New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-25
GERMANS ANXIOUS FOR
NEWS ABOUT ENGLAND
Brief kilograms Published Inadequate to GIVE Picture
of Conditions There-Many Tales OF Alleged
Atrocities Heard in Berlin

Berlin, Oct. 5.-After the westward
rush of American refugees, an Amer
lean coming to Berlin from London Is
an object of curiosity here, and is con-
tinuously besieged with questions as
to conditions in England. from Foreign
Office officials down to walters.
How do the English feel about the
war? What does London look like !
Are they getting nervous about our
Zeppelins are samples of the CUES
tions asked eagerly, for what little
English news is allowed 20 inter
through Copenhagen, Holland, and
Rome in the form Of scrappy kilograms
is Inadequate TO give even a distorted
picture Of conditions in England.
Discretion being the better part OF
even journalistic valor, however, it is
possible to avoid giving information
by the simple eXpedient OF demanding
it-and il is interesting to check up
the number of comfortable decisions,
usually foretold by the press, preva-
lent among the people of both coun-
tries about the other. Thus the mill
tary correspondents and editorial
writer's of the London newspapers
found ground for optimism in the prop
osition that Germany had put her last
available man in the field, that from
now on by the process Of attrition the
German field armies were bound TO
grow weaker and weaker, while Great
Britain, By pouring a continuous stream
of fresh soldiers across the Channel,
soon would be able to kick the balance
in favor of the Allies.
When the Imperial Vice Chancellor
Delbriick said that Germany had at the
present time between 100000 and
5000 900 men in the field he might
have added that there were several
million more in sight. There must be
"A whole army corps CT uniformed
soldiers and officers running around
loose in Berlin alone. The streets were
never so alive with the military even
in times Of peace. Moreover, the cafes
and streets are full Of able-bodled
men, all registered at the nearest po-
lice station, and waiting their call
to colors. All the barracks IN and
around Berlin are said 10 be full OF
Landsturm soldiers getting n ma! pol
ish before being sent off to the front,
while many classes of the Landsturm
have not been called out yet. In spec
ulating on the probable duration OF
the war. therefore, one must take
into account that for many months TO
come Germany will he able TO put a
fresh soldier in the field for every ono
of Kitchener's recruits.
Comfortable Delusion Entertained.
A parallel comfortable delusion is
entertained here. Not only the man
in the street but even the well IN
formed. well educated German, wo-
fully underestimate the human re,
sources Of the British Empire, and
considers the British army as a negli-
gible factor. The fact that Lord
Kitchener hopes TO lick new army
of 10000 into shape in six months IS
well known here, but 1T can't be
done. Absurd! Impossible Is the
verdict of the average German.
where are they going to get the
officers" and "You can't make SOL
der in six months" they say. There
is also an interesting tendency 70
make fun of the fighting value OF the
native Indian troops, whose Landing az
Marseilles received much publicity IN
the German press. or the quality and
potential quantity of Canadian and
Australian contingencies the average
German knows nothing and apparently
cares less.
On the other hand, there is no evil
dence that the rank and file of he
German people underestimate the
magnitude Of the conflict or that they
expect a walkover. Even enthusiasts
and the most optimistic estimate That
the war will last at least six months
longer, while a year would probably
represent the verdict of the thought
full majority.
The sober editorial comment on the
fall of five of the outer Antwerp forts.
that "this is a favorable omen that we
shall ultimately be successful in ac-
complishing the heavy tasks that lie
before u.s." expresses the best public
opinion here.
Won kluck Aided by Bavarians.
While the official news, even Of sue
cesses, is contained in crisp. laconic
dispatches devoid of all picturesque
ness of detail and thoroughly unsatis-
factory to the Anglo-Saxon mind (the
British Press Bureau is prodigal Of
live news and human interest by COM
parson), there is much interesting
gossip, some Of it wearing the ear
mark of authority, TO be snapped up
here. II was learned from two well
informed sources that practically the
entire Bavarian army, under Crown
Prince Ruprecht, had been hurried
from Lorraine to Northern France to
reinforce the German right wing under
Won Kluck, which was threatened by
the wide turning movement of the
Allies. The timely arrival of the B&-
varians thus explains the apparent
sudden check TO the Allies and the
stretching of the battle lines toward
the north.
A German who has many connec-
tons in military circles gave he
writer what purported to be the Gin
side story" of the rapid German adj
vance on Paris, the, to Americans,
mysterious moves of Won Kluck and
Bulow, and then the sudden check and
retreat to the Aisne. Here il is:
"After the victories at Mons and
Chareroi Gems. Won Kluck and Buelow
pressed ahead with all possible speed
and did their best TO force the French
TO fight, but no matter how fast their
troops advanced the enemy seemed 10
90 faster, and Won Kluck and Bulow
never could get TO a fight with them