The Strength of Germany

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1915, Page 3

The Strength of Germany

(A Brilliant Australasian I'sychologist'.s Opinion oi Germany.) "ENORMOUS STRENGTH" MARVELLOUS EFFICI JiiNCY.>" One of most noted educationists iii Australasia is Dr John Smyth, principal of the Victorian Tenohere' Training College. Commencing nis career as -a school master in New Zealand, he took his M.A. degree and became ,iu inspector of schools in the Wanganui dislirkjb (North Island). .From theiK;e he visited tho Home Country for special university-training, studying finallv in tho University of Jena. A fine Gernwin scholar, holding the degree of Ph.D., and also as a deep and original thinker he becamo intimate with many •world-known German professors, and •also-with leading men in the world outside tho University walls. A philosopher, a man of the world, and a keen student of German methods of technical education, the result* of which have bulked so largely in this frightful war, hie opinions are well worthy of serious considerations- all the more so as every .fibre in his being i« British. That opin- _ iou is plainly that each adult, each - child should ibo ait work for the Jiiu■J&m, aril]-..that strenuous, unceasing effort should";continue, -with not selfsatisfied "restYm; on the oars," until peace is proclainHjd jn\d, German militarism is definitelycfe,Bhed. Speaking to a friend .of the wonderful success of the Victorian children raising £16,000 for their war fund, no (Dr Sniyth) said, "I have been delighted with the whole-he-arted zeal and self-sacrificing effort with which the children in our State sclioolh have thrown themselves into the work of raising money for their patriotic miul The wonderful success again illuslral * the old truth that it in not the movement in itself thai brings success, but the enthusiasm and earnest purpose of the workers in it. The efforts of many of these children shame most of Uβ adults. We simply put our hands in our puekeU and give wlial we cau *pare, hut they give of their work their toil and their time.' .

"The Strength of Germany.-—Speaking fdrther on the necessity of uliolceouled work, Dr Smyth said: "1 know something of the strength of Germany as I have lived in it at Llnee. diflerent times of my life. Hoi- strength, her vtonQerful organization, the solid foundations on which lier industries were based, tlie efficiency of her army, and the strong faith in her citizens of the destiny of their own Empire, impressed' mo with nn ever-continuous toree. In fact there "were times when 1 shuddered at the contemplation of this nation hurling herself on any other single notion. Few of our people are aware of the enormous strength of Germany. and of the marvellous efficiency of her pruparedness. There are some (seventeen millions of, men between tin; ages of 17 arid 70 in l.enmuiy, of whom eight millions are thoroughly lit to undertake the duties ol modern warfare, and of the.se eight millions more than four millions nave been thoroughly and sufficiently trained at the beginning of tiie war. II England .since the beginning of the war lias 'been able to train a new army ol one and halt millions of soldiers it is quite possible for Germany to have trained even s. larger army of her raw recruits."