A TALK WITH GERMAN PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2828, 20 July 1916, Page 5

A TALK WITH GERMAN PRISONERS

MR. PHILIP GIBBS'S IMPRESSIONS HATRED OF BRITAIN Australian-New Zealand Cable Association, (Eec. July 19, 5.35 ( p.m.) London, July 19. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "On questioning German prisoners in order to ascertain the German points of view regarding our attack and Germany's prospects, 1 found it difficult to obtain any real indication of the spirit of tlio German people. Many of tlio prisoners were still dazed. Some were proud and sullen; others were ready to talk, but tliey were ignorant of anything which had happened outsido of their dug-outs. All had a great craving for peace, and' anxious to see their wives and children. The prevailing thought that' reveals itself frequently is that they in obedience to higher powers, and cannot help themselves. , Our Artillory Surprise. "A doctor said:, 'You aro strong, wo are strong; neither can crush the other. If the war continues, it will be Europe's suicide.' Many said that they had been promised that the war would end by August or September., The soldiers believed that they were winning, and felt confident in the strength of their lines on the Western front: They did not believe that defences like I'ricourt and Montauban could ever - be broken. "They always speak of our artillery with terror. Our new power . amazed' them, and their officers especially. The latter admit that they did not imagino that 'amateur gunners/ as they call the British, could' achieve 6uch results. They always have had a great respect for our infantry's courage, but they count the strength of armies by their strength in guns, and they knew that until recent days they possessed tlio greater power. The possibility of defeat was not mentioned. All are still convinced that their army can aeveo- be beaten to the point of surrender. They now know that the English. are stronger than they anticipated. "They Talkiof Another War." A "Tlioy talk of anothor inevitable AngloGerman war ton years 'hence, and have been taught that the British throughout have been the aggressors, and that Germany will seek her revenge. Many frankly express 1 their hatred, of war, ijis being tlie caiise of horrors ana* suffering beyond man's strength to bear. They talk like men whi have been under an evil spell which has been placed on them by unknown and uncontrollable powers. Tlio ignorance of most of the prisoners is remarkable, yet tliey mostly conceal the fact that they havo been kept unaware of their series of defeats, and stoutly deny that there is any suffering or hunger in Germany."