Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-30

colonies in 1912 was As, ,0OO, 900, while the
Dutch West Indies have something like
100000. Hollands East India colonies
are immensely productive In sugar, tea
tobacco, rice, coffee, cocoa and tin. By
the taking of Holland with the farllung.
colonial POSSESSIONS Germany might well
feel that she had secured that indemnity
renounced by the Reichstag resolution, OF
which the statesmen and chiefs of the wal
party are beginning again to speak hope
fully
The savage criminality of the proceed
ing is enthusiastically German. Occupy
ing a land directly between the contend
ing forces and bordering upon Germany,
the position of the Dutch III tins war has
iern trying and difficult. We cannot
doubt that the government OF Holland
has Loyalty striven to maintain correct
attitude of neutrality. Ii the Allies have
sometimes felt that the Dutch were too
little responsive to their requests and over
lures, it must be remembered that the
slightest indication of partiality for their
cause or their interest would have brought
down upon her the heavy fist of Germany;
The Imperial Government has not waited
for that provocation. It's demands upon
Holland for the transportation OF war
-
cannot be granted without departure
from neutrality. Germany knows very we'll
that Holland cannot take position which
the Allies would regard as unirlendly,
which they would be justified IN con-
STRUNG as favorable TO Germany; much
less can Holland for one moment con-
sider taking up arms on the side OF Ger
many. For all her great colonies would
then be Mt the mercy OF the Allies who
control the seas. That contingency is IN
the thought of Germany, and to forcstall
any risk of that nature she evidently be-
lieves that policy of straight forward
brutality toward the Dutch will best serve
her ends, near and remote.
The Dutch have good army, variouslv
estimated from 5000 to 600, 900. They
are lacking in artillery, and if Germany
were able to send against them anv CON
siderable body of troops from Russia or
elsewhere, il is not to be supposed that
they could offer any prolonged resistance
Until the great battle in France is de
cided, the Allies would be unable to lend
her aid. 1t may be, therefore. that Ger
many viii bc able to conquer Holland, il
that bc her purpose That she can rctair
IN her possession a Irec land seized upor
through such a monstrouS violation o.
law, right. and justice Is thought not fol
a moment TO be entertained Whatevel
the result of the battle now in progress
Germany is as certainly doomed TO detea
as she has been from the beginning OF th'
war. She must be defeated because tina
is the indispensable condition OF peace
and safety for the great nations nov
arraycd against her With their yer,
much greater resources. however far tn
war may be prolonged, they will ncve
consent 10 subiection TO Germany Ger
many must he made subject to their Will
to this extent at least, that she abandon
her plans Of conquest and cease to be al
cveT-prcscnt danger to her ncighhors AM
to the world The overrunnIng Of Hollan,
the annexation Of Holland t. Germany b.
another Brc~t -Iltovsk treaty, would h
hut an episode Of the war, another Gcrma
crime to hc punished and atoncd for whc
il IS ended New York Times