Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-23
NEED LARGE NAVY TO
SAFEGUARD GERMANS
Manifesto to People from League Calls
Attention to Stormy Past and
Future Possibilities

BERLIN, Jan. ga manifesto which
is described as a greeting to the Ger
man people has been issued from the
headquarters of the German Navy
league. It constitutes a stirring ap-
peal to Germany not to be diverted
by any considerations whatever from
the naval expansion in which the
league is now as in the past a most
potent instrument
1t is a serious year, says the mani
festo, that lies behind Germany, and
storm clouds still lie black upon the
horizon. In the northwest in partic-
ular, (which for years has been the
source of the deepest depressions of
the political barometer" there is full
activity. The greater part of the
speeches of agitation against Germany
may be ascribed to election maneuvers,
but what is being done there now may
be bad crop in the ear long after the
elections are over"
The German government and press
have observed a calm dignity which
are the results of good conscience.
English statesmen and admirals have
not shrunk from agitation against Ger
many even outside of Europe" and the
well organized lingo press has done
its best to attract worldwide attention
to the display.
At intervals, on the other hand. is
heard a different refrain, soothing
siren song, which is intended to allure
the steersman of the German empire
from their course. Rumors of all sorts
of reconciliations are abroad. Now the
agreement concerns the Congo, now
the Euphrates and the Tigris; now,
again, naval construction-all for the
improvement Of general relations.
Must Uphold Navy
1t is a Dangerous game which makes
it a duty for every patriot to suppress
all endeavors which could be pointed to
by foreign countries as weakness. What
man, what party would incur the odium
of doing or allowing to be done deed
of which the inevitable result must be
a weakening of our prestige among the
peoples which could never be repaired? ?
What party could have regard to the
next reichstag elections and yet under
take to represent a policy of diminu-
tion of our forces at sea or of other
important interests in the vain hope of
composing an antagonism which lies in
the conditions of existence of the two
peoples?'
The manifesto goes on to declare
questions of existence call for strong
lACl NG0 anu 4cLl GlS III AT SuCIl u IllO-
ment anxious regard for the opinions
Of others is inadmissible and as COM
pared with the Importance of Ger
many's vital interests. calculation as
to whether the arming of the nation
might be effected more cheaply is su-
perf1uous. 1t is especially superfluous
when the calculation takes the point
of view of the question whether we
could thereby win the favor of our rich
cousin. So once Holland fell from the
height of her power when she treated
the navy question in the light of such
petty considerations"
The manifesto concludes with a ref
erence to Durers picture of the knight
in full armor riding with death and
the devil by his side which did duty
in Prince Bulow's speech Of November
10, 1905 and to Bismarck's saying: "Put
the German people in the saddle. and
it will be able to ride" of which the
late chancellor reminded a demonstra-
tive crowd after the national" cleo
tions of 1907.
An important official in the imperial
navy office, Privy-Admiralty Councillor
Paul Koch. one of Admiral Won Tir-
PITTS principal coadjutors in the ad-
ministration of the kaiser's fleet, writ
ing on the 'neW tendencies of naval
policy" says:
"Our naval law is based essentially
upon our own requirements. Our fleet
is intended to guarantee us that peace
with honor amid which our fatherland
for thirty-eight years has been able
to develop in quietude. Since the pass
age of the first naval law in 1898 we
have done nothing but build our ships
and train our officers and men strictly
within the confines of that law In
continuance of this procedure we shall
not allow ourselves to be disturbed.
1--WE shall, moreover, consider it
nothing but our own affair if in the
future we should perhaps widen the
provisions of that law. England and
the United States and everybody else
will simply have to make the best of
it. To that degree we pursue only our
own inclinations, but the fact that
other nations are adhering to the same
policy reassures us our policy is cor
rect"