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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2484, 24 April 1909, Page 4

GERMANY AS A WORLD-POWER. Now that tho naval position has relaxed somewhat in' its intensity, and the trouble in the Balkans is virtually settled, it is well to reflect upon the part that has been taken by Germany in the adjustment of affairs, and upon the probabilities for the future. Within a few yearn Germany has succeeded by sheer force of military strength in bending to her will through the peaceful channels of diplomacy the only two great Powers that could conceivably withstand her in a land war. France had to dismiss her greatest and most successful Foreign Minister since tho Franco-Prussian war, M. Dcleasse, when Emperor William, with halfdrawn sword, gave the order. Now France’s ally, Russia, has had to abandon, under like intimidation, its timehonored pro-Slav policy in Eastern Europe. In the caso of M. Do’casse, Germany was playing her own game, with, of course, a seconding from Austria. Latterly she has been playing primarily an Austrian game, though she necessarily benefits herself from the great enhancement of her prestige. Still more will she gain from the increased intimacy of her relations with the grateful Dual Monarchy. With Austria thus firmly united to her, she obviously dominates Continental Europe. Supposing there were no other factor in tho political situation than the armies of Europe, Germany would have that preponderance of strength, so perilous to national liberties and to the world’s peace, which Louis XIV. and Napoleon held at the zenith of their careers of aggrandisement. Germany has undoubtedly .given the world reason to believe that she is aiming, as the Ausiro-tSpanish Hapsburgs of Tudor days, as Louis XIV. a century later, and as Napoleon a hundred years ago did, at the hegemony of- Europe. All the great wars in which the British have been engaged in modern times have been brought about through attempts or suspected attempts on the part of some one nation to upset the balance of power and set up assort of European overlordship. Even the Crimean War was largely due to widespread fear of Czar Nicholas’ design to make Russia supreme in Europe. But for that fear Napoleon 111. would scarcely have induced Great Britain to join him in that probably mistaken venture. So it is to-day. Germany aims at overloruship of Europe, and the nations see the danger. It is absolutely impossible to regard the prospect with equanimity. We see AustriaHungary, which it was thought might break into pieces on the death of the aged Emperor, extending its bounds into the Slav states, with Germany egging it on. This must mean that the Germans are determined to push their way to the. Adriatic, obtaining thereby a clear way to the East. And we must expect to find, too, that expansion towards the North Sea becomes a matter of active policy. Germany wants to command the mouths of the Rhine and of th<> .Scheldt, and if she is not checked in her onward career both Holland and Belgium may ultimately he absorbed. Given this, the dominance of the German Empire in Europe would he absolute, and the outlook for the nations appalling. ■ Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Secretary, sees the whole situation, and with profounds authority urges the British people to exert themselves to prevent Europe being overpowered. The rulers of Germany may not contemplate, as some have supposed, a future naval war of aggression upon Great Britain, but there can be littlto doubt that they feel, as previous claimants for ascendancy in Europe have felt before them, that the grcaFCTT? obstacle to that ascendancy is the overwhelming maritime supremacy of Great Britain. If Germany possessed tho licet foreshadowed in the preamble of its .1900 Navy Actone “of such strength that a wai against the mightiest sea-Power would involve risks threatening the supremacy of that Power”—-then even Great Britain wou’d have a taste of the diplomatic reverses suffered by France and Russia. The only possible alternatives then would be war or general submission to German headship in Europe.

By advertisement in this issue, Mr. J. H. Cato, dentist, announces that he is in no way related to a victim or a recent sad occurrence in Napier.

The “Australasian” has a picture bearing on the activity of Ngauruhoo, showing an umbrella-topped column o*. steam ascending, not from that volcano, hut from the snowclad summit or Ituapehu 1

Owing to yesterday being St. George’s Dav there was no sitting o the Magistrate’s Court. A native charged with drunkenness was, at tne Police Station, treated as a first oilended by Mr. W. A. Barton, and fined os and costs or 24 hours’ imprisonment.

Mr. J. Warren reported to the Cook County Council yesterday that he had made arrangements for ratepayers meetings to consider the tramway Joan proposals, to bo held in the: various ridings during the next month. Jhe date of each meeting is advertised in this issue.

A case of typhoid has been admitted to the Gisborne hospital from the Motu, the wife of a man who was already m the institution suffering from that complaint, having been just admitted, lne pair, who have a family of five, had gone from Patutahi to the Motu recently.

The Rugby football coach of the University or California, James R* Schaeffer, will leave San Francisco tor Australia and New Zealand about Ist. May to study the game as played hc'ro. He will spend about a month or so m New South Wales and Queensland before crossing to New Zealand.

The Gisborne Rowing Club will hord a “smoko” in the Cosmopolitan Club rooms on Thursday evening next, when the trophies won during the season will be presented. The evening is for members only, and tickets may be had from Messrs I). Cowan, P. Hamilton, JCurtis, L. Manning, B. Bright, and T. Adams.

Mr. C. R. Webster, general secretary of the Y.M.C.A., is endeavoring to get names for the purpose of forming a junior literary and debating society. A luncheon room has been fixed up, and it is intended to supply milk and sugar lor members so that they can make themselves tea, coffee, or l cocoa, and have their lunch at the rooms.

A ping-pong tournament in the Y.M.C.A. "rooms commences to-night. This tournament has considerable interest amongst Y.M.C.A. members, who have been busily practising during the past week. The manner in which the one-time popular winter game has been taken, up seems to indicate* that it will be. “the craze during the coming wimctf.

A slight mishap occurred to the evening train from Gisborne to Waikohu vesterday. The train was approaching Te Karaka about o p.m., when a piston spindle on the engine broke. Alter a delay of about an hour the engine was patched up sufficiently to enable it to •fake the "train to Waikohu and to return to town, where it arrived about 50 minutes late.

The services at Wesley Church tomorrow will be conducted by Mr Frazer in the morning, and the Rev. J. A. Loehore in the evening. The latter service will be specially for young women and young men, Mr. Loehore taking as his subject, “A Life Purpose. vLr Loehore will also conduct services at Waihuka at 11 and Ormond at 3 o’clock.

At the meeting of the Harbor Board yesterday, the chairman, Mr. John Townlev, referred to the fact that the late Mr. W. Sievwright, on March 3. 1885, moved the first resolution on the Gisborne Harbor Board —a proposal in favor of raising a loan of £BOO,OOO for harbor works. " The motion was seconded by Mr. T. J. Dickson, who has also joined the great majority.

An entertainment of a rather novo! nature took place in Whin rays Hall last night in the shape of a wood-chop-ping competition for £lO. The contestants were H. Jones (Tasmania) and J. Trainer (Newcastle), and tlu'ce logs, measuring 12 inches. 15 inches, 18 inches. were used, and the contest resulted in a win for Jones, who was successful in the two smaller logs, while Trainer got through the ISiu. log first. No official times were kept.

At the Baptist Tabernacle to-morrow morning tlio Rev. W. Lamb will commence a special series of addresses bearing on the Christian life. The subject to-morrow will be “The Christian and his -Reading—-the power of hooks, bad and good.' J In the evening liis subdeet will be “A Christian View of the Coming Municipal Election —some things that ought to be said.” At 1 6.50_ the orchestra plays Handel’s Largo -in G. Mr. W. JBarlow will sing “If witu all your heart,” and am anthem will be rendered.

A gang of Government workmen have been employed for some days at the new siding at Kaitaratahi, and it is expected to be completed inside a week. Once this is done from twlve to fourteen trucks of gravel will be sent into town 'every day. Speaking to a “Times” reporter, the Mayor (Mr. *V. D Lysnar) said that- no extra expense would be ‘ entailed by the Borough Council, nor would any extra assistance be required, as with the Stiakei waggon nd trailer unci a nuinbci of carts the present staff would be able to cope with the additional supplies.

A meeting of the committee arranging for the social to be held m connection with the Gisborne School was held last evening, Mr. John Somervell' in the chair. Mr. Rowley reported that a ladies’ committee had offered to supply the supper for the social, and Mr. Colley reported that a number of donations had been received. _ The social was appointed to be held in the Garrison Hall on Thursday and Friday, May 6th and 7th. A children’s fancy dress ball is to be hold on the Friday evening. Tickets are available from members of the -Committee aud at the school.