Omaha daily bee., 1917-02-19
ALL GERMANY IS
UNITED FOR WAR
With Failure of Peace Move,
Powerful Peace Party Gets
Back of Kaiser.
WANTS CONFLICT TO END
prom . staff Correspondent Of the Amer-
can Press Associstiou.)

prom q staff Correspondent Of the Amer-
can Press Associstton.)
Berne, Switzerland Via Paris).
Feb. 18.-Therc is no doubt in the
minds Of Americans who have come
10 Switzerland from Germany since
the severance OF diplomatic relations
between Berlin and Washington that
the German public today presents
solid front. -..-
Any danger OF serious internal dis
turbances, such as has been limited at
in publications outside OF Germany is
regard as being as remote as II was
months ago. Nevertheless, the state
of public opinion has become a press
ing problem, especially during the last
few weeks. NJ
\ What They Find.
From these Americans. some OF
whom have had exceptional oppor-
tunities to study internal conditions
in Germany, the following informa-
ton regarding their expressed views
has been obtained:
THE attitude OF the German people
became more of problem when the
break with America occurred, not be-
cause OF any overwhelming majority
opposed to the break, but because it
followed so closely on the heels OF the
widespread peace talk, coming at a
time when the yearning for cessation
OF hostilities had lately received such
enormous impetus.
The German Pacifists.
There exists in Germany a cynical
though not disloyal, minority, which
frankly believes the peace offer was
not made in the expectation that peace
could be brought about, but for the
purpose of heartening large but only
potentially dangerous stratum OF the
population, which is tired of war This
section has been antagonized by the
unsilencable and uncomfortable Pan
German element, which has clamored
for the annexation Of everything thus
far conquered, or at least for very ma
terial increases in territory Although
naturally unorganized, this stratum
is very extensive. II has taken the at
titude that the war and the causes
thereof are none OF its affair and that
annexation would be of doubtful
value. A majority OF this element is
Indifferent whether Belgium is re-
tanned or returned. II longs with in
creasing anxiety for peace.
Brings Uni6cation.
THE growing opinion that Germany
( cannot hope to obtain all that is de-
sired by the extremists and the pas
sionate desire to have it alf over with
on any reasonable basis and to get the
members OF the families back home,
has brought into being in the last
few months more or less powerful
peace party. The cynics argue that
the government recognizing the ex-
istence Of this faction, decided on a
moderate peace offer, which, II ac-
cepted, would please the peace advo-
Gates, even though not entirely pla-
eating the Pan Germans; while, II re-
jected, the result would be uni6caton
Of the people and obliterstion Of the
chasm between the peace faction and
the Pan-Germans.
Whether the cynics were right or
wrong in regard to the motives OF
the government, the peace move
brought about unihcation to a degree
probably beyond the utmost hoped
for. The German people today are
as united as at no other time since
August, 1914.
Faith in Submarines.
They have the utmost faith that
submarines will force England to its
knees. They are permeated with the
conviction that "unneutral" America
already has done everything possible
to injure Germany, by unofficial aid
to the allies, that il is not to be feared
economically any more than hereto.
fore and that in military sense il
does not count The Germans are
united, from the lowest to the highest
in the belief that the entente allies in.
TEND to dismember their nation anc
consequently are determined to fgh
with the utmost energy and will
every weapon"