The German Navy.


Touching then upon the English conviction that Germany is increasing her
navy for the purpose of attacking Great Britain, the Kaiser reiterated
the explanation that Chancellor von Bülow and other Ministers have made
familiar, dwelling upon Germany's worldwide commerce, her manifold
interests in distant seas, and the necessity for being prepared to
protect them. He said:

"Patriotic Germans refuse to assign any bounds to their legitimate
commercial ambitions. They expect their interests to go on growing.
They must be able to champion them manfully in any quarter of the
globe. Germany looks ahead. Her horizons stretch far away. She must
be prepared for any eventualities in the Far East. Who can foresee
what may take place in the Pacific in the days to come, days not so
distant as some believe, but days, at any rate, for which all
European powers with Far Eastern interests ought to steadily
prepare?

"Look at the accomplished rise of Japan. Think of a possible
national awakening in China, and then judge of the vast problems of
the Pacific. Only those powers which have great navies will be
listened to with respect when the future of the Pacific comes to be
solved, and if for that reason only Germany must have a powerful
fleet. It may even be that England herself will be glad that
Germany has a fleet when they speak together in the great debates
of the future."