The Washington herald., 1918-03-16
The Other Side.

Let US quote the Germans against Germany for
brief moment. While the pan-German clique is
storming its applause of the Russian coup. there
Is substantial element of Teuton opinion which
refuses to accept the Junker triumph at its sur
face valuation. We do not refer to the antimili-
tarist groups in the Reichsag. but to certain emf
nent students of realpolitik who see fundamental
error in the present German policy towards Russia.
Here is what Capt Safzmann. military critic
OF the Vossische Zeitung. says:
Germany too late began to realize that the
day might come when the United States and Japan
would see that war is not always the most prof
table way of settling differences. Germany's Rus
sian policy has played the game brilliantly for
Great Britain and the United States. In the same
way Germany has increased Hollands debt of
gratitude to Great Britain
at should have been Germanys game earn
Hollands gratitude by guaranteeing her the safe
possession Of her East Indian colonies, but in
stead of that she cemented the Anglo Japanese
alliance and delivered the Dutch colonies from
Japanese pressure southwark by opening the door
to Japanese enterprise in Russia.
Only the most limited intelligence can believe
that the breakup OF Russia will be to Germany 5
advantage. The true results of Germany's Rus
sian policy already are patent in the lessening of
the differences between Japan and the United
States, and the cementing of the Anglo Japanese
alliance and the consequent security of the Anglo
Indian and Australian colonial possessions. well
as the Dutch and French colonies in Southeast
Asia.
The consequences are that Germany again
finds herself without friends in the world, while
Great Britain laughs in the background"
: The Frankfurter Zeitung declares that the
breaking I'D of Russia into a number OF nde-
pendent states is bad policy for Germany, and
urges that the greatest tact and prudence be used
IN he hat thev will
not "in the future sigh for reunion with Russia
and become so many thorns in Germanys side.
Clearly the entente policy is to the Japa-
nese alliance to shove Germany out OF Asiatic
markets forever. Germany played their game by
breaking up Russia. Germany has more
hope than ever of being able to conduct Far
Eastern policy except in conjunction with Great
Britain and Russia. That is why a weak Russia
will not contribute to Germany's ultimate well
fare"
These opinions are not derived from the Lib
eral. Socialist antinihtarist press. which natur-
ally would oppose the callous annexationist policy
TO which the war lords of Germany conf
mtted. They from the imperialist organs point
ing out with far greater clearness and incisveness
the new dangers confronting Germany than could
be found outside of the central empires. AS a
matter of fact, it is impossible to find in the Ger
man press any high-flown paeans of triumph over
the turn of events in Russia The invasion is
recognized a magnificent conquest. but as
the great hazard of the war, upon which the mill
tarists have staked the fate of the empire 1t is
the eliminating expression of the German will to
power. of military lust; but of the clearest
and soberest brains in the nation look upon
il with misgiving.
The action of the Soveits in confirming the
peace pact need not create any disappointment on
this side of the Atlantic. The mills of the gods
may safely be left to grind slowly in Russia. In
time they going grind exceedingly small.