Imperial Valley press., 1916-09-05
CLASS
CURSES WAR

TlnE OF tne war, undergone tne serious
change which the numerous reports re-
ceived these last months would lead
cne to believe? Judging from here, !
think this may be affirmed. Neutral
Switzerland, in the midst of the bel
ligerents, constitutes an excellent OBJ
81 strvatory for an impartial examina-
ition.
The most varied reports arrive here
each day, which in contradicting one
!nnother, complete one another. From
comment in foreign press accounts of
travellers coming from the countries at
war; information obtained from in
termed prisoners, and even citizens of
the belligerent states, it is possible to
form fairly correct opinion of the
present situation of the country. And
when a writer does not live in the
country he writes about he may ex-
i rress himself without restraint.
The reports received here regard
ing Germany are particularly numer-
ous. They are far from being in ac-
,ccrd, but with little discernment
and much patient attention, it is pos
sible to find the truth under its varie-
gated covering.
1t is certain that on the eve Of the
third year Of war, the great majority
Of the German people still believe in
final victory; they have absolute faith
iin the science Of their military chiefs
and the courage of their soldiers.
Their faith, it is true, is attenuated
by their ever-growing surprise at the
duration and difficulties Of the war.
Lulled by the official communicates
ard the comments Of the press, which
speaks solely Of success, the German
no ton never doubted that its suffer-
irg was merely the price it had to
ray for final victory.
Suddenly the offensive Of the allies,
conducted with surprising method, as
surance and calm, has revealed to
them the great reality, that which all
INho nave mad the privilege of trav-
cling through France during the war
lave been able to verify. t,-.
This reality reveals the allies master
Of themselves, in possession of formid-
,ahle resources, free TO draw on them
almost indefinitely. and led on by a
resolution that nothing can shake.
The German nation today perceives
that the French are not the same peo-
pie who, they were told, were exhaust
ed at Verdun. ...e. 80
The British are in better form than
ever and before their number the ad-
versary asks himself anxiously if, by
iwaging war on espionage, they have
mot succeeded in concealing a great
part Of their troops and if it is not a
veritabls tide that is advancing slowly
in the direction of Germany's frontiers.
Certain German papers mention the
possibility of Germany's frontiers be-
ing threatened. At the same time, the
people perceive the imposing character
assumed by the Russian offensive,
which they thought they could neglect.
On all sides of the empire the belt
jgrows tighter. A
That which particularly surprises
Germany is the rapidity with which
the allies have succeeded in organizing
themselves; in two years they have
done what Germany took 43 years to
accomplish. The Germans do not
seem to realize that their adversaries,
i'm the course Of these two years Of
war, have learned to be patient and
trey still hope that the allies will be
the first to tire of the conflict.
The Socialist minority, the party of
liasse and Ledebour, has published a
manifesto which has. been distributed
throughout the empire, despite the ef-
fc,ts Of the authorities This mani
festo depicts Germany's economic sit
,.ation as lamentable and ends with
the cry. "DoWn with war!"
The condemnation Of Liebknecht has
caused bitter resentment among GER
tain Socialist groups, who have great
respect for him. Protests accom-
rsnied by riots. have already been
raade on that account. A Swiss return
ing from Berlin says that it is not
unusual to hear men denounce the
war in Inter den Linden and in the
Friedrichstrasse.