she might possibly be assisted by Russia. Hence the German plans were
for defense against these two countries.

As Germany developed in industry, the military caste receded relatively.
Bankers, merchants, shippers, and traders came to the front. Railways
bent the traffic of the country to the sea, and harbors and ports of
commerce grew with rapid strides.

"What a wonderful business man is the German Emperor!" said the world.
"He advertises Germany all over the earth by the spiked helmet and the
rattle of his sword, but never war seeks he." The world must now revise
this opinion.

German unity gave rise to German efficiency and German thoroughness, and
to a demand for a larger German unity. The whole German-speaking race
must be put together and bound together. Germany must expand over the
seas, in colonial empire, and by tariffs of her own making. This meant
that the Germans must have dominion on sea as well as land. Alliances
must first be cemented with Austria and her neighboring states. Italy
must be dragged into a triple alliance; and the small Balkan States must
be tied up with Austria, that through an alliance with Turkey, Germany
might reach not only the Mediterranean but the waters of the Pacific.
This must happen before the great try-out for the mastery of the seas.

Now, the central point in the study of Germany under the present Kaiser
is the naval programme for over-seas conquest, which was originated
entirely by the present Kaiser. It was he and no other who aimed to turn
defensive Germany into aggressive Germany. He has been the author from
the beginning of the entire naval programme.