The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1916. GERMAN GLOOM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1916. GERMAN GLOOM

The Kaiser's New Year utterances contain much bombast, but be spoke the simple truth when he declared that the German people "hope to God that the New Year will bring final victory" for Germany. The hopo is certainly there, but the Germans are -learning by bitter experience that "hope deferred maketh the heart sick." The Kaiser may talk- as much as lie likes about "glorious victories," but the plain fact remains that after seventeen months of desperate fighting the German forces have failed to capture Paris, they have failed to get to Calais, they havo failed to crush Russia, and the people cannot see how the Balkan adventure, even if it should prove successful, is going to end the war. The Germans outlook for the New Year is clouded by doubts and misgivings. The people have not forgotten that when the war began the Kaiser said to his soldiers: "Before the leaves fall from the trees you will be back in your homes again." The leaves fell but the war went on. Later on he assured the nation that another winter campaign would not be necessary. The sccoiul winter campaign- is now ,in nrtutvesa a&d ttm end is atiil puL

of sight. He now seems to have abandoned the role of the prophet, and all he can do is to "hope to God' that the New Year will brinp final victory." The latest Englisli papers contain some interesting items of news from various sources, which show that the war spirit of the German people has been chilled by disillusionment and disappointment.. A Danish traveller who #as in Berlin when the war broke out, and who recently paid another visit to Germany, states that he noticed a marked change:—

The German people (lie writes) now recognise that Germany is no longer caiiS ,n Gaining the ends she set out for. Ihe idea has entirely died ont- of reaching London. Nobody now discusses it except a few rabid Chauvinists. A frequent forecast I have heard is that there will be two winners, Germany and Great' Britain." The explanation of this Apparent paradox is that Germany will retain the north of France, incorporate Belgium in the .German Empire, and make Poland a province of Prussia. A large indemnity is expected from both France and Russia, but nothing is hoped for from Great Britain beyond restoration of the German colonies and the "freedom of the seas," that great German objective which no German I have met is able to define or explain. The impression which this observer has derived from several weeks' recent travel is that the majority of tho German people arc anxious for peace, but not peace at any price. They do not for a moment admit that they are, or can be, beaten, though they are beginning to think that Germany cannot now secure a decisive win. _ _ They feel that they are in a position to demand very favourable terms, and we are told that "they are still in the mood stubbornly to endure rather than forfeit compensation for their efforts and losses." They have certainly entered on the second winter campaign with reluctance, but "the cry is still, 'hold on,' the hope is still that tho Allies will collapse before Germany comes to tho end of her resources and has shot her last bolt." Wo must not dcc?ive> ourselves with the comforting belief that Germany is almost on her knees, for she is not. She may soon be fighting with her back against the wall, bufc she will fight with tremendous energy, and all her powers of offence and defence will have to be broken down before she will submit to the terms which the Allies must insist upon. The British Empire will have to fight harder and organise better than it has done up to tho present if the war is to be brought to a triumphant conclusion during the present, year". : Though the outlook in Germany provides no justification for cocksureness on the part of the Allies, it does give reasonable ground for the belief that the fortune, of war is decisively changing in our favour. There are signs that the morale of the German soldier is ebbing aw;ay. He is getting war sick. The diary of Private Becker, of the Landsturm, gives an illuminating insight into tho mind of the German soldier. It is a pitiful story—brutal officers; sullen, weary, and dispirited men. Let Private Becker speak for himself:—

On again. Exausting march. Bad food, quite insutlicient. Bad treatment of stragglers, insulting language. They are given extra guards. The action has begun; we are in reserve. lam tired, ill, wretched beyond words. I have an unhealthy longiiig for peace. ,f Yesterday evening a long talk about the war. Everybody is "fed up" with the ivar, and 'especially with the whole of the military regime. We are worn out. Marches. Food absolutely insufficient. . . Every day wo have to sing stupid songs, always the same, instead of getting them out of the "Song Book," and we go singing through the village like children. Always the same longing for peace, and before my eyes the spectre of tne French front close at hand, with tho horrors of its artillery Are. The young soldiers are grossly treated by the old soldiers, who answer them in monosyllables, and hardly deign to look at them. We are treated like criminals and worse. All of a sudden, for nothing, one is threatened with a beating. The colour-sergeant is a dirty bawler, always uttering threats, never a good word, always readj;.to use a stick, and ho doesn't spare it when he gets the chance. Every morning drill, with the usual accompaniment of abuse and threats. In itself, what is required of one at drill is not so bad, but it becomes a real tortnre on account of the system. Everything one does is wrong, blameworthy, and liable to punishment. Always threats of extra drill, not the slightest idea of reasonable instruction, no explanation, no practical examples, nothing but threats any annoyances. The officers have tents and tables like tourists, and havo an abundant spread. The officers lounge in carriages. The men are indignant at it. The officers look splendid. They are gay, and always making jokes. The men on the other hand march with their heads down, buried in their own thoughts, without speaking. Worn out by excitement and hunger. Exuberant cheerfulness of the officers. Colonel, major, captain laugh .boisterously. Their faces beaming, shining with fat. For us, hardships, dirt, hunger. .. . This spirit of_ discontent and depression which is spreading in the army is sure to infect the people at home. The womenfolk of the men at tho front havo become embittered by their hardships and privations. Tho merchant classes are very anxious about the future. They fear that • foreign markets will be closed to German goods, and they do not see how they are going to recover lost ground. The farmer is dissatisfied. He is blamed by the city dweller for the high price of food, and ho in turns blames the Government. He has to pay higher prices for everything he buys, while the Government regulates the price of almost all agricultural _ produce. The food problem is causing much trouble, but it would be a mistake to jump to the conclusion that Germany can actually be starved into submission. Still, the economic pressure caused by Britain's sea power is undoubtedly making things uncomfortable and irritating. The experiences of a _ wealthy Swede throw an interesting sidelight on the economic situation: —

At Hamburg lie entered one of tho biggest restaurants and called for the menu. He was lianded a little rectangulnr sheet of paper. This surprised him, for German menus are usually of respectable size. It was headed: "Fettloser Tag" (Fatloss Day). Then followed n list of three or four dishes. He chose boiled beef and vegetables. The waiter brought him boiled beef with a very little cabbage and a solitary potato. He protested, but the waiter replied:' "It is forbidden to give move.' and even if wo wished we could not." "Well, then, give me a little more bread." Again the waiter ejpressed his regret at being unablo to meet the guest's wishes, With tho cheese the Swede asked for pome butter. "Fettloser Tag." replied tlio waiter, "wo rannot." And the Swede hi"! to be content with some stewed fruit. The following morning the traveller continued his journey. In the dining car. where he lunched, the menu was headed "Fleischloser Tag" (Meatless Day). The dishes were aaain few in number, and consisted of. eggs, lentils, and green peas. The pcoplo are asking why should these things be when their armies arc winning "gloi'lotiß viclvi'k 1 "" whenever fchex eo I .Whaca wo the fruits

of victory? Why is tho enemy not suing for peace? Such questions are Being asked with more and more insistence; arid they are not easy to answer. Tho Allies have had their full share of disappointments, but. they enter on tho New Year with tho firm conviction that the worst has been past, and that better days are coming; whereas the Germans are beginning to realise that tho zenith of their strength has been reached, and that their hopes of winning are receding every day. Their darkest days have yet to come.