The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1918. GERMANY AND PEACE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13888, 14 October 1918, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1918. GERMANY AND PEACE

The news published on Saturday afternoon to the effect that AustroHungary and Turkey have notified Germany that they have decided to accept America's conditions of peace, though not official, derives considerable confirmation from the comments of Germans journals. It would have been regarded as rank treason a few weeks ago for newspapers to have expressed such sentiments as these: "Prussia is dead. The work of the great Prussians from Frederick the Great to William 11. lies in ruins. Germany has been killed by her own allies." This is a revelation of the truth to the German people with a vengeance, and the fact that the statements are allowed to go forth is proof in itself that the German leaders recognise that the end has come and that nothing is to he gained by continuing to delude the mass of the people. They may seek to lay the blame for their misfortunes upon the shoulders of their allies, but it goes without saying that neither Austria, Bulgaria nor Turkey would have withdrawn from the contest had they thought there was a vestige of hope of carrying their great adventure through. It was only when they were absolutely convinced that their cause was irretrievably lost that they decided to endeavour to save something from the wreckage. That they approached the Entente Powers on their own account shows that they are quite ready to leave Germany, the author of their dire misfortunes, in fend for herself; and while they will have to accept the same terms as those imposed upon Bulgaria, there is little doubt that their action in declining to continue a useless struggle will hear fruit to their advantage at the time of the final settlement. The elimination of Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria will have immense results, not the least of which will be the feeling of resentment engendered in Germany against her erstwhile allies. This is even now apparent from lie' Press comments already alluded to, and il will he many years ere that feeling dies down. The German's capacity to hide is above normal, and it Ins been assiduously cultivated during the war period. Britain, Italy and America have in turn been the chief objects of their animosity; but it is sal'' to say that, great as the vindictiveness felt towards these, the volume of the feeling will be many times accentuat-

i'il towards Lticir erstwhile allies, who have linl scrupled to leave them n tlir lurch, iiml thus banishes, beyond all ho] r revivification for many years, German aspirations for a Middle Europe supremacy, for that feeling .if trust and confidence necessary between the 1 pie to make such a scheme possible has been hopelessly shattered. The "work nf the great Prussians from Frederick the lireat to William II." lias assuredly been laid in ruins, but, while that may be as gall and wormwood to the (ierman people, it will not be so regarded by the peoples of other nations, who will feel that by that very development the world has neen made more secure and safe for the great mass of human kind. It, will be interesting to watch the course of events in Germany in the immediate future. It is hardly probable that the Gcman High Command will "unconditionally surrender" at the present juncture, though they must eventually do so. They are much more nu -ly : i i mbark upon a campaign of and run amok in an insane desire to inllict cs much damages and suffeiing upon the Kntente peoples as possible. The fact that their fleet is practically intact cannot be ignored, and it is inconceivable that Germany will capitulate while this powerful lighting force remains in their hands. They will either fight or destroy it to prevent its falling into the hands of their foes, for there can be no question that the disposition of the Germany Navy will be one of the provisions of the Treaty of Berlin, which will make every conceivable safeguard against the possibility of a repeition of the terrible hardships and unspeakable horrors of the past four and a-quarter years. The revival of the submarine campaign against helpless merchantmen indicates that Germany is still unrepentant, and determined to adhere to her policy of ruthlessness to the bitterend. She overlooks the fact that she is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind, for every atrocity now will entail retribution later on.

[News is to hand that Germany, in reply to President Wil'>n's NoLe, has expressed her willingness to evacuate occupied territory as a prelude to the discussion of peace. The proposals, however, are evidently but a clumsy effort to gain time. The only possible terms that can be allowed Germany at this stage is an unconditional surrender. President Wilson's terms leave no loophole for discussion. Germany must either accept them as they stand or put up with the consequences.]