THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY WITHIN

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2545, 20 August 1915, Page 5

THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY WITHIN

GLIMPSE OF A NATIONAL FEVER WAR AND NOTHING BUT WAE By Telegraph-Press Association—Copyrijhi (. il'ties and Sydney "Sun" Services.] 19, 8.45 p.m.) London, August • S. J. i Mitral observer who has rr.ade a tour of Belgium, Germany, France Austria, Holland, Italy, Russia, and other .European .countries, says: "ProAlly neutrals leave Germany at the present time witli' a feeling akin ,to being released , from prison. The harshness and arrogance':.of .the Germans is it* tolerable, and is increasing; all the German States are equally harsh. The former popular feeling of anxiety after the Falklands Islands battle, the fall of Tsingtau, and the unsuccessful western efforts, are now replaced by an exuberant confidence, which is manifested 'unpleasantly in various directions. Foreigners travelling on the railways are insulted. "Germany in war tinie has an intensity of feeling almost -impossible to realise. The country -is doing and thinking nothing else , but the war. The four great moulders of public opinion are: tlio Press; the picture theatres, speech, and'the pnlpifc—all under Government direction. Tile whole atmosphere of officialdom is oneof aggression. As a lonely' stranger visiting Germany • unpleasantly realises, nothing is: permitted stand in the way of hostility to foreigners, including Americans. : A violent _ anti-American propaganda is proceeding in tho newspapers, music- , halls, and picture theatres. The Government lias stopped the circulation" of the most violent' and obscene anti-Bri-tish postcards, and also- the-"Gott strafe: England" stamps; : "Discipline has replaced the famous 'kultur.' The Germans say: 'Our discipline. foresees, everything, does everything. The Government thinks and acts; we work.' It seems impossible that a nation of seventy; millions could think as.one man, yet it is true.-The ' Germans . are: contemptuous: of Austria, whose, attitude generally is oiie -of de-. prfissioiv and. weariness, almost despair. The war never was popular there." Cutting off the Cotton Supply. .He thinks that ' Britain.: does not yet -realise the poignancy of the war , . "Swedes and Americans trading in Stockholm, and even Germans, aro_ u puzzled over the British attitude regarding . cotton, the Swedes / stating- that . the German ingenuity will import cotton somehow, whether contraband or otherwiso. There are many, ways of getting cotton in arid .out of Sweden wMcli the Swedish Government is unable to control. "The Swedes generally are pro-German; ■tlieir .minds saturated with pan-Ger-manism. But the Swedish Socialists are mainly hostile to Germany, and do not favour intervention. The Swedes greatly respect the power of the British Navy. "The Germans are arrogantly confident as to the ultimate results of the war, claiming that when it comes to a war ofattrition German organisation and .patriotism will be equally effective as they were last . year. "Tho-Norwegian's are sympathetic with the Allies, though impatient that' tho mighty British Navy has not defeated its German rival. Nevertheless, Norway realises that defeat of Britain would mean the end of liberty for the little nations. " The British assertion's that Germany is blockaded is incorrect, because the Baltic has ia vast open mouth through Which'-supplies' are pouring into Germany, who is fnVhttened regarding - the cotton question. Despite tho. talk of wood-pulj), she is striving to .obtain cotton with all her Strength and'oiuiiiingl

1 THE COTTON CONTRABAND V OPPOSITION FROM AMERICA. UNLIKELY. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright , f (Rec. August 19; 10.45 ,p.m.) London, August .19, Advices from Washington confirm the opinion that opposition to the'cotton contraband is unlikely, and that a .satisfactory adjustment is certain, especially as America has long been exporting almost exclusively to the Allies. .