HUNS’ TALK EIGHT MONTHS AGO

Taihape Daily Times, 24 December 1918, Page 5

HUNS’ TALK EIGHT MONTHS AGO

The Huns’ views on the war situation in general have experienced a rvolutionary and chastened alteration in the last few months. At the end of March and beginning of April, 1918 — when “the Kaiser battle” was supposedly in victorious progress —1 have disinterred the following tell-tale auctions says Mr T. M. Wile, in the Daily Mail; From the manifesto of the “Independent Committee for a German Peace” (March 26): “Our gigantic successes in the East and cur strong position in the West and at sea justify us in hoping that they will be manfully exploited in the directions of securing from our enemies an indemnity commensurate with the blood sacrifices imposed upon us —such an indemnity as will preserve aur nation from economic collapse.” From a War Loan advertisement (March 28): “ r rhe ring of our enemies is smashed. Russia’s gigantic power has definitely succumbed to the German sword. Our rear is free! The final act of the titanic struggle draws near. In fullest confidence we await its outcome. The crest will be gained. The golden sun of victory and peace will smile upon us.” p rom the Frankfort Gazette (April 8J: “If to-day the cannon thunder of the great offensive battle of the Germans echoing in Paris brings tidings of German victory over two English armies; if the capital of Fra'nce itself is under the fire of our newest artillery marvel and the hail of German aeroplanes; if, finally, the enemy in London sees the front established and built up by years of work—sees whole armies of Great Britain reel before the mighty storm -of Hindenburg and Ludeudorff, pees them, indeed, smashed amid streams of English blood and the ruins of devastated French provinces; 'f thus the terrors erf the war have come again to millions of poople ? then the nations fighting against us must remember those days when the rulers of England and France rejected with gruff words the hand of peace and understanding which was offered them.” The times have changed in Germany.