GERMAN ANGLOPHOBIA.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1
81'4 —Your endeavour to open the eyes of Englishmen to the bad feeling of the Germans towards our nation is a wise policy. I have noticed how venomous that hatred is all over the world, and have often wondered what has caused this feeling. In February, 1900, I was staying in a hotel at Hobart, Tasmania, when the news of the relief of Ladysmith was announced by the guns of the Queen's Fort at 2 o'clock in the morning. Immediately the streets were filled by immense crowds of excited people, who marched and countermarched for three hours, cheering or singing the national anthem, "Rule Britannia 1" and " Soldiers of the Queen." At the hotel breakfast-table, which was full, two Germans at that inoppor-
tune moment and our execrable taste said something very disparaging to our Army which was so manifestly untrue that I was nettled, and asked them "How is it that you Germans hate the British so ? " They both answered simultaneously: " Because you helped the French in the campaign of 1870." To this I replied: "That is not so, as I remember our sym- pathies were then with the Germans; besides, how is it that the French also hate us because we did not help them ? It is simply your confounded jealousy of our success and prosperity. At the same time, you forget that in all our Colonies and possessions Germans are welcomed and given equal opportunities with our merchants, or you don't appreciate that boon." Now, Sir, can you tell me whether the British helped the French then in men, ammunition, and food as they stated? This hatred is generated and fostered not only by the German Press of every shade of politics, but it is the result of the " false history " taught in the German Government schools.—I am, Sir, &c.,
NOT MADE IN GEEKANY.
[Our neutrality during the Franco-Prussian War was, of course, correctly and honestly maintained in every particular. At the beginning of the war popular sympathy was with Germany, as no doubt was that of the Court; but later, and when the tide was running with such terrible force against the French, it not unnaturally veered to the weaker aide, and took the part of "the under-dog." The assertion that we helped. France is a "lure invention.—En. Spectator.]
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