Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-09-14
British Observer Saws Peoples
Faith III the Cause Strong
as Ever.
HATE FOR BRITAIN GROWS
Peace Desired, But 1t Must Be on
Terms Dictated by Teutons-Con.
fidence In Official Management
Is Still Absolute.

tion of Germany from an unimpeach-
able source" The article is based on
the experience of an observer who re-
Gently reached Switzerland after hnv-
ing lived in Germany and enjoyed spe-
cial facilities for observation from the
beginning of the war. He says:
'The press of German Switzerland.
from which my first impressions of the
outer world were derived certainly
tells the impartial truth In sufficient
degree to save its readers from shar-
ing German illusions. What more can
be asked of neutral press?
Scarcely less astonishing than the
discovery that the position of the allies
is not what Germans believe 1t to be
is the mistaken conception prevalent In
some allied countries of the real cOndi-
ton of Germany and of the state OF
mind of the German people.
UNLESS | am entirely miStaken-and
my experience of life in Germany has
been continuouS-nO essential change
in public feeling has taken place
among the German masses since the
beginning Of the war; or, If there has
been Il change it has not been in the di-
rection of discouragcment. The utmost
which ordinary Germans can be got
TO say is that 1T is high time that peace
were made but they mean, of course.
a German peace, one which shall con-
soidate and correspond to German vic
tories. They not only feel that they
are victorious. but they are firmly per-
Suaded that they cannot be beaten.
Conscience Is Easy.
at must not be supposed that the
German people have an uneasy con-
science. The imperial chancellor's
declaration to the reichstag at the be-
ginning of the war that Germany was
doing wrong in invading Belgium was
never taken as confession of guilt.
His phrase that necessity knows no
law meant and still means to Ger
mans that Germany found herself in a
condition of what is called Notwehr-
that is to say, of legitimate self-de-
tense.
Surrounded by ring of jealous
enemies who had conspired to assail
and crush her, they claimed that her
only chance was in breaking through
the ring by all possible means and of
'vindicating by the sword her right to
free existence
AT first it was thought that the war
would be short and triumphant. Con-
fidence in the army and in its chiefs
was boundlcSS Illustrated papers rep
resented the spirit of Bismarck as
brooding over Paris and pointing the
way to a repetition of the mighty deeds
of 1870 and 1871. The battle of the
Marine was taken as proof that the
task might be longer and harder than
had at first been supposed, but all
talk of a German reverse was checked
by the explanation that, on the Marine,
the German armies had merely stayed
their advance for time, in order to
take up positions carefully selected Is
years earlier by the foresight of the
German staff.
AS time went on the conviction grew
and deepened that Germany was fight
ing for her very existence. Though
obliged by the necessities of the stu
alton to attack, the view constantly in.
culcatcd upon the people was that Ger.
many was and is on the defensive.
"Gradually the bitterness Of feeling
toward England increased. IT is now
intense. The Germans had been hope
full that in the event of European
war, England would at least be neu-
trail. Some even dreamed that England
might be on their side. They never
imagined that she would declare war
upon them.
Only Thorough Defeat Will Do.
"Now nothing short of thorough mil
itary defeat will convince the German
neople that they can be beaten. Other
wise there will be no peace except on
Germany's own terms. The people are
prepared to suffer, much as they may
dislike the inconvenience to which the
war has put them. This is particularly
true of states like Bavaria, where !
spent some time before leaving the
country.
'If the Bavarians could be given a
smashing blow there might be rapid
end of the war, but they are now as
persuaded as they were at the begin
ming that their generals and their SOL
diers cannot be defeated. Even PruS-
sian defeat would not make much I'M
preston in Bavaria unless the Bavari-
an armies were defeated at the same
time.
popular confidence in official man
agement and in the official accounts of
things is still absolute"