New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-12
GERMAN PLACE IN THE AFRICAN SUN-A PRICE OF PEACE
The Dream of a Teutonic
Empire Stretching
from Ocean to
Ocean.
By FRANK H. SIMONDS,
Author of The Great War. y

Author OF he Great War
Two weeks ago, in discussing the vari-
.-s problems that will rise when Europe
h.OIn. to consider peace, l purposely
united any detailed reference TO African
nsstlons, which are sufficiently important
dsserve more detailed examination. IN
,,n, of fact. it is not too mSh 20 say
,bs. At the present time the one possibility
II ueace is 10 be found in the off-chance
hst the enemies of Germany will CON
can. 20 make sacrifices in Africa which
MI, be sufficiently attractive TO persuade
Germany TO evacuate conquered French
and Belgian territories and sign peace
that Will leave the map Of Western Eu-
rope. at least, as It was in July, 1914.
II Is natural consequence Of the
dramatic character of the campaign that
ever since the Anglo-French feet began
its unsuccessful operation at the Darda-
n,lles the world has watched with interest
and with growing comprehension the reve-
laton of German designs upon place in
the sun. place in Western Asia, which
should serve at once as a present basis
for Germany's commercial expansion and
future base for a renewal Of her attack
gpon the British Empire. For months the
world has thought of Cairo, Bagdad, and
even Of India, to the exclusion Of an even
more ambitious German plan in Africa
which she has pursued for more than a
generation.
German Africa.
When the Great War opened Germany
possessed four African colonies; Togo
land. which was insignificant and had
never been regarded by the Germans as
more than a resource for future bargain
ing. either with Great Britain or with
France-it was offered to France at the
time of the Agadir crisis; Kamerun, which
had been lately increased by 100000
sgaare miles through French cessions as
Conversations" for acquisitions IN Mo
rocco: German East Africa, the best col
ony Germany owned, and German South
west Africa. adjoining the Union Of South
Africa.
Il had been the dream Of Germans for
long years to erect an African Empire,
which should include the Congo Valley
and extend from the borders of the Sahara
to the Cape of Good Hope and from the
Atlantic 70 the Indian Ocean. The con-
quest and annexation by the British Of
the two Boer republics had been the initial
blow to German plans, and the Kaiser's
telegram 20 President KRUGER remains
perhaps the first authentic sign of the
growing hatred of Germany for Great
Britain, the original outward manifesto
ton Of the coming rivalry.
With the annexation of the two Boer
republics Germany was deprived Of al
immediate chance Of including those leu
tonic states in a German South Africa.
She still preserved the hope that, using
German West Africa as base, she would
be able In case Of a war with Britain TO
stir up revolt in the BOer districts and
thus bring the British colonial edifice IN
South Africa down in ruins. Faithful to
this purpose, she began in the early days
Of the present war an invasion of the
Union Of South Africa, aided by local (
revolt But she was decisiyely beaten, be-
cause the greatest Of Boer leaders, Botha,
chose to fight for Britain. The campaign
ended in the conquest of German South
west Africa by Botha, and there is small
prospect that any peace will restore this
lost colony 10 Germany.
From Ocean 10 Ocean.