IRON RULE IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 June 1917, Page 4

IRON RULE IN GERMANY.

A series of articles is being contri buted to the London Times by Professor F. S. Delmer, an Australian, formerly professor of English at the Berlin University, who was released from Ruhleben recently. Referring to comments regarding the duration of the war made by Roman Catholic members of the Reichstag, Professor Delmer says:—"Members of Parliament are prvileged, but such statements from the public are treated as treason and heavily punished. Police proclamations offer £l5O reward for the conviction of persons commenting on the duration or the prospects of the war. These and other iron-hand-ed police methods have produced a reign of terror. Nobody is safe in the most confidential of conversations. Nevertheless, in intimate circles the High Command is freely discussed, even the idol Hindenburg is adversely criticsed, though he is still a fetish among the Reventlowites. Officers and soldiers at the front are heartily | sick of the war, particularly on the I West front- Officers frequently head I their letters 'Still alive.' Every German is anxiously asking, 'Wili the j food last?' The authorities reply that I the bread supply is assured till the middle of August. After then luck and management may carry them on to next harvest. The authorities know that the margin is so narrow that a false step may be fatal." Professor Delmer is confident that the hay and grain harvets will be exceptionally poor and six weeks late. Germany's iron motto is: "Soldiers first" '•A-en members of the Reichstag assert that if the worst comes aged people must be allowed tp perish, -