LAND AND WATER 
September 5, 1914 
ROME OR CARTHAGE? 
NEVER since the Romans dreed the dread decree " Delenda est Caiihago " has such an 
avowal been made to the world as is revealed in the book of General Friedrich Vou Bcrnliardi, 
"Germany and the Next War," WTitteu as far back as 1911. The destruction of the British 
as a world-empire and theii- replacement by the Germans is the ieil motif. 
Every citizen of the British Empire should read the book. Quotations, however copious, are inadequate. 
The work has small literary craft, its arguments and teclmique are clumsy, but its theme is terrible. 
Bemhai'di continually stultifies his own ai'guments. He explains at length that Germany is 
surrounded by crafty and jealous enemies, all eager for a favourable opportunity to declare war. Later he 
points out, equally strongly, that Germany must go to war at all costs for the pui-pose of acquii-ing colonies 
either from Portugal, Belgimn, France, or England. The Aviiter is careful not to include South America, as 
it is obvious that friendship with the United States must be com-ted. 
Having explained to his own satisfaction, and, no doubt, to that of the Geiman jjeople, that the English 
are incapable of colonising as it should be done by a cultured and enlightened race, and emphasised how that 
this grent work is solely the prerogative of the races of Central Em-ope, he completely knocks the bottom 
out of argiunent when he says — 
" The political and national development of the German people has always, so far back as German 
history extends, been hampered and hindered hy the hereditary defects of its character — that is, by the 
particulaiism of the individual races and States, the theoretic dogmatism of the parties, the incapacity to 
sacrifice personal interests for great national objects from want of patriotism and of political common sense, 
often, also, by the pettiness of the prevailing ideas. Even to-day it is painful to see how the forces of the 
German nation, which are so restricted and confined in their activities abroad, are wasted in fi-uitless quaiTels 
among themselves." 
Mr. Edward Ai-nold did his countrymen a service by publishing a cheap edition, which can now be 
obtained everywhere. It is an antidote to British apathy. Our recruits and volunteers should carry it ia 
their knapsacks to learn from it the details of the work before them. [Editor Land and Water.] 
THE TEUTON UNVEILED. 
Our parks contain groups of men drilling in khaki cr 
plain clothes (whilst uniforms are being made), but they are 
not a tithe of those who should become our effectivea. Our 
business folk have failed to grasp the situation; they try to 
conduct businets at utual rather than conduct it by the aid 
of women to fill the places of men. 
The feeling ia too prevalent that paying is equal to 
fighting, and that those who pay have done their duty. The 
public appear to be soothing tliemselvcs with thoughts about 
our Army being abroad fighting, our Navy protecting our 
shores from invasion, our race from the colonies sending 
fighting men, and whilst those lay down their livea the 
" Steam Roller " of Russia is coming to flatten out the 
Germans, so tliat all the patriotic work left for our people at 
home is to " capture Germany's trade." 
Further from the capital we glean a livelier impression cf 
alertness. Tho Scotch are pouring recruits into the war depots 
in relatively grcater numbers than the English ; even in Ireland 
tho ablev-bodied man is under arms, or aching to find a rifle 
to carry. In northern and middle England the martial spirit 
is aj-oused; thoy only think war! Canada, Australia, South 
Africa, and India are arming, and yet the War Office of Great 
Britain has only just got its first 100,000 men. 
Yet southern England breeds no slackers, they only want 
to be aroused. They do not know the war game, they do not 
understand its gravity. They for so long have only had to 
fight against trade competition that battb rivaJry ia strange 
to them ; they have been at peace so long and the Teuton seems 
»o friendly, that thoy do not see v.hat has been prepared for 
them or what they are " up against." Thay are strange to the 
inward spirit of the military Germanic race and its belief in a 
God-ordained mission to conquer the world and impose a 
domination upon the other "weaker" races peoplinc the 
Earth. *• r e> 
To present in tabloid form some of the docti-ines of the 
Germanic religion of conquest the text book of Geraaany's 
military spirit must be drawn upon. It is called " Gennany 
and the Next War." The author appears to bo a Gomiaii 
patriot, soldier, diplomat, preacher, prophet, and standard 
bearer. 
The first of his prophecies has pa-oved true. War has 
come, and with it the spirit of vengeance, ferocity, and det«r- 
nunation. This is what he calmly prophesies as the harvest to 
be reaped from the seed Germany sowed. In the opening 
chapter of his book tho song is sung of the Soldior-Priest- 
1 rophct. It IS of tho splendour of war, the Divino mission 
of those who wage it, and tie glorious para^lise of the happy 
warrior. To undewtand Bernhardi and imbibe his spirit wo 
quote his ■vrords :' 
THE SONG OF THE SWORD. 
I .- ^*J" ^ * biological necfcsitv of Ihe fii-s* impoi-lance a, reen- 
JaUve ekmcct in the life of ma.ikind which cwinot bo dispensed 
-With, since without it an unhc:ihhy development will follow whi.'h 
excludes every advancement of the race, and therefore all real 
civilisation. "War is tho father of all things." 
Strong, healthy, and flourishing nations increase in numbers. 
From a given imoment they require a continual ezpanfiion of their 
frontiers, they requiio new territory for the aocommodatiou of 
their surp'-us population. Since aimc£t every part of the glol)6 is 
inhabited, new territory must, as a rule, be obtained at the cost 
of its possessors — that is to say, by oonqaent, which thus becomes 
a law of necessity. 
Might is at onoe the supreme right, and the dispute as to 
what is ri":ht is decided by the arbitrament of war. War gives 
a biologically just decision, since its decisions rest on the very 
nature of things. . . . 
**■••• 
The efforts directed towards the abolition of war must not 
only -bo tenned foolish, but absolutely immoral, and must be stigma- 
tised as unworthy of tho human race. To what does tho whole 
question amount? It is proposed to deprive men of the right and 
the possibility to sacrifice tlheir highest material possessions, their 
physit-al life, for ideals, and thus to realise the highest moral 
unselfishness. It is proposed to obviate the great quarrels between 
nations and States by Courts of Arbitration — that is, by arrange- 
ments. A one-sided, restricted, formal law is to be establiebed 
in the place of the decisions of history. The weak nation is to 
have the same right to live as the powerful and vigorous nation. 
The .whole idea represents a presumptuous encroachment on the 
natural laws of development, which can only lead to the most 
disastrous consequences for humanity generally. . . . Tho 
inevitableness, the idealism, and the blessing of war, as an indis- 
pensable and stimulating law of development, muft be repeatedly 
emphasised. . . . 
Bernhardi discusses the past of the Germanic States In 
Europe during the Napoleonic Wars to point out the danger 
of neutrality when the world is on fire. 
According to all human calculation, the participation of Prussia 
in the war of 1805 would have given tho Allies a decisive 
superiority. The adherence to neutrality led to the ci'aeh of 1806, 
and would have meant the final overthrow of Prussia as a State 
had not the moral qualities still existed there which Frederick the 
Great h.id ingrained on her by his wars. 
Among all political sins, tho eia of feebleness is the most 
contemptible ; it is the political sin against the Holy Ghost. 
[Treitschke.] 
In the opinion of the Teuton Gei-raany is thei " pre- 
dominant partner " in the Germanic family and in the Trip!e 
Alliance. 
The internal disruption of the Triple .\lli.ince, as shown 
t'eaily by tb« .iction of Italy towards Turkey, threatens to bring 
tiie ciisis quickly to aliead. The period which destiny has allotted 
us for concentrating our forces and preparing oui^elves for the 
deadly struggle may soon be passed. 
• . • • • • • 
Wliile the aspiring Great Powers of tho Far East cannot at 
present directly influence oar policy, Turkey — iho predominant 
Power of the Near East — is of paramount importance to ns. She 
is our natural ally ; it is eraphatioally our Interest to keep in close 
touch with her. Tho wisest course would have been to have made 
her carLicT a member of the Triple AU4inco, and so to have pre- 
vented tha Turco-Italian war, which threatens to chango the whole 
politico] situation, to cur disadvantage. Turkey would gain in two 
18* 
