The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-07-27
As Seen in Germany
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.

by CAHL w. AChEfMAN.
(United Press STAFF Correspondent)
Berlin, July 27.-The Kaiser will
go down in history as William the
Great, if the events of the first year
of the war appeal as vividly to the
imaginations of future Germans as
they do to the generation that is
living through the present world
conflict.
Friedrich the Great held Europe at
bay, and saved Prussia through seven
years strife, his descendant, who
now holds Hohenzollern throne, has
more than equalled Fredrick's task,
because he had England with
him, and there was t III e n
no United States to fur
nish Germany's enemies with mu-
nitions. Nobody expects the present
conflict to run seven years, but if
the allies can stand a war Of that
duration, so can Germany with the
Kaiser at the head of affairs. When
the war started the Emperor William
had fallen into disfavor with many
of his people for a number of rea-
sons. Some believed he was too auto
cratic, others thought he was too
we'll disposed toward the English,
and others thought he was afraid OF
the military machine Germany had
developed and was too prejudiced m
favor Of peace at any price ever to
permit the machine to test itself.
The early days of the war, when en-
emy after enemy took the field
against Germany, people talked dis
paringly of the Emperor as an in
competent, who had played his cards
badly and had overestimated Ger
many's strength.
But when victories began to be
won, and when the enemy first here
and then there was rolled back the
popular opinion of the Kaiser began
to change. People confessed they
had misjudged him. The bitter
criticism of Germany's enemies di-
rected against the Kaiser, and the
comments of neutral nations, added
to his popularity at home, until now,
the Kaiser is the idol of his nation.
He is regarded as the embodiment
Of German virtues, the representative
of German might and power. The
nation agrees he has not abused the
absolutely autocratic power he has
welded since last August, but has
used his authority to meet every
crisis confronting Germany in man
ner that wins unanimous approval.
If the war ends under conditions
substantially as they are now, Ger
many will have saved herself, and
will have demonstrated her powers
so convncingly that the Kaiser, who
is now responsible for all things in
the empire, must be given the title
of "The Great"
The Kaiser, in particular, has in:
spired the Germans with confidence
in the outcome of the war. His calm
assertions of victory have been fol-
lowed by deeds substantially his
words so often that he is not only
the ruler but also the prophet of his
people. When the war began, few
Germans, deep down in their hearts,
believed that the Teutonic empire
had even fair chance of succeeding
That is why there was so much hys-
terra last August, and why the de-
parting subjects of the enemy powers
were so frequently insulted. That
is why also the Germans lost their
heads in Belgium and adopted sys-
tenn of terrorism. That is why, too,
the hymn of hate directed against
England was so popular.
Contempt Replaces Hate.
Now, however, after a year Of
strife, Germany has recovered the
confidence and believes in the Kaiser.
The fear of last summer has departed
and the Germans are no longer say
ing, "God punish England" Instead
of the former hatred of Finland there
is now developing a curious kind of
contempt, mingled with self-amaze-
ment that the Germans should so
badly have misjudged the English.
Nothing more remarkable has hap
pened in Germany during the past
year than the change of popular opin-
ion concerning England. The might
of the British empire was magnified
quite out of proportion to it's actual
power, the Germans are now saying.
This war was worth the fighting,
so say the Germans, if only because
it has pricked the bubble of British
strength. England will never again
occupy her old place in the world.
The ancient spirit of the English,
which the world has long been ac-
customed to taking at it's own valua-
tion. has been found to be mo longer
existent: England has lost the war
for the allies, in the opinion of Ger
man militarists, and by doing so, has
irreparably stained her own prestige.
What Germany Has Shown.
The past years events, say the