SOURCES OF HUN STRENGTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1739, 24 July 1917, Page 2

SOURCES OF HUN STRENGTH.

DR. BAUMGARTEN, an eminent (heologisl of the Kiel Udiversity, who gained notoriety , ec ly in the war as an exponent of the inapplicability of the principles of the Sermon on the Mount to modern German conditions (says the Daily Chronicle), has been lecturing on the sources of German power in holding out. There arc those, he says, who speak of an approaching fourth act of the Avar drama, but for his part he would not like to commit himself to this view. But, fourth act or first act, Germans will hold out. What are the sources of this power of holding out? First of all there is the truth and transparency of the German cause. Gormans have now a (dear notion of Avhat is threatening—nothing less than destruction. The Paris Economic Conference acted on the principle that Germany was to he rendered economically impotent, and the German workman will be the first, to suffer should 'this principle he put into action. This is now thoroughly understood in tin; smallest German cottage, and in eouse-

quence th(! nation is tightening i(s bolt, more Ihiiu over determined that (he British starvation Avar will not force them to yield. Another great source of German power in holding out is the confidence ol,‘ (he people in their leaders. It is, of course, not necessary to accept everything without criticism, but in judging the leaders of the army and navy criticism is really superfluous. Look at liindcnlnirg. Is it not an act of Divine providence that an actual hero of this character stands at the head of things? The Chancellor, says Baumgarten, is no genius of the Bismarck order, lie has constantly committed grave mistakes, and one might well imagine a greater man at tin* head of affairs. But think of his difficulties. And who besides Belhmann-llollweg could control all the threads in his hand? Hs is always moderate —“a respectable, noble, quietly suffering man.” Finally, according to Professor Baumgarten, the German nation draws unspeakable power for holding out from the fact that it believes in Providence, in God. It believes that the moral forces of Germany rest on the belief that God is with the people.