New-York tribune., 1918-05-13
By Arthur S. Draper

/
LoNDON, May 3.--German econo-
mlsts and publicists are worried about
the economic future of the Father,and
The tremendous drain in the countries
supply OF raw material during the war
mas set not only raw advocates but the
opponents of pan-Germans to thinkino
about Mittel-Afrika as a solution Of
many of Cermany's economic problems
various schemes have been advanced
oy Hans Deloruck, Paul Rohrback.
hermann Onckcn (the latter one of tho
worlds greatest historians) and Emil
Immermann, a writer of note.
EXponents of great German COLONY
IN the heart of Africa are generally on.
posed to annexations in Eurone
whether they reflect the views Of tho
present German government it is diff
cult to say, but it is true that thew arc
receiving every encouragement from
In the authorities in the presentation Of
their scheme. '' VI
Eyes on Central Africa
Al the German writer's are agreed
that the vital defect of the Cnrran
colonial empire before the war vas
that 1T consisted of detached and scat.
tered territories. In the formation of
a a, new colonial empire the essential
.hlhg IS to secure a domain which is
.erntorially continuous. To do that
tne Germans have their eyes on Central
alriea and have already prepared a
,i,,t,r
pendent on their military position when
they enter the peace conference. In ali
the schemes these features are dom;-
nant: Wv II"
u Mittel-Afrika must include the
old German East Africa.
" M'ttel-Afrika must go right
across the Continent, from the Indian
Ocean to the Atlantic, and this implies.
CD That Mittel-Afrika must include
at least the greater part of the Bel
gian Congo.
According to Paul Leutwein, the son
OF former Governor of German South
west Africa. the new empire must in
clude the Cameroons, German East
AREA the northern half of Southwest
Africa, the Belgian Congo and strips of
territory from the British, French and
Portuguese possessions. Emil Zimmer-
mann would add also British East
africa, Uganda, French Equatorial
Afrlca and large parts of Angola, while
Professor Delbrdck believes Germany
needs Madeira, the Azores and Cane
verde Islands. Most of the German
writers now exclude German Southwest
AFRICA from their schemes.
Reasons for Proposal
The reasons advanced for the forma-
ton of Mittcl-Afrika are:
i. Germany needs it as a field Of sun
ply Tor tropical raw materials.
(. Germany needs it as a basis for
power on the globe
q. germany needs it as q field for the
settlement of certain number of omi-
grants.
r, III there is an economic boycott of
germany by the Entente countries after
the war the Germans believe such q
colonlal empire would make her secure
against TINS peril. They think it would
oe unassallable militarily, size in the
tropics being a natural obstacle to fhe
advance of an invader. For proof Of
TINS they point to German defence in
the East African campaign, which did
not break down until the end of the
thlrc year OF the war. Some of the cx
pohents OF the scheme would form a
olack army, Zlmmermann's plan calling
Tor the organization of negro army #
l,ooo,ooo, with white officers. On the
other hand, DR.. Solf, the German Colo
MAJ secretary, in a speech last Decem-
ber said: N'A0
There can be no question that the
possibility of falling back upon vast rc-
serves of black man power for the
armies OF the future will constitute a
new e y ana menaclng danger tor the peace
OF Europe The European powers have.
a! therefore, common interest in obvi-
atIng new peril which has sudden,v
risen above the horizon. The peri] is
recognized by our enemies as Well q
! by ourselves' 90
Sees Menace in Negro Armies
Dr. Solf believes that it would be q
serious danger to all powers if they be-
gan Dig negro armies in Africa. Sir