SPECTRE IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1916, Page 8

SPECTRE IN GERMANY.

TRUTH DAWNING ON XATIOX.

EBBING HOPE.

Renter's Agency learns from a high diplomatic quarter that telegraphic news lias been received through various channels concerning the position in Germany, which, taking into account the sources of the information and the circumstances of its receipt, places it entirely outside the category of the many stories purporting to emanate from Germany. Although in many respects similar to the report; '.villi which nil are familiar since the beginning of the war. it differs in this, that it comes not merely from individuals who may have been visiting the enemy countries, but from diplomalists who have carefully collected and considered the intelligence before transmilting it to their Governments.

ANXIETY FOR A DECISION,

Another significant feature is that news of a confirmatory character and on precisely the same lines is to hand from places as far apart a s Holland, the United States, Scandinavia and Switzerland. Much of the information is of a confidential character, and cannot be published, but its general tendency is to show that Germany is becoming very disheartened and realises tha necessity for a slashing blow against the Allies, and that at an early date. Notwithstanding apparent victories as shown on the map, the impression is gaining ground that after sixteen months of war the Central Powers are in fact making no real pogress towards a victory. In spite of the attempts of the authorities, this is gradually coming home to the people, cud except, perhaps, .at Berlin, the country is showing rchins of mental and moral fatigue. It is admitted that one of the greatest factors in this situation is the existence of the blockade.

An interesting farf is tli.it Prince Billow, Prince Hatziield, Count Bonnersmark and others who arc not'associated with the extreme military party and consequently were somewhat under a cloud, are all at Lausanne, where they are extremely active, and said to be in communication with the Emneror.

Generally speaking, the Germans recognise that their chance of a successful offensive on the west has gone, but the question of a new od'ciiskve in that quarter is being strongly debated. This part of the theatre of war is looked upon as the scene of the worst antiGerman spirit, and the conclusion is stated'to have been reached that it is best to make a really smashing blow there, This, however, it is felt, cannot be attempted in the form of a general offensive unless a satisfactory result is certain.

THE EASTERX DAXGER. {

The fear of Russia, it is stated, is becoming very great, ' and the Germane arc extremely apprehensive of what is in store for them in the near future, knowing as they do the new strength of the Czar's armies and their strength in the matter of arms and equipment. In the Balkans it is admitted that what has been achieved is in reality not of much value as helping forward a victorious termination of the war for tlie Central Powers. There is, too, a strong and growing party in Germany greatly averse to despatching German troops to other theatres than the eastern and western fronts. There is no objection to sending German officers to Asia, although it is admitted that there is a great shortage of officers, and that those with the ncv classes are very unsatisfactory, but a strong objection exists to proposals to despatch German troops to Asia.

From Sweden, a country well calculated to know the situation in Germany, comes the information that a great change is apparent in those sections of Swedish public opinion which believed in a German victory, and that the financial position in Germany is causing a great diminution in the confidence that formerly existed.

Moreover, it is declared that the Germans are beginning to realise that their attempt to sow discord among the Allies are doomed to failure, and that the determination of the Allied Powers to continue to a victorious end i-; stronger than ever.

At a recruiting meeting held at Akaroa on Wednesday evening, several speakers referred to the fact that at Beach Farm, one of the small bays on Banks Peninsula, every single ablebodied man bad volunteered for tho front.