The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1918. GLOOM AND RESENTMENT IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 303, 11 September 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1918. GLOOM AND RESENTMENT IN GERMANY

There are many indications that tho brilliant success of the Allied offensive on the West front has shaken the nerve of tho German people.. The dread of impending disaster lias cast a gloom oyer the country. The high expectations of an early conclusion of the war in Germany's favour which were raised when the last German onslaught was at its summit have now been dashed to the ground, and the step from disappointment to resentment is a short one. The ruling caste'hurled von Kuhlmann from office because ho gave public expression to his 'doubts as to whether Germany could fight her way to victory. / "Away with him,*' cried the all-powerful Pan-Germans, and he was promptly thrown overboard. The people were told to pay no heed to the croakings of this defeatist, and were assured that tho end of their anxieties and tho reward.of their exertions were well in sight. Then came Marshal'Focn's return blow which sent the German armies _ reeling backwards, and utterly falsified-the confident promises of a German victory. 'Tho Kaiser's angry. subjects are now asking "Why have we thus been buoyed up by _ false hopes'! Why have we been misled about the position on the West front? Why havo wo been told a pack of lies about the effects of the. submarine campaign and tho peace • treaties with Russia and "Rumania?" Tho discontent is intensified by the privations 1 of the people. A nation that believes, that victory is almost within its grasp can endure severe hardships without complaint; but when the possibility • of winning fades away and and discomfort increase, its fighting spirit is tested to the uttermost. Another war winter will place a' terrible strain' on tho patience of the German people, and they must know that the coming of spring" can bring them no relief, for if their Army .cannot succeed now its chance o*E 'success will have gone for ever. The coming of the Americans in ever-in-creasing numbers is a great outstanding' fact which has put the extinguisher on German hopes of winning the war by force of arms. IHindendukq is appealing to his 'countrymen to keep up their spirits, but ho can provide them with no rational ground for optimism. One might as well try to save a dying man by telling him. to keep on breathing. \ Hindkniwrg's furious denuncia.tion ,of the Allies will not fill empty stomachs. It will not lessen the mistrust and resentment of those who arc, as the Cologne Gazelle asserts, asked to part with their clothes and door handles to cover urgent needs. Tho economic pressure is slowly but surely wearing down tho resisting power of the German people. In the early stages of the war we were inclined to put too much faith in the efficacy of this weapon, but as timo wont on it became clear that Germany could not be starved, and we made up our' minds that in order to win tho war wo must beat her in actual battle. But the grip on tho enemy's throat which the naval forces of the Allies have'never relaxed has been'an immensely important factor in tho. struggle. It is undoubtedly hastening the end. Tho London Times recently published statements made by soldiers who have returned to England after having been in Germany for nearly three years as prisoners of war. These statements show that the economic condition of tho country is growing steadily 'worse. In the various districts where these men were stationed the protracted shortage of food has caused severe suffering among the poorer classes. Hunger-typhus is of constant occurrence in "the villages and smaller towns.- Old men, women, and children frequently fall in tho streets from exhaustion. A spirit of s'ullen resentment is abroad. One of ithe older German soldiers employed to guard the prisoners said: "Look at tho viL lages and towns about here; there is not a young man left, and it's all to no purpose." And that is tho crowning bitterness—"it's all to rio purpose." The hardships might be bearable indefinitely if there were hope ahead; but the_ probability— the practical certainty—is that things must go from bad to worse. .Hope has dwindled to' vanishing point. A Dutch workman who returned recently from Rhineland stated that disease was making great inroads among tho German workers, largely owing to excessive toil accompanied by under-feeding. Generally speaking, the people were very depressed, and had abandoned all hope of winning the war. They said despondently that it mattered not whether they won or lost, so long as tho war ended. While sitting in a cafe the Dutchman overheard a conversation between two Germans. One said, "If the Austrians give up we arc lost." His companion replied, "Let them give up. The sooner they do the sooner wc shall be quit of the war." Hindenburg's manifesto and von Linsingen's proclamation aro signs that those in authority realiso that the German people aro losing heart. The generals aro indignant because the public doubt the truth of the cheerful fabrications issued in tho form of official communiques for the purpose of_ making everybody happy by concealing or transfiguring unpleasant facts. It is significant that von Linsingen should consider it necessary to warn the public that "there is too much silly and treacherous prattle about tho extent of the enemy's successes, and doubt is being cast on the resisting power of the German Army." In view of what ia

now happening, oven the generals have ceased to expect the people to believe in the irresistible might of the German military machine; all they can insist upon is a, declaration of faith in its capacity to defend itself. As a matter of fact, the machine is showing signs of cracking up. It is being battered, out of shape, and the knock-out blow must come sooner or later. The now peaos conspiracies show that Germany is extremely anxious to extricate herself from a desperate situation. Now that she realises that sho cannot win sho will do her utmost by intrigue and ounning and hypocrisy to end the war by some sort of compromise. She will endeavour by the foulest Machiavellian diplomacy to swindlo tho_ Allies out of .victory or the fruits of victory. Tho deceitful cry of "Kamerad" is already being raised. Inspired by von Hertlino, iha German ' Majority Socialists have oxpressed their readiness to, talk matters over with th<i Allied Socialists, and Heur Erzbeoer has informed the world that the war can only be finished by the creation of a League of Nations based on principles that havo ' partly been accepted both by President Wilson and Germany in their Notes to tho Pope. For some unexplained reason this wily Hun forgot to express theso opinions before the German offensive was_ brought to a standstill. The Allies will have to frustrate the enemy's craft and subtlety a« well as defeat his armies. They havo stated over and over again that they will not have—they will not even think of—a compromise peace. Such a peace would bo so shameful that ono is justified in refusing to contemplate its possibility.