The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-01
Germany's War Fleet and II, Purpose

A good deal OF light on the ultimate
aim OF the immense additions now
making to the German Navy is derivablc
from lately published book, deutschland
und die Crosse Poluik Germany and
International Policy. The author, Prof.
THEODoR SCHIEMANN, is the writer Of the
articles on foreign politics which dis
tinguish the kreus Zouung. well known
as the organ of military and bureau-
cratic opinion in the German Empire.
His articles are not only invested with
authority, as representing the beliefs en-
tertaned in the most influential German
circles. but they are commended by
exceptional sobriety and moderation.
He commands, therefore, attention and
respect when he says frankly that tho
expansion of the German war fleet. which
will reach great proportions in 1905, and
will have been completed in 1917, il di-
rected, not against the Dual Alliance,
much less against the United States,
but primarily and mainly against Great
Britain.
Before marking what DR. SCHIEMANN
says let us recall the German programme
of naval expansion, relying for our facts
on the Navy act approved by the Reichs-
tag in 1900 and on statistics subsequently,
published. II appears from these data
that in 1900 Germany will have eighteen
battleships of over 10000 tons apiece, as
against fifty-two credited TO England,
and forty-two belonging at the same
date to the Dual Alliance In 1917, Ger
many will have in her home fleet thirty
four battleships. all within twenty-five
years of age. and eight large cruisers
as to which the limit Of age will be twenty
years. She will also have three large
cruisers for foreign service, besides four
hattleships and three large cruisers in
reserve. We pass over the small cruisers
and torpedo boats. We note, further,
that the Reichstag cut out six large
cruisers from the original programme,
but that 1t is believed TO be the intention
OF the Imperial Government 10 demand
a reinsertion Of those vessels in the pro-
granme at an early date The signfi-
canoe of these figures is that Germany
iVul N'diN Il'l't VII w dDlf 10 nOlQ vIt
balance Of naval power between Great
Britain and tho Dual Alliance, and that by
1917 she will have attained far moro
formidable position as sea power.
Now, the official explanation of the
immense extension thus to be given 10
the German Navy is that it is needed in
order TO protect Germany's colonial pos.
sessions. Let us see whether the value
Of these possessions justifies the vast ex-
penditure contemplated. According to
official statistics published in 1902. the
total number of Germans residing in
out Of total white population of 6,O87.
The total exports to Germany from Ger
man East Africa, German Southwest
Africa. the Cameroons and Tocoland in
1900 were about $3.50, 900. and their imports
from Germany were less than 81 %OO, 900.
The estimated cost of administration in
these dependencies for 1902 exceeded
So, 100000. The imports from New Guinea
the Carolines, the Marianne, Marshall
and Pelew Islands are computed at less
than 100000 and the exports at less than
A6O,OO0. For Samoa the imports are
352650O and the exports 1915, 500 The
trade figures for kiao-Chou are not be-
fore us, but the expenditure on the har-
Dor and other works for 1902 is computed
at upward of s30O0,OOO. The insignfi-
canoe of these colonial possessions from
a commercial viewpoint is so obvious
that the creation of an enormous navy
for their defence will be at once recog-
nized as ridiculous.
DR.. SCHIEMANN wastes no time on
the official explanation Of the purpose
Of Germany's new navy. In an article
published in 1890, when the Kaiser's naval
programme was under discussion, an
article now reprinted, he took the same
ground which was occupied by DR..
LIEBER, the leader of the Centrist party,
who advocated the new avail programme
in the cause of a solid continent '(Feste
Europa against the Anglo-Saxon race.
After pointing out that England has
driven the Spaniards and the French out
of America, the French the Portuguese
and the Dutch out of India, and the Dutch
out Of South Africa and Australia. DR..
SCHIEMANN insisted that she obstructs
the colonial designs of Germany in Africa
and Asia. For this reason he held that the
German Government had only discharged
its imperative duty in bringing forward
naval programme which should make
il possible in the future for Germany 10
protect her national honor against the III
will Of her neighbors, whether by thrust
or parry" The context shows that by
neighbors the writer means England
alone, and the phrase thrust or parry "
manifestly suggests offensive, as well as
defensive, operations.
The whole purport Of the book "Deutsch-
land und die Crosse Poiiik" is that,
just IL Germany joined hands with Rus
sia and France to rob Japan Of the LAO
Tung peninsula, so she is likely to Join
the Dual Alliance whenever she sees a
fair chance Of breaking down the sea
power of Great Britain. What DR..
SCHIEMANN does not perceive, however,
is the effect Of the disclosure OF Ger
manys intentions on the United States
He should have foreseen that the reve-
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