only a few proved untrue to their salt. Yon Jagow told the author that these wore not incorporated in the German army, but were sent back to Ireland "to raise hell." The author adds that presumably they were landed from submarines, a presumption -which has latoly boon confirmed. "When Mr Gerard was in Germany there was still a theory among tho Allies that Germany might bo overthrown by her own internal conditions and without a military defeat. At no timo did lie see any justification, for this theory, which tho sensiblo folk among the Allies have long sinco abandoned. The German peoplo has its heart in tho war; it has confidence in its leaders, and wo delude ourselves dangerously if wo think otherwise. The food shortage was serious; "but boforo tho Germans aro starved out they will starve six million Belgians, eleven million Russians and Poles, and two million prisoners, so that, after all, this starvation business is not practical. ,. Nothing short of a military victory is practical, and Mr Gerard warns us that if tile terms of peace allow Germany to exercise any control over such BOiirces of man power as Eastern Russia and Turkey in Europe and Asia, the peace will bo of short duration.