New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-01-20
ermany Won't Falter Till Her
VI Territory Is Ravaeed

~ territory Is Kavaged
And how is the war affecting the Ger
man mind, in Mr.. McLaren's opinion?
Here is tho answer:
IF we accept 1T their face value the asser-
tlons OF the German press and the utterances
OF German statesmen, we can only conclude
that at tho beginning Of the fourth year Of
tho war we are confronted by an enemy as
full as ever Of ovcrweening Prussian conf
dence. Press and politician here do not re-
fleet the view Of the more thoughtful Ger
mans, but the Allies will be preparing a cruel
disappointment for themselves If they under
rate the determination Of the German people
or look for n speedy collapse Of German
morale. So long as no German territory is
ravaged Germans will endure severe discom-
FORT and the strain Of war-weariness on the
national temper will not cause 4 complete
moral breakdown"
Speculations about German revolution,
too, are likely to prove disappointing. Of
course,
"For some months there has been q good
deal OF speculation in the English press on
the possibility Of revolution, and on the out
look for responsible parliamentary govern
ment, in Germany. Only q combination OF
military defeat and starvation seems to me
likely to cause violent upheaval that would
affect the foundation Of the political struct-
ure. Every man and woman is so fitted into
the German system that it can collapse only
as whole. Herr Scheidemann, the leader Of
the majority Socialists, whose recent utter
acces have evoked expressions Of strong dis
approval from non-German Socialists every
where, said practically the same thing in
July, 1917: The destruction of the Prussisn
military machine means our destruction as
WE'LL
"The internal condition OF Germany and
the mood Of the people have fog the last
eighteen months been the subject Of rumors
and reports in the English press. Had these
been at all trustworthy Germany should
have collapsed some time ago. The German
press, on the other hand, is assuring the
people that the war is making serious in
roads upon both the material resources and
the morale Of the Allies, and that ruthless
submarine warfare must ultimately bring
Great Britain to her knees"
Erightfulness the German Accepts
1 As Matter of Course
The real feeling of the average man
in Germany toward "frightfulness" is
thus set forth:
"Here, as in all the other factors which
So W IhaNc up NcTWANISNtY WE trace the an
| huence Of the Prussixn system. s'Frightful-
ness Of some kind or other has characterized
the whole history Of the Prussian state, and
it is to-day accepted matter Of course
by the man in the street K,ieg ist krieg
(wsr is wary has been the usual excuse for
the outrages Of the past three years. The
question so often asked In England, Is the
German conscience dead? points to an in
ability to grasp the implications Of that con-
science. Deutschland 0ber Altes has long
been the expression Of the conscience Of
Germany"
Probable political developments after the
war, finally, arc thus referred to;
Assuming that the Prussian military ma
chine is destroyed, one may look for some
developments in the direction of responsible
parliamentary government. An industrislixed
community. although its members may be
educated along very special lines, cannot re-
main forever in the bonds Of semi feudal
Political system But I do not expect the
collapse of Prussian militarism TO destroy
German unity. Such result would not max.
for permanent peace in Europe. For the
Germans, as for every other people, salvation
can come only from within, and they must
! themselves be masters Of their own house."