The Washington herald., 1915-09-19
POET SAYS war
MAKES new RACE
Sudermann Believes Heroic
Will Hold Sway When
Strife Is Over.
BELIEVES In GERMANY
How to Bring About Better Under
standing Between Americans and
Germans Occupying Mind.
by GUSTAV sCHwEPPENDICH.

bS 6tSTAN - n " EfFEN DfSA.
Special Cab,c 20 The Washington Herald.
Berlin, sept. H.-''A new human race
is being bred" said Herman Sudermann,
the famous German poet and playwright.
when l asked him what effect the wa;
would have on humanity.
The war is changing everything" he
continued. They even want me tn
change my old plays. The other day a
theatrical manager wanted to produce
my Die Ehre.' written some twenty
years ago. He asked me to rewrite the
part of the reserve lieutenant. Our pa
triotic citizens might be offended he
said.
Il apologized for having caricatured n
German lieutenant some twenty years
ego, promised never to do IL again. but
confessed / could not change any part O.:
my old plays for the solemn reason they
had long since become the property Of
the world
Besides, the German lieutenant can
take care of himself. Herr Sudermann is
CONVINCED the war will bring about a
great change in the field of art. especial
~ poetry and drama.
The heroic will come more to the fore
ground he explained. There will be
less aestheticism. which means no reai
loss to mankind"
Writing and Fighting.
The famous poet lives in a beautiful
villa in the midst of the Grunew aid
Some of us are fighting in the trenches.
some at the writing table, he told ne.
But it seems We at the writing tables
rades in the trenches.
Herr Sudermann smiled sadly. strokiny
his beard. He himself was the author OF
a communication addressed to the Amer
lean public some time ago. There is no
doubt about the success of this docu-
mrnt. 1t wasn't a success
How long do you think the war will
LAST l asked him.
We'll. it seems We are finishing Rus
sia now. After we have thrown the Rus
SLAMS back far enough we shall dig
trenches from Riga on the Baltic to the
Rumanian frontier. We can spare 1000.
600 men to keep watch on this line. Then
we shall finish the French, capture Calais
and go for the English.
Speaking about the French" Herr
Sudermann remarked reminiscently, ~
loved them so. Even when war was in
evitable we were determined 1t should be
like crossing swords between two gentle
men. But our hope was shattered
Better Understa ndinR Needed.
What can be done to bring about a
better understanding between the Amer
lean and the German people? Suder-
mann is giving this matter a great deal
of deep thought He wanted the advice
Of Americans on this subject. ExchanS-
ing professors is not enough. he said.
Professors do not come into contact with
enough pcorle.
/ told Herr Sudermann the Germans
needed a good publicity system and big
men who were not afraid of publicity
Government officials who would not Only
talk to the press in confidence. but who
would also permit the press to print
what it knows. The best remedy for
well poisoning
Herr Sudermann wasn't so sure aoo 1T
that. At the same time he told me a
big piece of news as to an entirely new
war weapon and when he told me he
made me promise not to publish a line
about 1t. And then they talk about good
points in reticence TO American newspa-
permen.
You may differ with Herman Suder-
mann. but YOU must honor him as a Een-
tleman and patriotic citizen. He believes
in German success in the mission of the
German race. and whatever the enemy
may say about German ''kultur." he isl
nd Of