Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-01
GERMAN PE0PL PLE
FESTIVE UNDER
SETBACKS IN WAR
Plenty of Signs Populace Is
Losing Confidence in
Armies.
MANY ARE LISTENING
TO MEN URGING PEACE
Hammer No Longer Used to Drive
Nails in Hindenburg
Statue.

Statue.
Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
AMSTERDAM, Holland, August 31.-
Public opinion in Germany is getting
restive because Of the allies increas-
ing successes.
There are plenty of signs that Ger
many is rapidly losing confidence as
she sees her armies hurled from their
former apparently impregnable posi-
tions and as the casualty lists increase
to disastrous proportions.
Pan-German Organs Shame.
The pan-German organs seem to
think it to be their duty to shame the
German slackers and publish fiery
articles under such headlines as Let
Us Thrash Our Enemies" and Are
We Downhearted? No" The Cologne
Gazette says that the judgment of
future generations will condemn the
country's faint-hearted sons.
What" it asks, will they say
when they are told that we fought
bravely and suffered hunger pluckily
for years only to accept defeat in the
end: They will say that Germany
was a figure made of clay. that we
seemed to be strong people. but in
reality were small and weak"
Warn of Slavery.
Other papers remind the Germans
by the entente if they lose the war"
Yet in spite Of all this forcible feed-
ing of heroism Germany is SO deep
ly detected that it is questionable
whether a sudden military victory
of time. Hindenburg and Ludendorn
also understand that their personal
popularity is being damaged. and are
sending their aids over the empire
on the situation which they say is
really very good" and to deliver
similar cheerful MESA ses.
According to the Rheinische' Vest
phaelische Zeitung curious incl
dent occurred in Breslau, where one
of Ludendorff's right-nand men had
been engaged in explaining the situa-
ton in the most roseate colors.
How many Americans are in
France?" some one in the audience
asked as the speaker. Capt. thinner
mann, paused. Amid icy silence the
annoyed smile:
Annoyed, But Answers.
There are 400, 900 Americans on the
front lines and 100000 others in the
rear
The officer was subjected to hail OF
questions and he had to give other
Explanations" to the exasperated
assembly.
landed in Europe in spite of our
U-boats.' he said, 'is easy to detect.
America uses only very small ships
to bring them over here"
This statement was greeted with
murmurs in the audience.
What about the Eater1and, the
greatest ship in the world:" some
one asked.
And small ships have always been
poor targets for the torpedoes of the
submarines" continued the captain.
Then the Americans on the trans
ports are protected by three power
full fleets, which makes submarine at
tacks most dif1iclt.
"New Method" to Beat Tanks.
Some one else in the audience ask
ed whether Germany had enough
tanks % outdo the allies tank
equipment. Capt. Zimmerman answer
ed evasively:
we have found a new method to
deal with the tanks. We have already
smashed or blown up 500 American
machines of this kind
The people. however, did not seem
to be convinced.
Wat is going on in Breslau appar-
emily is being repeated all over the
empire wherever the general stafFs
"chloroforming" process is being at
tempted.
Spanish Ultimatum Disturbs.
Public opinion is also uneasy on ac-
count of the war in which the govern
ment is treating the Spanish ultima
tum, clear thinking people seeing in
of weakness. Not only do the news
papers urge the government to con-
slider the Spanish demands in the most
friendly spirit. but even the super
done to keep Spain out Of the war,
cost what it may.
1t is realized that shohld Spain side
suit in the other seafaring neutral ma
tions of Europe sooner or later getting
into line with the entente. Germany.
it is felt, cannot now afford to meet
the Quadruple threat OF DuCCn, DANISH,
Norwegian and Swedish armies on her
northern and northwestern frontiers.
Claims Right to Sink.
Capt. Won Kuehlwetter. the Cologne
Gazette's naval expert. explains to the
readers of that paper that Germany
has a perfect right to sink Spanish
ships. painful as it it to German
hearts," as long as the entente block
AIDES Germany. Yet he admits that
the question ought to be judged not
merely from the standpoint of right,
but rather from that of expediency,
and expediency makes it obligatory for
Germany to prevent Spain froW getting
into war.
War correspondents at the German