The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916. GERMANY'S "UNINSPIRED" PRESS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2853, 18 August 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916. GERMANY'S "UNINSPIRED" PRESS

.-The demand that the German Government should silence Theodor Wolff, the editor of the Berliner 1 ageblatt, may be taken as ah indication that the occasional excursions; into frco criticism latterly practised by certain German newspapers is causing milch uneasiness among the Pa."il:Gcrmanists. Here Wolff, like Herr Harden, of the Muhunft,, is evidently of opinion toat the time has como for stating the real facts regarding the war and tor freer criticism of tno words and works of the men at the head < of the German nation. . The German authorities on the other hand hold that the unpleasant truth which these _ newspapers are printing are exercising a disheartening influence on the public. They contend that anything that tends to make the people believe'that Germany is winning helps to make Germany win ,wWs anything that shakes confidence weakens the nation's fightmg power.. The articles of Herr Harden and Herr Wolff are undoubtedly making the people neivy,. : and German military exparts declare that victory largely depends on strong nerves. One of the German formulas for victory is to keep on saying "we have strong nerves. One of the "inspired newspapers endeavours to oheer un its readers with the magic phrass": VVe shall be victorious because «e nave the stronger nerves! Thus HraDENßuna spoke, .and his words were confirmed by. the ICaiser." But | Herr v\ olff, who occasionally' refuses to be. 'inspired" from hcadclua™rs, , all( i declines to "prophesy smooth things," is undermining the laitn ot tne people in tho infalii. unity of their rulers. Therefore be must be silenced. The TageblaU is the leading organ of Radical Liberpajlsm. Before the war it was in great disfavour with the Government, and was hated, in military and aristocratic circles. It aroused the anger of the authorities by announcing war with-. England before they wished the fact to bo made pub--1 I 1 occas i° n it was referred to by Herr von JaGow as "tho pestilential TageblaU." In . June j last the suspension, of its publica- , tion was ordered, tho reason given bemg that it published an article which represents an unusually serious disturbance of the public peavs, fls a serious reproach is mado in it against great economic organisations —■namely, that in tho service of the purely monetary interests of war contractors they would like to see ur'l r endlessl y prolonged." The publishers expressed regret for i tie publication of the offending article, and promised to pay more attention ,to the censorship prescriptions. The prohibition was then withdrawn.

Here Wolff has grievously ofleaded the Pan-Germaliists by refusing to.give countenance to (he clamour for the annexation of foreign territory, and some of (tie opinions and criticisms of his naval and military experts—Captain Persitjs and Major Moraht—have been too candid to suit the extreme section of the war party. They have tended to weaken . the belief of the nation in the invincibility or the German army and navy, Tho comments of these experts on the progress of the war have revealed the emptiness of tho Kaiser's extravagant panegyrics about tho unrivalled prowess of his troops. The Kaiser has declared over and over agan that his enemies are practically beaten. _ But Herr Haiiden states tho position very differently. "Who is beaten 1" ho asks. "Is it 'England ? It is France, who sincc 1914 retains possession of tho essential positions? Can Germans who do not wish to deceive themselves consider tho Russians as beaten on tho morrow of their great successes in Armenia and Galicia?" Ho goes on to say that by fostering such superstition regarding our victories in the' minds of the people, tho defensive .and offensive force which Germany still needs is Icing weakened. Ho declares that if the Allies could hear what ia desired by the Gorman people, peace would bo much nearer. The Kaiser has just been repeating his repudiation of responsibility for the war. Herr Harden has had something to say on this point also. Ho asks a few searching questions. AVhy did not Germany pbject to the grossly provocative and bullying tone of the first Austrian ul-

lima turn to Serbia? Why did Germany support the refusal of Austria tho Serbian offer and decline to support tho efforts of England, Franco, and Russia to obtain a longer torm of graco for Serbia? Why was Serbia's humble and subservient reply not accepted by Austria ? Did Austria receive any advice from tho Wilhelmstrasso on this subject 1 Was this advice aimed at making Austria stay her hand? It would bo dccidodly interesting to have tho Kaiser's reply to these questions. Herb Harden certainly does not scorn to think that tho Kaiser his advisers "acted in the Lest faith throughout, and strove hard for pcaco." It is not surprising thai; tho candid criticisms of prominent journalists like Harden and Wolff aro proving very unpalatablo to thoso in authority. Tho fact that thci>o_ unpleasant truths. aro being tolcl in spite of tho severe Press censorship which exists in Germany indicates that a change is Coming over the public mind, and that the Government is finding that it is possible to go too far in the matter of repression. If such damaging attacks on tho war policy of tho German Government find their way into tho newspapers in defiance of tho censorsorship, ono cannot help wondering what the "uninspired". Press would say if tho censor's restraining grip was relaxed or entirely removed.