Germany's Vanishing
Colonies
BY
GORDON LE SUEUR
AUTHOR OF "CECIL RHODES," ETC.
NEW YORK
McBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY
1915
"ICHABOD"
"Who sows the Wind will reap the Tempest."
By Lieut.-Col. A. St. H. Gibbons, F.R.G.S., F.R.C.I.,23rd (Service) Batt. Roy. Fusiliers (1st Sportsman's)
In giving his readers a very concise and reliabledescription of "Germany's Vanishing Colonies,"the author performs a useful public service. Tothe travelled man who may have seen somethingof these Colonies the work carries conviction; forothers it has a useful educative value. Knowledgeis essential to sound judgment, and although—thanksto the policy of the late Paul Kruger!—agrowing interest in our great Empire haspermeated all classes in recent years, anythinglike a comprehensive knowledge of the localconditions and interests of our 12,000,000 milesof Empire is not to be expected until our schoolsand universities have added to their curriculumsystematic instruction in Imperial history andgeography.
This book provides important and interestingdata on which, at the close of the war, that policywhich will determine the status and ownershipof Germany's overseas possessions can be built. [Pg 8]To some it may appear that the title of the bookimplies the dividing of the skin before the lion iskilled. Be that as it may; to those who havenever felt misgivings as to the ultimate result ofthis life-and-death struggle for Empire, the speculativeelement is overshadowed by the supremeimportance of inspiring the public mind with anaccurate and intelligible grasp of the situation.At times consciously, at others unconsciously,democratic Governments reflect the mind of thecommunity. In due course, our statesmen, workingin concert with the Dominion Governments,will be called upon to decide, in the name of theEmpire, how far it is politic, either for strategicor economic purposes, to annex all or part ofsuch German oversea possessions as the Alliesin council shall decide to be within the Britishsphere of influence. Let the people in private andpublic discussion, and through the medium ofthe Press, come to something like an unanimousdecision (and this volume should help them to doso), and so strengthen the hands of the Governmentwhen the crucial hour arrives.
No doubt every aspect will be taken into consideration.It will be noted that from the momentGermany decided to establish a colonial Empireher envious hatred of Great Britain took root. Sherealised that at the British Empire's expense alonecould she fully develop her ideal. This feelinghas grown and intensified until, in recent years, [Pg 9]she had barely cloaked her ambitious design toreplace us as a world Power. When the finalword is spoken