GERMAN SOLDIER UNBARES HIS SOUL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 150, 25 February 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

GERMAN SOLDIER UNBARES HIS SOUL.

REVELATIONS OF A CAPTIVE'S LETTER. TERRIBLE INDICTMENT OF HIS OWN KAISER. Among a number of (similar dix-u----mcnts the text has been communicated to me of three letters found upon a German soldier made prisoner on October 30 at the time or the German counter-attack upon 'failure, in Champagne. it lias often been asked what are the feelings of German Social-Demo-crats actually engaged in the war. The most interesting of these letters is a sort of profession of faith —or lack of faith —on the subject which the soldier in question, who belonged to the 140 th Infantry, had written and addressed to liis family, against the possibility of his being killed in the coming engagement. It deserves quotation in full: — Conde, 2t>th October. 1915. "Dear Parents, Dear Brothers and Sisters j "I am still well, and hope it is the same with you. . But in the next few days terrible events will happen, and who know? if we will come out of them safe and sound? Things will not go here as simply as in Russ'a. We can see that already. These lines, therefore. will carry you my last farewell if fate should decide against me. "May you for many years cont'nue in good health and peace. Ido not die for the ideas that heroes in slippers call love of the Fatherland. I shall be one more victim of th's lamentable madness that has seized upon all the peoples. "I have often dreamed of a new kingdom in which all the rations would be fraternally united, and there would be no more racial differences; in which, tiiere would be one kingdom and one people such as that for which in times of peace the Social Democrats had prepared the way. but which in this wall's shown, alas! to be unrealisab'.c

FR FSTR ATE D AS PI R ATIONS. "I hoped to become a party leader, the editor of a great journal, to contribute towards the gathering of the different peoples ;n an ideal community. That was my aspiration ; I was still young, and I had educated myself in that direction. "Now this terrible war has been unchained, fomented by a few men, who are sending their subjects, their' slaves rather, to the battlefield to clay each other like animals. For this war has horribly degenerated—hand-grenades, mines, and, what is worst of all, asphyxiating shells, gases, and chlorine, are now the chief weapons in close fighting. "I should like to go toward those they call our enemies and say to them : 'Brothers, let us fight together: the enemy is behind us.' Yes, since 1 have been wearing this uniform I do not feel any hatred toward those who are in front; but my hatred ha.s grown against those who have power in their hands.

CONFESSION OF DEVILRY. "We Germans wish to lie at the head of the nations; are we more advanced than a thousand years ago? We have invented the most murderous weapons; even the terrib'e attacks by means of chlorine were first made by us. It is very possible I shall not return from the coming engagement; but for r.'l those who do return it should be a sacred aim to avenge themselves e'l the small number of those who have- o:i their conscience hundreds of thousands of human I'vcs." The other two letters are from the soldier's father, who speaks of the n>e ot pr:ces and from a Berlin friend, who shares his Socialist opinions. "To approve the gigantic plans of German Imperialism in the East would." ho says, "bo to commit suicide in order to enjoy a better life."