WAR NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1917, Page 8

WAR NOTES.

A TALE OF WOE. GERMANY AS SHE SEES HERSELF,

London, October 18,

An Amsterdam message states that the German newspapers give prominence to a remarkable speech by Herr Gotheim on Saturday, to the executive of tho .Progressive People's party, of which he is the leader. He expressed himself as being highly pessimistic regarding the military situation, despite the official statements.

"There's no hope," he said, "that we shall be able to beat the enemy to his knees on land. The Admiralty prophesied that the English population would be defeated by the submarines by the end of July at the latest; but there is no inclination towards peace yet observable. There is not even any general rationing. It is impossible to say that the submarine campaign will prove effective. The German cry for annexation is being very badly received by our allies, who are disinclined to prolong the Btruggle in order to further German plans of conquest. "At home we have long hours of work and insufficient food in the industrial regions. There is an increasing desire for peace among the middle classes. Labour circles fear 'strikes if the war ■continues for the purposes of aggrandisement.

'•The harvest is suffering from a lack •of manure, and animal and human labor. The shortage of coal' is likely to result in a great stoppage of factories, while a far-reaching reduction of Tailway tramc is inevitable. The supply of raw material for the army is assured, butleather textiles for civilisation is doubtful. The bad food is increasing the death and sickness rates; the birthrate is falling. "It is absurd to hope that indemnities tan be obtained." Herr Ootheim concluded with a vigorous condemnation of the annexation policy. , r