SOURCES OF HUN STRENGTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1917, Page 3

SOURCES OF HUN STRENGTH.

NATION HAS CONFIDENCE. Dr. Baumgarten, an eminent theoiosrist of the Kiel University, who gained notoriety early in the war as an exponent of the inapplicability of the principles of the Sermon on the Mount to modern German conditions (says the Daily Chronicle), has been lecturing on the sources of German power in holdk'o •out. There are those, he ssys, who speak of an approaching fourth act of the war drama, but for his part he would not like to commit himself to this view. But, fourth act or first net. Germans will hold out. What are the sources of this power of holding out? First of all there is the truth and transparency of the German cause. Germans have now a clear notion of what is threatening—nothing less than destruction. The Paris Economic Conference acted on the principle that Germany was to be rendered economically impotent, and the German 'Workman will be the first to suffer should this principle be put into action. This is now thoroughly understood in the smallest German cottage, and in consequence the nation is tightening its belt, more than ever determined that the British starvation war will not force them to yield. Another great source of German power in holding out is the confidence of the people in their leaders. It is, of course, not necessary to accept everything without criticism, but in judging the leaders of th'e army and navy criticism is reallv superfluous. Look at Hindenburg. Is it not an act of Divine providence that an actual hero of this character stands at the head of things? The Chancellor, says Baumgarten. is no genius of the Bismarck order. He has constantly committed grave mistakes, and one might well imagine a greater man at the head of affairs. But think of his difficulties. \nd who besides Bcthmann-Hollwcg i could control all the threads m his hand? He is always moderate—"a roJ speetaMe noble, qniefly suffering man. Finallv, according to Professor Baum- • garten, the German nation draws un- • sneakable power for holding out from - the fact that it believes in Providence, m ! God It believes that the moral forces 1 of Germany rest on the belief that God 1 is with the people.