Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-21

mans and Syrians. by it has been
learned that German industrial organ
izers have a firm grip on the Turk
ish industry and q large delegation
of German professors has been sent
to spread German culture among the
population.
Significant Inc dents
These developments throw new
light on many events before the war
Among them is the long-uneXplained
declaration of Emperor William at
Damascus in 1898 that all Mohamme-
dams might confidently regard the Ger
man Emperor as their friend forever"
There also is a complete understand
ing now of Germany's eagerness to Sc
cure in 1899 a concession for the Bag
dad Railroad, an artery of commnnica-
ton now indispensable to the German
operations.
Fitting in squarely with an actuat-
ing desire for conquest to the south
east is the general German military
policy during the entire war. 1t is
noted that even the expense of re-
cessions or the eastern and western
fronts Germany has taken pains to
Wv Ci Il III idIlhlS h'Cipiet, ~
and Rumania and to keep in check all
allied attempts to strikeSat the south
eastern pathway from the Dardanelles
or Saloniki. Not until the present
their advance in Asiatic Turkey has
there been any serious danger to any
part of the greater stretch from the
Baltic TO the Persian Gulf. In con-
solidating this territory, it is revealed,
the economic element has been given
a conspicuous place. This work was
going on before the war. although it
had not reached a maternity compar-
able with the economic effort by which
Prussia bound the German states in
the customs union of 1888. 40 years
before she brought them under the
Empire.
A comprehension of the present dan
ger prompted the allied economic con-
ference at Paris where plans were
made for meeting the German trade
war after the war. 1t is predetermined
to officials here how far Germany
might go should peace be made now
with remuneration of all territory in
the east and west, in political consol-
idation of the great territory in the
southeast. 1t is pointed out that any
German peace offer would be expect
ed to demand at least some expansion
for Bulgaria and retention of enough
Of the conquered Balkan territory to
insure the route to Constantinople
That it is the intention to bring Aus
tria- Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey
into a customs union. Gerinanizing
their industries and to surround the
whole economic entity thus established
with a formidable tariff wall has been
made clear by the declaration of
Friedrich Naumann and other expo
nents of an economic Mittel Europa.
Joint chanceIIory
Some influential men of this group
even have suggested that Germany go
so far as a joint chancellory for Ger
many. Austria and Hungary to con-
duct foreign affairs. All of this is TAX
en- as revealing the point of prema-
ture peace which should leave the Ger
man southeastern domains unrroken
1t is regarded as giving cinster color
to recent movements for n separate
peace for Austria Hungary or Bulga-
ria, in the region where German con-
quest is most safe; to the eagorness
with which German leaders have TAX
en- up the cry Of no annexations so
far as the great northern powers are
concerned: to the German chancellor's
recent Reichstag speech indicating
that the government was not ready to
renounce its territorial gains in
France, Belgium and Russia. while
all other matters are left in suspense"
Any remuneration OF territory, II Is OK
pected. would exclude Poland, which
would be made a free state" under
the German plan. but would remain
wholly under German domination.
The turn of affairs Is accepted. too. IA
bringing Austria Hungary more c,sar,,.
into relief as the area OF possible opera
ton to impose barrier between Berlin
and Constantinople. In that connection
Is recalled the declaration OF the Allies
replying to President Wilson's peace note
In the light of knowledge which only now
has become available here, that ,ha war
must accomplish the liberation OF I,a,-
ians OF Slavs. of Rumanans ana OF
Tsecho-Slovach from foreign domination.
the acknowledgements of population sub.
1ect to the bloody tyranny OF the Turks
the expulsion from Europe of the Otto
man Empire. and the restoration OF Scr.
bia, Montenegro and Rumania.
Such program. II IL pointed ont
would break up the greater Germany now
established as the nucleus OF a world
power. II would impose Rumanian
Serbian barrier between Austria and Bull
f,,rxt