NOT SO MUCH GROUSING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

NOT SO MUCH GROUSING.

MR. JEROME'S SENSIBLE ADVICE

Suppose (writes Mr. .Jerome K. Jerome, in "Lloyd's Weekly News") the i.ews reached us day by day and week by week that the Germans were chiefly occupi.nl in quarrelling amongst themselves; that half the German press was busy proclaiming aloud that everything in Germany was rotten; that her rulers were traitors; and all her officials incompetent asses. Suppose wo gathered from the German papers that the General Staff was being held up to ridicule throughout Germany as an ■effeto and useless collection of nincompoops. It started out to conquer France m three months, and then, turning east, defeat Russia before she had time to bring up her resources.. The whole plan had miscarried. There could he 110 hope for victory until every unit of the General Staff had been scrapped, and certain popular journalists and notoriety mongers appointed in their stead. Suppose we heard that Hindenburg's statue in Berlin, instead of being decorated with golden nails, was being covered chiefly with mud. Why wars he not already at Riga and St. Petersburg? Suppose the German papers were filled with viuilent attacks on Mackensen. Why had he fa led to settle the Turkish business? Why was Russia at Erzeroum and Ispahan? Was this the way to make Germany supreme from Berlin to Baghdad? The Serbian army reforming: Greece wavering: Roumania making ready to join the Allies. All this the consequents of Mackensen's miserable miscalculations. Down with Field - Marshal Maekeiisen! Suppose we read in the German papers furious attacks upon the German Foreign Office. Its icontemptible diplomacy; Italy driven into the enemy's arms; America antagonised. Suppose we heard of German politicians denouncing each day the German Board of Admiralty. Where was the much-talk-ed-of blockade of England? Why were German submarines allowed to iie caught by English nets? Why had not the German navy dug out the English fleet and sunli it? Suppose we read of public meetings called to express the anger and contempt of the German people at the shameful inadequacy of the German Air Fleet Service." Why had not London been dostroved? Why this absurd sentim?ntalism that refrained from wiping England out of the sea ? "VEILED HINTS." Suppose that half the German papers were filled with bitter articles sneering at their own statesmen, insinuating that they were only clinging to their places for the sake of their sa'ar-c. I Suppose in popular German papers we read veiled hints that the true reason for the German failure at Verdun might be looked for in the fact that the German Crown Prince's grandmother was an Englishwoman. Suppose, in short, it was evident to all the world that Germany was a seething mass of discontent, of angry recrimination, and div'ded councils. Wouldn't it buck us up? Should we not say to ourselves —whatever might be happening at the fighting front —'"Never mind; we have only to hold on. and our enemy will go to pieces by the mere process ot internal disruption. He has not the will to conquer. He L-s not man enough to shut his mouth and grit his teeth when things are going wrong. He i- a itervousT hysterical windbag. He does not understand war. Ha has 110 patience. He has no power of silence. The Germans are 110 longer a united people. Listen to them, screaming, curbing, quarrelling among themselves. We have onlv to stand linn, and they will destroy themselves by their own disunity." . . , Cannot we imagine how it would strengthen the determination of every one of Germany's enemies; how it. would dishearten Germany s allies. J If Germany needs bucking up, she has onlv to read our dis'nyal newspapers. They told her a year ago, at a time when our young men wore thronging the recruiting offices to the tune 01 bix millions, that we were a nation or cowards. Germany can read hi our "Morning Post'' that we are .-lurking our share of the burden. That, having promised help to our Allie.s we are trying to dodge our word. _ lie Germans can read in the " Times" that their Zeppelins have had the desired effect or terrifying the whole nation. We are pictured as a pi ople disheartened and fearful, disloyal to our own leaders untrue to our ireiuN: a people filled with noisy com]) amt, running di-lracted hither and thither, and Mown by every wind ot agitation. It is noi true of us. 1 am convinced that the vast majority ot our people are sick to the vers marrow of -ill this hvsteriral fault-finding; ol tli s ioiil-moiuhed abuse of every worker—--tat. small or soldier- who is doing his host; of all these traitoruis intrigues for party triumphs and personal aggrandisement at tin- co-tot the nation's welfare. There is a great d- maud among Hie shrieking section tor a Man w.tlil a capital "M." I'or a time it wa- Kitchener. r.itil the creatures who had WOll licking his hoot- thought it would nav better to fling tilth at him. I hen it 'was Lloyd George they wanted to ,)„! up—till the time should come lor ,! u .m to direct attention in t..e„,selves l,v howling him d ran. > it v'as Mr Hughes. To-day it is Sir f.dward Carson. It is well tor the mi--chier maker-that the ideal.nan do. •« 1 ;l lo,ig. The fir-t thing lie woiihl do would he 10 -top their liioiilh-. We 1,■,\-e 111 ver had much u- - m I'.ng ami ihe Maa with the capital ".M. 1 i ilie iiii-<-lliel-iiiake! - l >iH get " wav. we will do all .-h, w ill. ,H-t a. nation of men, cam one t |o ng i.< work hi- hand lias louie! to do. v. it 11 all hi, heart and with all Ihis -Irength. 111 si'eue.' and ill conlidei' ee.