The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-07
GERMANY MOURNS LOSS OF COLONIES Hopes to Gain Better at
 End of War DISCUSSION OF PEACE
Professor Toenning Warns Germans
 That It Will Be Difficult-Changed Tone of Big Berlin Newspaper Is Regarded as Significant
By FREDERICK WERNER

Berlin, March 6.-(Special) )-When Ger many almost with one blow was deprived of her colonies, it cannot be denied that athe loss of these places in the sum-" on which all the hopes of mighty German world empire were founded was very keenly felt by the German nation.
 ow that all these places have fallen into British or Japanese hands, Germans are beginning to discuss the colonial pol icy of the empire after the war.
 Many confidently assert German colo nies after the war in value and size will far surpass these that have been lost.
 These hopes are founded on the suppo- sition that Germany will emerge victo- rious from the war. Baron von Zedlitz Insists that it is by no means too early to form some preliminary idea of what Germany must demand in the way of colonies in return for the great sacrifices in blood and money she has been forced to make.
 "Our own country's interest," he writes must be our sole guide in drawing up the terms of peace. Anything else would minds what colonial territories Germany needs and must not allow any outside influence to affect us."
 Another imperialistic writer, George Kleinow, says:
 "Although small portion of our over seas possessions may fall in to the en- emies' hands, a successful war will ere ate for us out of the Belgian and French Congress, and-should Portugal further translate her unfriendly sentiments into practice--the Portugees colonies on the east and west coasts of Africa, a German colonial empire such as our forefathers never dreamed of. The most important thing, however, in connection with this not improbable division of the African world. Is that it shall enable us to put an effectual end to Englands hopes for sole domination from Cape to Cairo, for between Egypt and East Africa, on one hand. and the Boer- British South Africa on the other we shall place an endless Nbelt of gigantic German colonies from the Indian ocean to the Central Lakes and from the Congo to the Atlantic
 Peace Will Be Difficult
 A very strong element of more liberal Germans, however, sternly raise their voices in warning. Prof. Ferdinand Toen- ming has the courage to tell his readers that Germany may not find herself in a position to dictate the terms of peace.
 "The work of peace will be far more difficult than most of us imagine,' he says, land the wise statesmen will have to fight hard battle against private and public opinions, and not least with the passions of excited patriots. He will have to put his foot down hard against the agitation of those who apparently hold the gospel of hatred to be the true re- ligion of a world nation. Politics demand cool, clear head, which carefully de- 1iberates every step before 1t is made. The task of the ideal politician is not to give way to anger, and moral ill-will but tc recognize the true welfare of the people and to act in accordance with his knowl- edge"
 The German Attitude
 The "Kreuz Zeitung'' agrees that threatened with slow starvation at home Germany is under no obligation to feed the hungry people in those parts of France and Belgium which have fallen into the hands of her troops.
 It points out that the feeding of these hungry people would be done at the cost of thousands of hungry Germans at home The duty of looking after the material needs of these people who relied on their assistance, rests on England and France which are responsible for their present deplorabe position.
 Rather than cut down the rations of a single German soldier Germany should leave the inhabitants of the occupied ter <Ejtories to hunger typhus.
 - Eor the information of many who are continually asking how long the present war is likely to last the "Berliner Tage. blatt' says editorially:
 This question was answered some time ago by General von Falkenhayn ir the following manner: Until the enemies are so thoroughly beaten that the possi- bility of a repetition of this unprovoke ed attack upon us is so eliminated forever We need not discuss whether 1t will be possible to attain this object to the full extent since we only know how strong out opponents are now, not how strong they may become in the future. History has shown over and over again that the great nations survive even the hardest blows of fate, if they dispose of an un- broken strength of vitality. Tho outlook o1 of the army leaders, just as that of diplo- matists is narrowly circumscribed by the constantly changing course of things, bu, we may so far agree entirely with the chief of the great general staff. that we are firmly resolved to stake even the last thing we own in order to carry the wal -4-4~