Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-23
BIZ HERBERT COREY


Copyright 1917. by Herbert Corey.)
ID ERN. Switzerland. oct. 17-(By
n mail)-Germany is suffering from
progressive mechanical deteriora-
ton and cumulative human misery. There
IS no actual shortage of material There
will be more food in Germany during the
next twelve months than there was dur
ing the twelve months past. The de-
mands OF the military for men and mu-
nitions will be met. The weakness in
the German war fabric is not one of ma
terial, but OF morale. The Germans have
themselves recognized and labeled It:
1--WE can continue the war;" they say.
while we have he-will-to-endure."
For some weeks past have been try
ing to get at the truth about conditions
in Germany by fishing across the from
tier line from Switzerland. The conclu-
sion have reached may be briefly put in
this fashion:
1t is possible that Germany might
continue the war indefinitely, and yet no
person IN Germany would actually
starve. and no gun would be actually ST.
fenced for want OF shells. 1t is not
possible that any people can continue to
withstand the constant pressure of mis-
cry indefinitely. 1t is not a reflection
upon the high quality OF German cour-
age TO say the day must come when the
Germans must quit.
To attempt 10 say when that day will
come would be to venture into unprofit-
able prophecy. BY reasoning from the
experience of the year just past, how
ever. Il is safe TO suggest that about
June Of 1918 the Germans will be talk
ing peace again. Just now they are con-
sidering terms more than they are
peace. BY that time il is likely they
will be considering peace more than
terms 1t is in June that the pinch Of
hunger is greatest The bitter men,
cries OF winter are still fresh. The meat
ration is at the lowest and the new food
which is depended on % supplement the
usual ration is of watery spring vege-
tables. Last June the spirit in the moral
thermometer of Germany was at its
lowest. 1t is possible 1t will be so again
next June.
In the first sentence Of this article
spoke of the progressive mechanical
deterioration from which Germany is
suffering. Next TO the weakening In
courage, due to an unrelenting pressure
of unhappiness. this may be the most
serious danger to the Teutonic organi-
zation The opening of new territories.
the ruthless stripping of public and
private property, and the combination
of an almost perfect economy and new
made them sure of a supply of raw
materials for an indefinite time to come.
But they have not been able to check
the deterioration of their mechanical
plant. and upon the functioning Of that
plant depends their ability to continue
the war
The railroads are wearing out. The
roadbeds are going to pieces, the en-
gines steam badly. the cars are racked
q Av,an
pairs are made, purely because repairs
are forced, but every day of idleness is
bitterly grudged by the war machine.
a days blockade on a road means
shortage of shells somewhere on the
front, and that shortage is always paid
for in lives The factories are wearing
out Old machines are kept in service
because there is slight chance to get
new machines The trans are wearing
out. so that to get from homes TO work
costs the civilians more time and more
nervous energy. Everything is subor-
dinated to the Unsuitable machine on the
western front The time must come
when the furious haste Of present-day
production must be slackened in order
that the machinery of production be re-
ground and re-trued. Then what will
happen on the western front?
/ am trying to state the truth without
any coloring of eXaggeration or parti-
sanship when I say that under present
conditions. the life OF the civilian resi-
dent of Germany is one of misery rath-
er than of actual suffering. There is
no starvation. Every one gets the num-
Der of calories which the scientists have
figured out will sustain life. But ev>
cry one is hungry all the time, unless
he is a farmer. who dares cheat the gov
eminent agents by hiding pig. or a
rich man who dares cheat by buying II.
There is no nakedness. But Germany
is wearing rags and tatters. because no
new clothes may be bought while the
old clothes hold together. Few will
freeze to death this winter. Still fewer
viii have heat in more than one room
OF their houses under the new regula-
tions
Perhaps the German courage is more
seriously assaulted by the dead. never
ending monotony of misery than by
the privations themselves It is con-
ceivable that one may go hungry and
cold and ragged and ill-shod patiently,
II he is borne up by the certainty of
some relaxation at the end. Payday is
translated into terms OF revelry wher-
ever a working population is confronted
by approximately the same conditions
that the German peOple--they are all
workers now-meet today. But the
Germans cannot procure this release OF
tension for overstrained nerves.
There is plenty of money in circula-
tion. in Germany. The workman is in
many cases getting from three to four
times what he got before the. war. But
there is nothing to spend il on. He is
restricted to three glasses of beer
day, and weak, watery beer that has
little i'm common with the rich German
beverage of three years ago. There was
time when he could glut himself
with goose. but goose is now on the re-
stricted list. He can listen to concerts
or go to the opera. but dry concerts
and opera lack appeal.
In a word, he cannot waste" money
on enioyments He can only work.
save. money. and buy war bonds. Add
TO this dismal outlook, life in cities in
which the streets are empty and in
which every light must go out shortly
after o'clock. Give him for mental