GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1916, Page 5

GERMANY.

SENDING BOYS TO SLAUGHTER.

PESSIMISM SPREADING. Berne, July 12. The calling up of youths of 17 and IS, professedly for training purposes, has caused a panic in Germany. Parents are no longer willing, as inthe delirious days of 1914, to send their sons to daughter. A Swiss doctor, who was recently in Germany, reports that there were numerous eases of drug-taking to produce signs of illness in order to escape service. The recall of Admiral Holtzendorff from the retired list and his appointment as expert advisor to the Admiralty is interpreted in Berlin as a rebuke to the Admirals concerned in the Jutland battle, and, further, as official evidence that the outcome of the battle was not a victory for Germany. Amsterdam, July 12. The obvious attempts of the German military authorities to break the disastrous news gently have led to the rapid spread of pessimism, and many, newspapers are openly discussing the possibilities and effects of a definite military defeat.

Tlie Hamburger Naeliriehten plaintively what will become of Ciermany without a navy, colonies, commerce or indemnities. New York, July 12. The New York Times says that von VViegand has proved himself a faithful reflector of opinion in Germany. His despatch is of unusual interest, inasmuch as it reveals the real condition of Germany. The inescapeable conclusion, unless von Wiegand is mistaken, is that Germany is nearing the end of her resources. The Tribune comments that a recent German army order shows that the German army will soon be rag-pickers, poking bayonets into rubbish in search of paper, cans, rags and bottles. The order suggests that the shortage of war material is serious. * AN AMERICAN'S STORY. CONDITIONS SAID TO BE TERRIBLE. ALLEGED ATTEMPTS ON KAISER'S LIFE. Received July 14, 12.45 a.m. New York, .July 13. Edwaid Johnson, who has retumel to America, says the conditions in Germany are terrible. There are hundreds of thousands of widows in Berlin. There have been two attempts on the Kaiser's Jffe since February. Johnson was imprisoned for twenty-two months, and says he would have been starved to death hut for receiving private sua- —- -