Count E. Reventlow, the well-known German naval expert, has published
a book of political and military reflections, of which the Times printed a summary last Saturday from its Berlin correspondent. The theme of the book, which is frankly designed as a warning to the delegates at the Peace Conference, is the old one that Germany must have a strong navy. She must have it," not only for defensive purposes, but to extricate herself from the political impasse in which she is involved." The author, besides trying to make his readers quake at British bogies, writes of the " Pan-Americ-an Peril." How- ever, the American peril is to be left alone "so long as the hostility between England and Germany remains." The opportunities of 1905, when Germany was twice " on the verge of declaring war," ought to have been seized to induce the Reichstag to vote money for more ships ; but even now it is not too late, as the composition of the new Reichstag is favourable to an increase.
Previous page
