GERMANY’S ASPIRATIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14698, 1 September 1915, Page 8

GERMANY’S ASPIRATIONS.

BREACH BETWEEN SOCIALISTS AND OTHERS IN RE ICHSTAC. The Conservative and National Liberal i leaders in the Reichstag’ have made vigor- 1 oils demands for substantial territorial expansion as the price of Germahy's "victory.” According to German papers , which have published extensive reports of the | j recent debate in the Reichstag on the war, , I •'bitter opposition to these, sentiments oma, ’j I iiatcd from the Socialist benches in con- j sequence of protests by Herr Liobueoht. ( j At the end of the National Liberal speak- . cr’s speech, Liehnecht was the* object of J a hostile demonstration, which included ( demands that lie should be “thrown .out- , of.the House.’’ Deputies marched, to hi. ( seat, and threatened him with physical , violence. Others yelled: “Let the’ red fool talk;’’ | During the debate anti-Socialist Depu-. j ties admitted that the day’s sitting had revealed an unmistakable “broae.b’’ ■ between Socialism and the other Germ.in parties. • ‘ Hen- Ebert, the Social Democrat spokesman, declared that the war must not end lor Germany as -a “war of eon ! quest," whereupon Count AVestavp, a. I Conservative leader, remarked: “To utter . , Kiieh a thought is anything, but .useful . , |at this grave hour. ■ltis a question o: j ■ j honour for .the German nation never j again to permit such conditions as former- J j ly existed’ oil our frontiers, and we con- ■’ eiiis muoservodly. in the standpoint taken j t by.'the Imperial Chancellor in his speech. ( | This goal can only be achieved if the j -Empire’s' own military and political- in- ( j tcrests, and nothing but them, prevail. , ■ Wo .must, therefore, not .shrink from the ‘ acquisitions of territory which arc neces- ' rtary. to this end.”’ ‘ j ... lien- Seliili’er, spokesman of the Na- 1 I tional Liberal l'-arty, said: “The German nation has made and will continue to make all the sacrifices necessary for the j attainment, of (its" object., (Interruption [ ! by Herr Liehkneeht:'.‘What object r’) The ! object, which, we must attain. And now - : j that it has.come out I must confess that j in this respect a, broach has broken out between us and the Social Democratic. Party. (Cheers of approval.) When it J is said that we are ; waging no war of

I conquest, I say that is also our standpoiut. That \v4 are pursuing Napoleonic aims there, can be no question. But xee say that we must have compensation for ; the colossal sacrifice of treasure hud j hluofl. anil demand this—(prolonged ,! cliecr-i)---not in the sense that we tlniAi any strin of land or a handful of money i can atone for the blood spilt. Our ob- ■ ject must be real, tangible ;guarr,nte/>s ' (Sietierheiten'i 'that such -an attack can never again he repeated at our. expense. , Thta we ,o\vP-to those who have fallen. | If these giiatShl'oes demand an extension I of our froiitiers,- if military necessities ? require (luit Thcsel frontiers he developed 1 ( in order to be better - armed, and. in ' future defended with less bloodshed, thou I wc regard it a moral duty, to insist upon such extension.’,' . ■ • Great applause greeted this statement.