Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-12-19
LIFE IN GERMANY. SOLDIERS BUY BONDS
CLARENCE E. METCALF TELLS OF
CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL EN-
PIRE, AT PRESENT TIME

Every newspaper office, hotel and
cafe in Berlin has a map showing the
extent of the present German boun-
daries They reach from Riga on the
north to Asia Minor on the south; from
little Russia to Belgian coast. German
people believe they have already won
the war; it is only a question with
them of keeping what they have"
Thus Clarence 2. Metcalf of Platte
vile, recently returned from Ger
many where he has lived for the last
eighteen years, characterized the SEN
timent among the German people at
present. Mr.. Metcalf addressed 1000
people at the ring Sunday night. The
meeting was the first gun in the Red
Cross campaign ending Christmas
evening.
The stories Of food cards, clothing,
rations, lack Of leather, rubber, cop
per, canned goods, meats, grains and
other necessities are true. The Ger
man people hold on though for they
believe what their authorities tell
them and that is that the war is won
If they have the will to endure"
Mr.. Metcalf reviewed the events
leading up to the conflict and placed
the blame solely on the kaiser's
shoulders. Emperor William precipi-
tated the war and forced the issue
when the Serbian affair seemed to be
settled. Mr. Metcalf produced Ger
man war" bank note issued August
5, 1914. The engraving and other work
made the preparation an impOssibility
in a few days time unless it was pre-
pared before hand. Every soldier in
the German army had complete new
equipment down to the last button
when mobilization took place in Aug
ust 1914 This evidenced Germany's
preparation for Der tag" The Kiel
ship canal was completed in June of
that year and the Heligoland forti-
tications made ready about the same
time. These and many other things
proved conclusively to Mr. Metcalf
that Germany was ready to strike the
blow
The hausfraus of Germany have
been forced to give up their copper
and brass cooking utensils and the
churches have been stripped Of their
metal roofs and bells. Metal is gath
cred from every quarter and shipped
to the munition factories. The civil
population Of Germany is hungry, very
hungry, and cold. It believed in 1915
that peace would surely come by
Christmas Of that year. 1t still believes
peace to be in the Offing
Thousands of German boys have lost
their lives but the real facts are kept
from the people by the authorities.
Only occasionally does something
trickle in.
Mr.. Metcalf's talk lasted two hours
and proved highly interesting to the
many present. At its conclusion a
generous collection was taken for the
expense of the meeting and the Red
Cross. Contributions to the Red Cross
were received and this marked the be-
ginning Of house to house canvas for
the seven days. 100000 members
are wanted in the country.
AS a bit of friendly criticism it
might be said that Mr.. Metcalf would
do we'll to completely forget any set
speech and oratorical style and talk
simply and straight from the Shout
der What he has to say is extremely
interesting and worth hearing. His
audience plainly grew more interested
when he forgot to be an orator and
told in his own way just what he had
seen and heard in the great Central
Empire.