HOW GERMANY STANDS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 199, 11 August 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

HOW GERMANY STANDS.

IS THE END GETTING NEAR? Reports of dearth and privations in Germany continue to bo published. Although some reports cannot be verified, some are exaggerated, and some may we!' be suspected of being made in Germany with intent to deceive, tney are informative as shewing what is nelieved in neutral countries concerning our enemy's internal conditions. Following are. extracts take by Exchange Telegraph from the "Stiftstidende," a Danish paper published within a mile or two of the German frontier : In spite of the energy and capacity winch Germany is displaying in order to settle her food problem, she will be unabie to car..- on the war until the end of the present year. There are e ven people who think that the war wi'l not reach its second anni versr.rv. Food was plentiful for the army till six or seven weeks ago, when rations were curtailed. So far this has not been acutely felt in the firing lines—the real fighting lines—but it has been more severely felt by those in the reserves Meat has becom,e scarce, only one piece being obtainable now and then; the troops do not get tenough bread. Besides receiving a 12 or 13 oz. loaf dai'v, they used to l>e allowed to purchase half a loaf every week. Tins is no longer permitted. Their hot food now consists of boded horse-beans, soup, boiled rice or b'g groats or boiled macaroni, only one course each day. Rarely they receive " sweet soup" with prunes. In some in. stances a piece of dried fish is added to the "graupensuppe" (big groats). MEN AND ARMS. Tt will be lack of food which will decide the war. Troops, guns, and ammunition Geimanv has" been a-blo to comman in abundance, but they have suffered dreadful losses. It looks as though they are coming to the end of their reserves. I f they do not call men over 45 to the colours. Manifest improvement is reported in the Russian command since last year, due (it : s said) to the arrival of French officers. Moreover, the Russians are now in possession of sufficient material. wh:le the Germans are short of horses; they have reduced their teams to four horses per gun and two horses per ammunition car.

Germany has incredib'e quantities of ammunit : on, which is steadily being improved.- Effects of their explosives are greater than ever. At the same time, Germany's adversaries are stronger every day, and are effecting smilar improvements. It 's reported from the YVer Canal that the big guns of the warships are doing terrible havoc with the : r "demi-rironclad" shells, which tear up whole trencher, while such is the effect of the explosions hath oles 80 metres long and 10 metres deep have been dug up. There has been a relaxation of discipline in the German Army. Many deserted, 'including officers and men of the Imperial Guard. To stop this d"scip'ine was made more rigorous. Hard drills and many other forms of punishment were introduced. It has been asserted that men have been tied to trees lor two hours at a time.

From the various fronts reports are being received that the solders are Decerning advanced Socialists or Free Thinkers, it wil be very difficult to get these men when they return home to settle down to peaceful occupations. There is a fear ot peace the peace which is to end this terrible war.