WHAT GERMAN PAPERS SAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1918, Page 3

WHAT GERMAN PAPERS SAY.

"AMERICA NOT Ef TILL M 20." Now that the Americans are fajrly in tlic battle, the Cologne Gazette is "real mad" with them. They are, it alleges, being supplied with thousands of shortrange shot-guns. At 50 yards these' guns have *n effective spread of over 12 feet and are moje dangerous than a machine-gun. "We are not surprised at Wilson and Baker," it says, "but that American officers should besmirch their (honor by assisting in guerrilla warfare of this kind can only be explained by the conditions prevailng in the land of freedom. Our men will know whom they have to deal with on the American front; certainly not with honorable soldiers." The Pan - German Deutsche Tagcszeitung accuses Dr. Solf, the German Colonial Secretary, of having inspired an article in the Danish Politiken. in this article it is contended that Belg-ium is, of course, to be exchanged for the German colonies. "So! All the safeguards and guarantees we have heard about are to be swept away by the noise of the campaign in favor of a return of our colonies," says the Pan-German paper. "Colonies without sea-power and a sufficient home basis are mere phantoms. In such circumstances we should be nothing but Great Britain's tenants, subject to ejection at the will of our Anglo-Saxon masters. The article speaks of the right of "unhindered communication" with our colonies. Is this unhindered communication to depend on the Anglo-Saxon Powers, to ,be granted to-day and withdrawn to-mor-row? The only means that Germany has of enforcing free communication with her colonies lie in the control and utilisation of the Flanders coast." German newspapers dated the eve of Ludendorff's offensive betray that the feeling in Germany then was a mixture of depression and impatience. Frantic efforts were being made by the military and other experts to counteract the prevailing mood. .Under the beading "The Saviour America," the military correspondent of the Lokal-Anzefger publishes a column typical of the desperate efforts to cheer the public: "Those [i.e., the Huns who plundered Pekin] who saw the American soldiers during the Boxer rising admired their thin, sinewy figures, but recognised that they were little better than a mediocre militia. As the first three months only brought 400,000 volunteers, the American Army is evidently lacking in one essential, the. will to fight. And such an army is to replace ten million well-equipped Russians with a military tradition behind them. We have seen how, in the case of England, an army with no inherited military instincts cannot, despite individual bravery, produce real soldiers. And England, in comparison with America, had at her disposal a body of well-train-ed non-commissioned officers. Admitting that the American soldier is as good as the English, there are fewer capable men to train him, and the officers are even less experienced than their English eonfrers. In any case, the American Army will not be numerous enough to play an important part till 1020, and then only provided the transport difficulty is got over and the munition industry developed from its present nursery stage. Our submarines will see to the transports,- and America will find it impossible to create a gigantic army at the same time. Ammunition, perhaps; but guns cannot be east in sewing machine factories. At present the American soldiers are without either rifles or artillery."

The Hamburger Nachrichten is wroth with Captain Persius because he prefers English colonising methods to German. In an article entitled "An Agitator fo; NorthelilTc's Propaganda," it pours a w'hole column of satirical criticism on his head, concluding: "Lord Northeliffe, who is trying so hard to spread English propaganda among the Central Powers, will surely rejoice to find a so 'businesslike' involuntary agitator for Ms ideas in Captain Pers'ms." Writing of the battle on 17th July, the Hambirgor Kachrichten said: "We are already entitled to speak of a German victory. With the conquest of the heights in the Champagne, Germany has secured a springboard from which she can take off at any moment. Strong enemy forces are permanently tied tip by this state of affairs, which fact will greatly affect the future developments." The same journal on the eve of Ludendorff's offensive was explaining away the Africans thus: "Doubtless Focli at one time was considering a great strategic offensive, but it is now too late, as he has not the necessary forces. We know, from an absolutely reliable source, that so far not more than . r >oo.000 Americans have come across, and of these only one-third are trained men. All the Anglo-French reserves are exhausted .and" the best troops loug since wiped out." t