A SCHEME THAT MISCARRIED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15182, 29 March 1917, Page 4

A SCHEME THAT MISCARRIED.

An article published by the Frenchnewspaper Le Matiu in April, 1914, is of interest as showing the,trend of German naval thought with regard to the future of Australia and New Zealand. The corespondent of Fe Matin iir Basle, Switzerland relates that in April 4914, Admiral Browsing, of the German Navy,, lectured at Basle under the Auspices of the German Navy League. He pictured the next war and assumed confidently that Italy and Japan , would he allied with' Germany.. “Italy’s task,” he said, “will be twofold—her fleet will neutralise the power of the French fleet. For this purpose it is of ample/Strength, even without the help of Austria . As to her army, from Tripoli it will march on Egypt. Along the coast are magnificent paved roads, constructed by the Homans. Italy will despatch -120,000 men, who will find no difficulty in wiping out the 13,000 English quartered in Egypt . The desert, the climate, the Arabs, and the British fleet, were as nothing in the ©yes of the warlike admiral. As to Japan, he revealed to his audience that, in ■ spite of her seeming alliance with Britain, she was strongly averse to British policy, ‘^here is no doubt that in case of war the JapAnedb fleet would bear an expeditionary fohoe into the South Pacific to take possession of Australia and New Zealand. Will Germany’s aims be confined to a merely successful war? No,’ continued Admiral Brewsing. ‘The 80,000,000 souls we shall shortly number need colonies—a vast colonial Empire. We shall not repeat the scandalous Agadir fiasco, that shameful business wherein w© had to renounce our designs on Morocco before an English threat. We must increase, nay double, our navy, in .order to- conquer and defend our oversea possessions ;of which we have need We should consider HO'sacrifice tod heavy for that. “Gn for God and our country!” as old Blucher said ',oo' years ago.’ ” \