SIDELIGHTS FROM GERMANY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 26, 1 April 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIDELIGHTS FROM GERMANY

STRANGE ABERRATION 01' " AUNT YOSS."

MARSHAL YOX HINDENBUHG'S TABLE TALK.

A" MOST RESPECTABLE PAPER

The " Yossische .Zeitung" (once a most respectable if somewhat unenterprising organ of German Liberalism), which, in consequence of its prim attitude on numerous public questions, earned the nickname of "Aunt Yoss," has been goaded by the war into the hysteria inseparable from her age and character. In a leading article headed " England the Enemy" we are instructed about England's insufferable arrogance. She professed to be sole buttress of civilisation, mankind her instruments, the world her field. Every living race must b<> oppressed, and relinquish independence, and the nation which does not submit feels instantly British pressure on its neck.

It is not ethical superiority (says this journal) which has brought about England's proud position, but simply and solely her insularity and the skilful use of the advantages this gives her. The "British Bible" also has been a powerfu! factor in fortifying her pretensions. In this Book Britons find all the support they want for a divine world-mis-sion, and for their belief that heaven is ar. exclusively British domain.

* * * IX THE GREAT SPIDER'S WEB

History, says the " Yossische," knows no country which for so many centuries has so consistently and unscrupulously asserted herself. Rome shows nothing like it. At the present time Japan has some resemblance to England, but only Japan, British diplomatists jvere indeed skilful, but greater still was the stupidity of their victims. And that nation, whichever it was, that stood by to help England got its reward —a kick. That nation which was cute enough to unmask the hypocrite was laden with the full measure of British hatred.

The " Vossische" is overjoyed that England hates Germany. It is an honour to be hated by such a country. And it was in the web of this great spider that the German fly was to be imprisoned ! The most powerful of England's allies is the Lie. It is an ally which she has used in every country in the world, especially in the United States. We are told that every implement cf British diplomacy, "from boy scouts to Grub-street poets," has been mobilised —clean or dirty implements, it makes no matter. Pulpits, university chairs, the bench, the Press, the society dame, retired ministers, members of the Royal Family have all been utilised to announce the German danger, and they have done their work well.

And therefore Germans will rigidly adhere to their iron determination to conquer. "We must conquer!" exclaims the excited "Vossische." "We will conquer! We can conquer! The enemy is England! The prize is Freedom! We shall do all in our power to free ourselves. The world must not become a British prison! This is the thunderword and will of the German people."

* * * HINDENBURGS TABLE-TALK

Fedor von Zobeltitz, a well-known novelist, has been invited by Marshal von Hindenburg to dinner, and in a letter to the newspapers gives some stray bints of the great strategist's table-talk.

It was, of course, all about the war. An officer stated that Russian prisoners had Japanese coins in their possession, a fact which pointed to the presence of Japanese soldiers in the Rusian army. "Not at all/' said Hindenburg, "they stole the coins in the Japanese war, and were only trying to dispose of them in Poland." The fall of Warsaw was next discussed, and the great man had something to say about it: "It will not fall to-day, nor yet to-morrow, but we shall get through. This is certain." The conversation turned on the state of the Russian army, and Hindenburg's contribution was as follows: " The human material of the Russian armies is not inexhaustible. Their roubles arc powerless. Their ammunition is being exhausted."

Herr von Zoboltitz states that the New Year's congratulations to this new idol of the nation were so numerous that they had to be delivered in large laundry haskets, and that although the marshal's aides-de-camp were working in a temperature four degrees below zero the perspiration ran off their faces, so immense were their efforts to get through the correspondence.