WHAT THE GERMAN PEOPLE SAY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 135, 21 January 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHAT THE GERMAN PEOPLE SAY.

A CHANGED WAR SPIRJT

A Danish traveller gives l>elo\v he impressions of the changed par .spirit of the German people. I was in Berlin when the war broke out and have twice visited Germany since. Each time I see a change in the spirit of the people. At first the enthusiasm was boundless. In all Germany one could not have found a German who was not only confident of victory but of a walk-over. This feeling of thtf people was crystallised in the saying of the Kaiser to his armies, "Before the leaves fall from the trees you will be back in your homes 'iga-u. ' It was repeated at every street orner, and constant reminiscences of 1870 were roundtd off with boasts that "Our Army is now incon-pai-ably better and stronger."

The German mood of exalta'Jcn lasted, with certain relapses, until last January, when the economic pinch of the war began to be felt. The first wave of disappointment was when the great rush of the German armies failed to reach Paris. It was a foregone conclusion with the German people that their troops would enter Paris on September 2. the anniversary of Sedan. But the truth of the battle of the .Marne was never divulged to them, nor were the great losses on the Yser and at Ypres.

There was natural exultation over the sea victory off Coronel. The sequel off the Falkland Islands was not so promptly communicated to the German public, and, when eventually divulged, it caused great depression. Nothing could Tonger d'sgiiise the truth* that Germany's naval power had been swept from the high sea*.

She managed to withstand his wooing (though what with his red ha r ana sparkling teeth and impetuous manner, and all, lie was "some" wooer!) uniu he described the honeymoon that he would provide lor her. Ever Jiad it been her ambtion to travel. "The world will lay its treasures al your feet!" he eried. "The silks and chopsticks of China, and the perfumes and lovely horses of Arabia, the mysticism of Jndia, and the cavoiting Cossacks of Rus'S a!" "Oh, Wilton !" she whispered, enraptured. He went on glow ingiy "You will ride on the camels' of the desert-, you see, safe by my side, the obstreperous beasts of the jungle. Jlu sp'endours of the East and '\\e-t, the glories of the North and South - a!, shall he at your service! The Orien:, th" Occident, the Accident!' "WiU'.n," she gurgled, "f in yours!" And' he clasped her in h'v arms i;h' they were married. And it was .ill "5 he had promised, for she spent hj( • honeymoon with Darnuni and Xailv circu>', where he had steady job keeping mice away from the elephants.

NO .MARCH TO LONDON

Despite all the talk of the German

Pi ess and military party last spring cf a drive through to Calais, it was obvious that the German people had become sceptical, but the national spirit was revived by the great operations on the eastern front. It was, nevertheless, realised that the successes in the east were only accomplished by great withdrawals from the west. In the suburbs of Berlin we were kept awake night after night by the incessant rumble of the heavy troop trains a stream that lasted three weeks. It is my own calculation that 750,000 iu«a were thus shifted. Since the set back of Russia, the stream, a much diminished one, has flowed west again. This compulsory shuttlecock movement of Germany's -Kindling forces has not failed to impress the German public with its significance.

The German people, in fact, now recognise that Germany is no longer capable of aitaiai'ig the ends she set out far. The idea has entirely died out .)f reaching London. Nobody now discusses it except a few rabid Chauvinists. A frequent forecast I have heard is that '".here will be two winners, Germany and Great Britain." The explanation of this apparent paradox is that Germany will retain the north of France, incorporate Belgium in the German Empire, and make Poland a province of Prussia. A large indemnity is expected from both France and Russia, but nothing is ncoed for from Great Britain beyond restoration of the German Colonies and the "freedom of the seas," that great German objective which no German I have met is able to define or explain. HOPE OF ALLIED COLLAPSE. Italy is believed to he fighting only for the Trentino. and the German public is amiably inclined to

Mr. Grunips (liotly) : "You must bo crazy." Mrs, Grtimps (idly): "Just wliat everybody said when 1 married yon.'' .Jack : " Wh,v did you break off your engagement with Miss Bertha?'* Krod: "Because her parrot was always saying, 'Stop that, George. " " But what difference did that make? Your engagement was not a secret." "But my name is not George." Mr. Green: "Did you tell the new girl of our custom of deducting the amount of breakage from tier wages at the end of the month ?'' .Mrs. Green: "Yes. I did." "And what dd she say!-" • She didn't say anything. She broke six glasses, live plates, and the soup-tureen, packed her box and "Arc vim the bloke what saved mv Billy?" "Oh. yes." replied the rescuer, with great modesty, 'lni* it s all right. I "Oh. no it hain't all right. What ah.ml 'is liloomin' 'at ? ' Aiphon-.o: "You have ■ =sr-d the word 'donkey' several times in the last ten minutes. An: I to understand that you mean anything of a. pergonal nature-" Bert e • "Certainly not. There are lots of donkeys in the world besides \ o u.'' '

let her have it at Austria's expense. It is common theory that when the death of the Austrian Emperor occurs Austria will become part of the German Customs Union, retaining only her autonomy. It will be noted that the German public allot to their Ally no spoils of the war. It is my impression, gained in several weeks' recent travel, that the present heartfelt wish of the majority of the German people is for peace, but not for peace at any price They are still in the mood stubbornly to endure rather than forfeit compensation for their efforts and losses. The German nation enters upon another winter campaign with the greatest reluctance, but the cry i,s stiil "Hold on." the hope is still that the Allies will collapse before Gerr?any comes to the end of her resources and has shot her last holt. The psychology of the modern German has never been tested in defeat. It is my personal belief that should victory turn full tide against his arms there would he a revulsion of feeling culminating in revolution. DWINDLING HATE FOR EXG. LAND. But, despite al! these expectations, the German people are depressed. Many have admitted to me that, whatever the result of the war, they can never now realise their passionato dream of the destruction of British trade, British sea supremacy, and the British Empire. This rnachieved. all other giins will he Dead Sea fruit. One change is notable. The almost insane hatred of England has worked itself out. Italy's so-called "treachery" acted as a lightning conductor for some of that electrical fury. Intelligent Germans now grudgingly admit that the war was not forced by Great Britain, and that she only entered upon it with reluctance. I

M. Cicmcncoau. tlie ex-Premier of France, had once an amusing though very annoying experience, lie had as his favourite servant a man who could neither read nor write. ' One day a wod-known senator called to sec Iv.ni, hut -M. Cleinenceau sent word that he was too busy to grant an interview. The senator replied thsu he must sec the From .or, r.s Ids business was most important. XI. Clemencean, very much annoyed at this persistency, wrote on the hack ol the senators visiting card : "Get rid of tin's old fool in live minutes." and gave it to Ins rervant with nstructions to take it to h:.s secretary. M. C'oussal.

The servant went to look for M. Cou-.sal, but could not find him anywhere. Not wishing to disturb his master again, and being uuabh to reail what M. Cleinenceau bad written on the vi-iting card, he returned to the waiting senator with the remark:— "Very sorry, sir. but M. Clrnieiiceaii is busy and h.s se<ivtary is out. but my master has written the reply oil vour card here, if von woulu care to 'read it." The senator read XI. Ch-nienceau's message and abruptly left the house. Alter that the Premier counted one supporter less in the world of polkas.

''Another new hat! You should really save your money, with the price af everything going up." "' But why? The longer I s ave it, the less I can buy with it.''