DEFEAT REALISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 8

DEFEAT REALISED.

BY THE PRUSSIANS. HOPE FOR PEACE WITHIN A YEAR. London, JTovember 1. That Germany is no longer under delusion about the result of the war and that- twelve months from now is the limit of her endurance, are set fortli as facts by a distinguished neutral who writes from Stockholm about the official attitude on the present position of the war. The writer is resident in Berlin and has been hi Sweden for a few days. "I left Berlin about a week ago," lie says, "and there is 110 mistake about tho position there. It may be taken as quite definite ( that the authorities realise that the war is lost. Two facts stand out clearly to the Germans in power. The fact is that while Germany still retains the power to manufacture at a large and formidable ratcrthe output of the Aliles is now in advance of the German output, and the significance of this is realised.

•'The second point is even more important. It is recognised thrft reserves' of man power are not sufficient to allow Germany to conduct the war to a victorious issue. It is believed that a defensive war can be conducted for a considerable time —but that is ail. The German leaders are tiot blinking the fact that disaster will come upon them if the Allies continue operations at t!ie present pace and intensity. "The offensive 011 the Somme is the crucial thing. They have no illusions about this. They believe they can impede the. Allies and hold them back for a long time, but they realise they cannot do it indefinitely. It is privately acknowledged that sooner or later the Allies must break through. More than this, the Germans have calculated the limit of, time they can effectively withstand the attacks on the Western front. They put that limit at twelve months. Tiie'y know, however, that the Allies mav get through before. "With these facts in mind they have framed their future course of action. They are seeking for a peace which shall not brand them as defeated, and to set it they will make considerable sacrifices. The whole of their new plans will be co-ordinated towards that end. Whatever may be their fears for the future, tliev have still at their commandjvast lighting forces of various kinds, i They are going to use them to bring about this peace which they want so badly. . First of all, they liave made up their minds to smash Houmauia completely, not only for the sake, of the material advantages but also for the moral effect. They are then going to throw discretion to the winds with reference to the submarines and use their undeisea sels to annoy and liurt Great Britain as much as possible. They will be quite careless of the feelings of neutrals. The "enera 1 idea is not to conquer Britain, but by annoyances, losses and perils to increase a desire for peace, which they are sure exists among some sections of the population already, The more hateful the war is made for Britain the more easily will she come into line with regard to peace proposals. And Germany must have peace by a year from now. The latter is not stated in so many words, but that is what the position'comes to. I saw a letter the other day from one of the National Liberals in "the Reichstag in which occurred the words, 'What are we to do to save Germany V "I heard, too, of a remark by Captain iPersius, the well-known writer, who, in referring to the war hardships in certain parts, said it was a terrible thing for a country to desire revohi-:-,ion°and to have the power of making a revolution, but it- was a still more l.ertVtng for the desire to exist with- ' out the power of bringing about the revolution. He- was referring to the present position .in Germany. There can he 110 revolution, because those who might make it arc engaged at the front. There exists, however, among the common people the heali'tiest desire "'V peace. It is realised that this fivih:;: will produce tremendous effects whenevai- the Allies achieve a wholesale military victory."