PRUSSIAN MILITARISM.

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13275, 2 September 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

PRUSSIAN MILITARISM.

The most reniaikable German comment on the Imperial Chancellor's leeent speech comets from an unexpected direction—from the Headquarters of .Marshal von Hindeiiburg. The completion of Hindenburg's fiftieth year of military service was celebrated last month with much speechmaking. Lieut.-General von Ludendorff. Hindenburg's Chief of Staff, delivered a speech in which he gave a very different "ccount of the origins of the war from that of the Imperial Chancellor. Sketching the fifty years of Hindenburg's career, Ludendorff declaied that Germany is now reaping a harvest which she sowed at the time that Ilindenburg entered the Aimy. He said : "April, 1866. saw the German Blind still an impotent collection of States and an obscure remnant of an older time. Prussia's v.ar against Austria first removed the obscurity. Prussia v.on the liredominance. and the North-German Bund arose in a state of military efficiency. But the world did not then feel itself aftectcd. and the whole business was for the woild a domestic concern of Central Europe. "Then cam.' the war of 1870. Germany arose, and the world itself began to listen. Then there came the time when the German.- and Germany found that their coat had become too tight, when everything strove for an outlet, ami when unconsciously and consciously Germany became a rival of the Great Power* which believed that they eotild he permitted to control the world. " England recognised this, and thus arose this world conflagration, which can only end in Germany and Genual Europe acquiring the position of power which belongs to them. The way that PrussiaGermany has Unversed is a gigantic way. The harvest which Piussia-Gcimany sowed ill 1866 has ripened.

Addressing Marshal von .llindenburg, the speakei continued "Von helped in the sowing, and you are helping now in the harvesting. You have been able U. do your part in the sharpening of the sword which Germany's Emperors an I Prussia's Kings gave t>> their people in order that they might be able to stand tin's world-struggle. And then you were called iroin retirement to wield tilts sword."

In a second speech General von Luckndorif interpreted the Imperial Chancellor's speech as meaning that the occupied 'eiiitories in the east are to enjoy '"the blessing of Prussian-German administration," and said that the speech had consequently been heartily welcomed at Ilindeiilung's headquarters.