The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-19
Talk of Defensive War Has
Yielded to Demand for
Victory by Sword.
JUNKERS ARE LAND MAD
MOderates Silenced or Not
Needed as Iron Rule in
Germany Tightcns.
special Cable Despatch to Tas Sun

Ccpyr0Af. 1915; all rights reserved
LONDON, Jan. 1S.--Advices from Ger.
many through Switzerland and Holland
say that following the triumph Of the
military party in the recent politico-
military crisis in Berlin. Germany rap.
idly 10 discarding the pretsnce that she
is fighting a defensive war and again
10 avowing frankly that she " waEins
war Of conquest In cast and west.
When the war began Germany
ima ginning that . quick and easy victory
was assured. freely avowed her purposes
Of conquest and extensive annexations
Later. when reverses made the issue
doubtful. the inspired press and { the
politicians alike adopted a different tone
appealing to the world to realize that
Germany was fighting only in self-de-
fence against her attackers and desired
neither conQuests nor annexatione.
This attitude continuSd until, follow.
ing the collapse OF Russia and the In.
vasion OF Italy. confidence in Germany'l
ability TO win the war was revived ir
the military party: then the expression,
resumed their old tone OF determination
to make the war a vast conquest To.
day the demand for a complete victor,
and the dictation Of the hardest terms
to the defeated enemy Is voiced every.
where.
NOderates silenced.
The Socialist press and other moder.
ates who attempt to sound warning
that such megalonania means only the
prolonSation OF the war and fearful ma.
tional suffering. with grave doubt as tc
final victory. are permitted only the
slightest liberty Of expression. The Hin
denburgians seemingly are determined tc
attempt once moro to hypnotize the ma.
tion into thG belief. that victory ant
great conQuests are assured.
The South GcrmGn Ga:efte declare,
that as the population of Germany hai
grown from $4,000. 900 to $4,000. 900. and
its power has doubled, It no longer cal
adds:
TO remain stationary is to be retro
greesive. Had other nations recognized
the augmentation OF German power ther,
need mover have been war. As the!
did not, war was the only means TO as
aert it to the world. Nothing In NOR,
mistaken than the belief that VIC ar
waging merely a defensive war on tn
contrary, We were compelled to asser
the position Of power to which we hav,
attained and to force other nations 4
recognize II. This can be accomplishe,
only by demonstrations OF power by de
feating others and occupying fresh ter
rltory commensurate with that power
When the farmer has money he buy
land; when State strengthens inter
nasly II naturally expands"
Protests Not Needed.
The feeble protests OF the Socialis
newspapers are unheeded. The Municl
Post, the Bavarian Socialist organ. says
THE German nation took UP rms t
nght war OF defence. not OF conquest
The marvellous strength OF the natio
has developed from the belief that 1t 1
fighting to save its hearths and home.
to defend the independence and freedor
Of the country. After three years O
awful war the people still believed tn
war was defensive and declared 1t shoul
end in a peace by understanding now
suddenly. our war aims are stated to
conquest the policy of peace by under
standing IL changed for peace dictate
by the sword. The people have spoke
both In Germany and Austria they hav
declared for a policy based on an ur
derstanding. for peace without annexa
tions. Are they to bleed for a peace b
the sword?''
The Chcmnitz Volks Stimn me-. anothe
Socialist organ, deprecates a policy c
open or veiled annexations because
| later generation will be compelled there
by to wage another war when the Ru,
sian people realize their disgrace.