WHAT THE GERMAN PEOPLE SAY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 4, 6 January 1916, Page 7

WHAT THE GERMAN PEOPLE SAY.

A CHANGED WAR SPIRIT. A Danish traveller gives below his impressions of the changed war 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 tbe people,

At first the enthusiasm was boundless. In all Germany one could not have found a Gorman who was not only confident of victory but of a walk-over. This feeling of the 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 again.” It was repeated at every street corner, and constant reminiscences of 1870 weri. rounded off with boasts that "Our Army is now incomparably better and stronger.”

The German mood of exaltation 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 groat rush of German ar-

s failed to roach Paris. It was

forogono conclusion with the Gonna' People that their troops would onteFavis on September 2, the anniversary of Sedan. But the truth of the bat-’ of the Marne was never devulged to them, nor was the groat 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 longer disguise the truth that Germany’s naval power had been swept from the high seas. NO MARCH TO LONDON. Despite all the ttlk of the German Press and military party last spring of a drive through to Calais, it wot obvious that the German people had become sceptical, but the national spirit was revived by the groat operations on the Eastern front. It was. nevertheless, realised that the suc-

cesses iu 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 wees. It is my own calculation that 150,000 men were thus shifted Since the set-back of Russia, the stream, a much diminished one, he,' flowed West again. This compulsory shuttlecock movement of Germany’s 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 attaining the ends she so‘ out for. The idea has entirely died out of reaching London. Nobody now discusses it except a few rabid Chauvinists. A frequent forecast I have heard is that “there will be two winners, Germany and Great Britain.” The explanation of this apparent paradox is that Germany will retain the north of France, incorporate Belgim in the German Empire, and make Boland a province of Prussia. A large indemnity is expected from both France and Russia, but nothing is hoped for from Great Britain beyond restoration of the German colonics and the “freedom of the sens,” that great German objective which no German I have met is able to define or explain. HOPE OP ALLIED COLLAPSE. Italy is believed to be fighting only for the Trcntino, and the German public is amiably inclined to 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 hei 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’ travel, that the present heartfelt wish of the, majority of tiGerman, 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 anot-her winter campaign with the greatest reluctance, but the cry is still ‘ 1 Hold on, ’ ’ t-he hope is still that the Allies will collapse before Germany comes to the end of her resources and has shot her last bolt.

The psychology of the modern German has never bo'en tested in defeat. It is my personal belief that should victory turn full tide against his arms there would be a revulsion of feeling culminating in revolution. DWINDLING HATE FOR ENGLAND.

But, despite all these expectations, the Germani people are depressed. Many have 1 admitted to me gjthat, whatever the result of the war, they can never now realise their passionate dream of the destruction of British trade, British sea supremacy, and the British Empire. This unachieved, all other gains will be 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.