Germany

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 15 June 1915, Page 5

Germany

VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. THE COUNTRY FROM WITHIN. / “WE CANNOT LOSE I” I Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8 a.m.) London, June 14.

A neutral observer, as the result ct a further visit to Germany, supple- • ments the impressions he formed in February. He says: It is no longer “We shall win,” but “We cannot lose” with the Germans, hut there is a grim resolve that all must strain every nerve and ounce of energy, resource, and intelligence to establish the desired result. Finding that there is no enemy on their soil, and that the boundaries of the country have been * pushed beyond 1 their former limits, the Germans claim that up to the present they have won in the war. Yet there is no slackening of their efforts, and daily it becomes more apparent that their resources of men and material are more vast than even the Germans themselves realised. Unless overwhelmed, the main force may resist indefinitely. The Germans are unbroken in strength and spirit, but there is complete isolation, which is affect- ,, ing the character of the people in two distinct and opposite ways. First, the national spirit, called Imperial Consciousness, becomes apparent, and next there is embittered morbidity and brutal vindictiyeness, warping the judgment, biasing the opinions, and unhinging the ethical and moral senses. The majority of the people regard the use of poisonous gas as a splendid triumph for German genius. A chemical expert .'■tated that gas is the coming weapon in German warfare, and though still in its primitive state, with development it is certain to supplant high explosives. The phenomenal successes in Galicia and elsewhere are due to its *?use, and a few tanks of gas do more work than a thousand shells, i The only bar to its complete success was the finding' of a suitable system of distribution. Throughout Germany there were no shirkers, and every man, woman, and child was contributing to the Nation’s effort. Though many were beginning to realise that the ■ Struggle would not bring any ultimate good to Germany, the majority of the people believe in the righteousness of the cause and that it will be crowned with filial success.