SWITZERLAND AND THE GERMAN MENACE.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 October 1917, Page 4

SWITZERLAND AND THE GERMAN MENACE.

Switzerland to-day may be described as being strictly neutral (writes a correspondent in the "Daily Telegraph"). But the Swiss people have their sympathies, and they are not pro-German. X have recently returned to England after an extended tour through the country, and nothing amazed me more than the understanding of the people— the German, French ,and Italian sections —in regard to the allied cause. A great change hay taken place in the attitude of the German-swiss, who form almost 70 per cent, of the population, since the beginning of the war. I should Bay that, while rather less than one-half hope that neither side will secure a decisve victory the remainder like the French and Italian Swiss, favor the Allies. And this situation has been reached notwithstanding the distribution of thousands of poundß of German money, the operations of Prince Von Bulow, a special German Press campaign, and the operations of Teuton agents in all parts of the country.

A few weeks ago I stayed a couple of nights at the famous hospice of St. Bernard, on the Swiss and Italian frontier, and on my way down the mountain I met a postman and three Swiss peasants. In order to test them, I thought it would be interesting to pose as a German, so, entering into conversation, I asked them what they thought of "our Kaiser." "Wo must not say what we think of him, because we are neutral," was the emphatic reply of one of the peasants. This form of evasive response is common in the course of Swiss conversation with a stranger, and it arises from the fact that the German Government have so many prudent to exercise considerable restraint in expressing opinions. But I continued the subject, and gradually these peasants opened out with stories of German atrocities in Belgium. '' Germany caused the war," I was told. "England entered to defend the Belgians," I was further informed; and never have I heard a finer defence' of the Allies than from those peasants, to whom I afterwards revealed myself. BULOW AND HIS SATELLITES. It has taken some time, but the truth has penetrated Switzerland, even to the mountains. Prince Yon Bulow still has his headquarters at Lucerne, and his agents as far south as Chiasso, and as far west as Geneva. The diplomatic staffs of Austria, and Germany accredited to the Vatican, which left Borne when Italy entered the war, continue to reside at Lugano; and they are as popular as in pre-war days was the German tourist, who was frequently detested by Swiss hotelkeepers because of his meanness and his habits. But Prince Yon Bulow and his satellites find Switzerland, of course, a convenient centre for maintaining communications with the outside world. The propaganda work carried on i? extraordinary. In addition to the illustrated journals published in different languages in the country under German, influence, ever pointing to the righteousness of that country's lima, there are Teuton agents everywhere who assist in maintaining lines of commuidcatijon with German emissaries outside, and start various rumours for the purpose influencing public opinion. i[n some of the towns the Germans have had displayed large maps showing the conquered territory which they occupy. . The ground from which they were driven by the allied offensives on the» Some and elsewhere is marked "Voluntarily abandoned." But from what I gathered the people are not misled by such things, '"he British victories on the Somm.t-, as well as at Arras, are well understood. And although there is no display of maps, such as are distributed by the Germans, photographs illustrating the military successes of the French and British armies are freely exhibited. The propaganda work on behalf of the allied countries has greatly improved since the early days of the war, and in

the 'Neue Zurcher Zeitung' and other ' leading Swiss newspapers printed in the German language effective articles on the objects of the Allies and the progress of the war are, published. But, notwithstanding their sympathies, the people are anxious to maintain a strict neutrality. They are in a difficult position between the belligerents, inasmuch as they now depend very largely upon the United States for grain and other food supplies, and solely upon Germany for.their coal. In order to secure fuel from Germany they have to export a certain number of cattle and other commodities to that country, a fact which is well understood by the allied Governments; and I believe, certain obligations that have been made by the Swiss Government in this connection are being strictly observed. On the other hand, there was great indignation in the country recently in consequence of Germany breaking her coal contract with Switzerland; and I believe that at the present time the German supply is short by some hundreds of thousands of tons. There appears to be no lack of food in the country, and it is a common occurrence to meet visitors —men and women —from Germany who have crossed the frontier for the purpose of "feeding themselves up" for a few days. The only articles that are rationed are sugar and rice. Complaints are frequently heard in consequence of the increased cost of living. INTERNED SGLDIERS. In addition to German civilians I met many interned German soldiers, one of whom, in a restaurant at Lucerne remarked to me: "I was a prisoner at Dartford, in Kent, where I was well treated by the English authorities at the hospital, and I hope to settle down in England after the war.'' When I told him that we had no qiuarrel with the individual German, but only with his Emperor and Government, he replied: "Leave them to us. After the war we Trill settle with them." He subsequently ventured the opinion that Germany would become the most democratic of States. The prevailing opinion among the interned German soldiers is that Germany is in a bad way. There are frequent escapes of allied prisoners from Germany into Switzerland, and I was told by a Swiss guard that British and French prisoners are never employed near the frontier, for fear that they might attempt to get through.

Switzerland has certainly many strange guests. In addition to Prince Von Bulow and Ms staff, there may be seen pacifists and men of extreme political views oi different nationalities, an well as deserters who should be fighting their country's cause on the battlefield. They have their meetings and give vent to their opinions .and so long as they do nothing to impair the neutrality of Switzerland they are afforded refuge. But the Swiss people are not blind to the German menaee after the war. They ate saying little, b*t they are thinking hard, and the possibility of Germany sending her manufactured goods through Switzerland, bearing Swiss trade marks, is well understood. The probability, too, of Germans crossing into Switzerland and becoming naturalised, in order that they may take up positions abroad, as they did before the war, not as German, but as Swiss subjects, is another topic which is quietly discussed, and which the Swiss people hope will be dealt with at the proper time. Confidence in Germany no longer exists. The admiration which at one time was felt for the German war machine that was thought to be invincible has disappeared. Wonr der is now expressed at what has been accomplished by Great Britain in military achievements. The entry of the United States into the war has further vindicated the cause of the Allies because it is recognised that her action was wholly disinterested. And while it may be said that the hope of the vast majority of the Swiss is that the Allies will achieve a victory, the great hope of the Government and the people is that they will continue t® maintain a strict neutrality, and that after the war Switzerland as a State will have the same position as she enjoyed before the war.