HOPELESS ABOUT GERMANY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1896, 29 October 1918, Page 2

HOPELESS ABOUT GERMANY.

IN a recent article in the New York Times, Mr Frank Bohn, a wellknown Socialist and an active member of the “Friends of German Democracy/’ confesses that he has been among those who since (he beginning of the war have exaggerated (he importance of the democratic forces in Germany. His roseate expectations recently suffered a very severe setback in Switzerland. Every German democratic exile in Switzerland, without one exception, expliasised wilii the greatest clearness dial only a decisive defeat of Germany’s forces could begin the work of building up a German- democracy. One said“ Place absolutely no hope in any party, or in any class, within Germany. There is no considerable group in Germany which understands democracy. All criticism of the Government is based entirely on the fact that there is not enough food and clothing. But if the German Government can provide her people with the necessities of life as she has in the past there is no reason why she should not make war for 50 years. The German people are growing accustomed to war losses. Any suggestion that the war is an evil is met by the answer: 'Are we not bettor off than the others? Are we not lighting upon enemy territory? Have we not won every battle?’ The number of people in Germany who respect anything but force is negligible. Upon the masses of Germany, capitalists, professional men, and wage workers alike, economic success and the new-found wealth have worked like a black curse. The acquisition of wealth merely destroyed (he soul of Germany. 1 am hopeless, utterly hopeless, about Germany. Only complete defeat can give her a new beginning.”