The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-17
BOOK IS EXPECTED ID BE SENSATION. Title Is to Be Germany and
 the Next War IS WORRY OVER CRETE Belgium and Holland Considering Treaty-Moslem Population Out numbered and III Treated by
 the Christians
IS WORRY OVER CRETE
By FREDERICK WERNER

By FREDERICK WERNER Berlin. March 16.-Mhile fervently hop ing that universal peace may come within reasonable time the publcatio of a work entitled "Germany and the Next War" written by the famous cavalry gen eral. Friedrich von Bernhardi is being looked forward to with great expecta ton, as it is known that the general on many points voices the opinions held by the Kaiser himself.
 sBy the courtesy of the publishers have been permitted to look over the advanre proofs and am thus able to give an .tc- count of this book, which will prove some thing of a sensation.
 The author shows that Germany will have to reckon in the next war with a naval attack on the part of England, as well as with land attack by the French and Russians. He is perfectly sure of tue German army, which will, he declares, as- tonish the world with it's achievements if it is only comparatively well led; but he urges the necessity of political prepafa- tion for the next war. He points out the excellency of Frederick the Great $ tactics in defeating one enemy before the other could come to it's ally's help and declares that it must be the duty of Gefman diplo- matists so to shuffe the cards that Ger many may be attacked by France. Tor in such a case there would be d prospect of Russia remaining neutral for time.
 General sVon Bernhardi admits that neither France, Russia nor England need attack Germany first to further their hi- terests "If we wish to contrive that 9nc of our opponents shall attack us" the general writes, i've must inaugurate po-
 itical action which, without attacking France, will so grievously affect hers or England s interests that those two coun- tries will be compelled to attack Fossil bilities of such a procedure are offered both in Africa and Europe
 The author contends that political and diplomatic situations can be used to cuf ther Germany's interests in yet another way, in respect of Italy and Turkey, and by fostering the opposing interests of England and Russia in central Asia and in the Mediterranean. All these relation ships offer to German statesmanship, he contends. manifold prospects if only it shows itself equal to the task.
 '"rimeo Danaos ct dona ferentes' accd- rately described the position of the Ger man Colonial society towards England's offer to assist Germany in founding large colony in Central Africa which will practically cover immense territory in the heart of the dark continent.
 At the last meeting of the society in this city a short time ago 1t was unanimously agreed that Germany must strive for col onies that can supply her with raw ma terials for her industries. It was admitted that there is no surplus agricultural popuss 1ation such as is needed to cultivate new colonies. and~it was pointed out that any movement of the agrjeultural population at home must be directed towards those parts of Germany which are as yet unde- Veoped. Moreover the Cooniel society seems to suspect that England has an u- teror motive In offering to support Ger man expansion in Central Africa, and the suggestion was advanced that England was anxious for Germany to devote her energies to Central Africa in order that German competition might not be so keen in other parts of the world; for example, in Mesopotama and China The con- clusion was arrived at that the watch word. Central Africa; German" is to be regarded with extreme caution, lest against our will we promote England's interests
 Prominence is given by the Berlin news papers, especially those with Chauvln istic tendency to a pamphlet on the sub iect of ''England's World Supremacy and the German Luxury Fleet" The pamphlet IS lSSuet DN d puDllSllllE llllil WHICH pcdiS the name ''Politik" and the author writes under the pseudonym Lookout
 The anonymous author paraphrases Bsmarcl<'s saving that the individual En- glishman is gentleman, but that the pol icy of Albion is perfdious. He deVotes one chapter to "our list of complaints in which he seeks to prove that England has always been on the side of Germany's en- emies and has always endeavored to pre- ant e .in,n on1 ment He declares in a chapter headed Rule Britannia," that the English con sider that they are born to rule the waves, details in another the legend that Eng land made preparations last year to fall suddenly on Germany and suggests in an other that England now considers it advis- able to woo Germanys friendship
 In the concluding chapter, headed What We Want.r the author expresses the opinion that all the visits made by Germans to England and Englislnen to Germany with the object of promoting an understanding, an the dinners eaten with the same purpose in view by mayors and 'burgoma sters. editors, pastors. worknnn and savants and all the articles in the newspapers. are not of the slightest use. Tho only means of aecelerating such m understanding is, he contends. a rapid in- crease of the membership of all the Ma tional leagues and in the first place of the Navy league. He would permit England to remain the first sea power, but urges the immediate necessity of increasing the strength of the German fleet until it is m a position to prevent England from pos sesslng overwhelming power on sea.
 It is stated that the governments of Belgium and Holland have exchanged views on the subject of the treaties which give the latter country the option of blockading the Scheldt in case of war, and thus isolating Antwerp Belgium holds that the right of blockade can only be exercised in case of an aggression which would put Holland in position of legitimate defence. and not to intercept a British or other fleet arriving to relieve Antwerp or Belgium if that country were menaeed.
 According to rumor the Dutch govern ment will propose to submit the interper- tation of the notes on the question to a conference of all the powers interested in the Scheldt-France. Great Britain, Ger many. Belgium and Holland. The Bel gian government. it is stated will be dis posed to adhere to this conference. whcn would also occupy itself, from the point of
 view of international law in case of war. i with the question, of fortifying Flushing
 projected by Holland, but adjourned until d new order.
 ] The ever restless island of Crete is again causing the statesmen of Europe consla- i erable worry and it is doubtful if. even the exceedingly vigorous language of the l latest note from the powers to the Cretan 1 government will succeed in nlaintainins g i peace between the various factions of the war loving islanders. There is not the ] slightest doubt that the powers are serp
 much in earnest and that unless the. exist i ing conditions of anarchy and msrale
 which prevail in the island are speedily