DISCONTENT IN GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1918, Page 6

DISCONTENT IN GERMANY.

A PROFESSOR'S WARNING, PEOPLE N EARING COLLAPSE. Evidence of political and social discontent in Germany is contained in an article in the Lokalanzeiger, by Professor Conrad Bonihak. He indicates that the German people are reaching the limit of mortal endurance. He says:— The private household is a sacred thing, and its damage by authority is justly regarded by everyone concerned as a grave injury. Then there comes iuto existence a state of passive resistance which leaves nothing but bitterness. The German war leaders seem to be under the erroneous impression that this bitterness may readily be overcome. This is proved by the eommandeering of wearing apparel, followed by the "appeal" for linen, an appeal which only thinly veils a threat of confiscation.

Now, on top of this arises the horrible thought of a civilian billeting, by which, on account of the house shortage, every one who has a large house shall take in a family. The soldier quartered in your house is under strong military discipline, but what can one do with a unleted family, wliose children play about all day in the corridors and break everything to pieces, where the man comes home drunk at night and beats his wife?

That is not the worst aspect. Private possessions and life are now left wholly unprotected, by day and night. How do I know what class of person will be thrust into my house? The danger, indeed, is so great that no one can possibly allow this civilian billeting to be enforced. It is an old saying that the bow may not be stretched too far. We a,re already very near the limit, and we cannot go much further without causing grave peril. CAPACITY FOR ENDURANCE STRAINED. The War Clothes Department is now sternly threatening a commandeering of clothes, although a couple of weeks ago it published the assurance that compulsory measures were not under consideration, hut only the "organisation of voluntary gifts." Authority appears to have reckoned on a short public memory and inexhaustible public patience. This capacity for endurance must not be strained too far. It would not have been believed possible that a modern Power should take away from its own subjects the goods and chattels of their houses and their clothes—and, in regard to the latter, to give them to another section of the community, the war workers, who are in many instances better off owing to the war than the people from whom the clothes are taken. As to the commandeering of small metal goods, this is the more inexplicable as the people, had a right to expect that all other measures would be tried before private property was touched. The seizure of metal and clothes is nothing dui camouflage taxation, for the "compensation" paid for articles seized is not proportionate to the eventual cost of replacing Uiem. CAPTURED OFFICER'S DESPONDENCY. The Echo de Paris, vouching for its authenticity, publishes the following account given by a French officer of his conversation with a German oflicer made prisoner in the recent combat. The two officers had been friends before the war. Our losses, said the German, are fearful. My ''ompany has lost SO men out of 105. lam its last officer. I have just returned from the rear, the sight of which is appaling—a hospital built upon a churchward.

Von will keep Pari?, despite our attacks in masses, and we will not obtain nny result. Germany puffers too mueli; she is worn out. If the war does not end soon we shall collapse from onr conquests. AVe must have peace. Everything is being concealed from us. The crews of the submarines no lonfrer go on leave. They would speak, but are not permitted. The Herman people think it is the master of the seas. The Allies Itave pooled their resources. Before the war our industry and commerce owned the world. To-day we have lost it. America crosses the ocean as unmolested as does England the Channel. Our submarines do not stop anything. We should have made haste; the Frenchman must be beaten with one blow. Tie turns 1o profit his defeat, if tlie defeat permits him sufficient time. His morale 2rows stronger than his victor's. We do not know that the French are obstinate, and, fundamentally more disciplined than we. Their tenacity postponed our iionr. Now it ia too late for us.

At present two men copo with one onother —Hiiulenburjr and Foe'h. Tliov will have to measure their strength. He who will strike last will win. There is also Clemenceau, but Clemeneeau and Foch are but one man; they are .worth more to France than a whole army. They tnust be vanquished in good time: if our hour passes they will nave theirs, and that means peace.