The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1917-11-14
Associated Press

BERNE, Nov. 14-There has Just
arrived here from Germany natural
lied American, who has lived in Ger
many throughout the war, worked in
German seaport cities, passing Tor or
beng cOnSluered d German subject
mlngllng not only with the common
people, but having occasional access
co TIE councils OF the high.
In his opinion Germany is suffering
acutely now and dissatisfaction and
worse reign in certain strata of her
army and navy. Recent mutlnous up
rlslngs have had to be sCernly repress-
ed and the mutlneers shot. thoughtful
Germany, he thinks, comprising nen
OF the ballln type, is desperately anx-
lous Tor peace and secretly anxious to
end the war before America has been
utterly aIlenated.
This man left Germany early in Oc-
tober, because he had reason to fear
that he was going to be impressed for
military service. The German gov
ernment had refused to recognize the
Validity Of his American naturaliza-
ton since he failed to comply with
the law existing in 1915 ztno did J4at
seek the consent of the German gov
eminent to his step. To get out he
had to induce the Spanish embassy to
bring pI essure to bear on the German
government. On reaching Switzerland
one of his first steps was to seek The
Associated Press correspondent, to
whom he first proved satisfactorily his
American citizenship, then volunteered
such information as he possessed
about Germany as the duty of pa
trIOtlc American citizen.
StIangely Y enough, at the very NOM
ent he was telling his story with de-
tails about mutinies in the German
navy, the German minister of marine,
Admiral Won Capelle, was announcing
the naval mutinies to the Reichstag.
Expects Break by Spring.
The economic situation in Ger
many" he says, ''is Tar worse than
anyone on the outside realizes, is so
critical that / for one look for a break
collapse, next spring or late in the
winter. Nor are the good crops that
one hears boasts about every once
in so often going to change the situa
tion materially.
Throughout the German people
there is what amounts TO a hatred
of America, and this hatred has been
carefully concentrated On President
Wilson because it is easier to hate a
man than nation, espec ally a nation
that is the home Of pretty nearly ev-
eryone's relative.
But the big men Of Germany, the
men who have to look ahead and guide
the empire after the war, do not hate
they need America, and they would
it becomes mutual and the United
States are alienated, perhaps for all
time.
Look To America After War.
''They know that after the war there
is only one country in the world where
they can get the money they shall
need, America, and they are worry
ing plenty nowadays. They, and all
Germany, want increasingly a peace
that shall specify, among other things,
the right to purchase raw as we'll as
finished materials anywhere in the
world on the same terms as any other
nation.
Every indication points to probable
confiscation of property and repudia-
tion of perhaps half the war loan to-
tails after the war. Even the percent
age of property to be confiscated is
being talked Of, and it seems probable
that the governme will take twenty
per cent. of everything.