Germany Ready

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 15, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 11.

In an article in "The Nineteenth Century" the writer, Herr Charles Tuchman, while vehemently denying that Germany has any ambition to attack Great Britain, declares, nevertheless, in response to the question, "Now is Germany ready for war?"

"Most assuredly she is. And I do not hesitate to aver that if war were declared to-morrow, Germany's intimate knowledge of this country, and this country's ignorance of Germany, would astonish even those bellicose critics of naval preparedness who are continually crying Danger. But having said this much, I wish to show that altho Germany is ready for war with any country, war was never further from her intentions. . . . Is it not the duty of a great nation like Germany, surrounded as she is on one side by Russia, on the other by France, and on the sea by England, to prepare herself for any emergency, including that of war?"

In response to the question, "Is Germany clearly desirous of annexing new lands?" he replies:

"Of course she is. How could she be otherwise with a population of seventy millions which in time to come will, with an increase of one million annually, be nigh unto one hundred millions confined within narrow limits? She is like a boiler on the point of bursting with somebody sitting on the safety-valve. She finds England in her way everywhere. Germany must find an outlet for her surplus, just as Japan is finding an outlet for her people; but whither can she go?"

Mr. Tuchman disavows any idea of attack upon any of Great Britain's dependencies, but expresses another opinion as follows:

"The day is not far distant when Asia Minor will fall, figuratively, to pieces. It would be a contretemps to the liking of Germany. Who could prevent annexation in that direction when Germany would have only to walk through Austria in order to plant her flag on the desired spot?"

Surely the outlook does not forebode peace.