The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-22
TEUTON PRESS
TRIES T0CALM
NATION'SFEARS
News of Big Defeat Spreads
With Rapidity, Causing
Nervousness.
EXCUSES FAIL TO SATISFY
Treachery Attributed to De-
serters Who Gave Informa-
tiOn to Foch.
EXCUSES FAIL TO SATISFY
Special Gable Despatch to THE Sun from fhs
London Times

Special Gable Despatch TO THE Sun from fhs
London Times.
Copyright. 1918; all rights reserved
THE HAGUE, July 21.-The truth is
beginning to break into the minds
even of the Germans, It being impos-
sible longer to disguise the serious
ness of the defeat inflicted by the
Allies upon the German armies. AL
though as usual they find ingenious
explanations wherewith to envelop
the extremely unwelcome realities. the
fact that their armies are back across
the Marne again is more eloquent than
any number of communicates and more
excuses.
Those who followed closely the state
Of public feeling on the occasion Of
former German reverses we'll know
that behind all the German bravado
there exists a nervousness as great II
not greater than that existing in any
other country in times Of national
emergency. There is the best reason
for believing this nervousness was
never so acute as at the present mo-
ment.
Throughout the Rhineland and West
phalia there is anxiety regarding the
situation at the front. In some circles
persistent press attempts to belittle the
Americans have produced the opposite
| effect One local paper refers rather
! obscurely to repetition of earlier mis-
takes. presumably meaning the oon-
| temptuous German references to the
| British army.
Correspondents Are silent.
In the last ten days all correspondence
from men at the front in connection
with the German offensive has ceased
Messages to the front referring to the
distressing conditions at home, espe-
cially to the shortage of bread and fat,
are suppressed. In some cases women
writing letters of complaint have been
punished. Attempts also are made to
| brand the letters by publishing their
names so their neighbors will know
them.
The hospitals and clearing stations
again are crowded, especially in the
neighborhood OF Achen. and the terrible
"Ieichenzaege," train loads OF wounded
again are passing at night over GER.
tain sections of the railway How
ever. every effort is made to maintain
the spirits OF the men going forward
! the trains still are decorated. and the
| old catch words like To Paris" re.
| appear; also new ones, among which
| may be noted the rather odd jokes
"Foch's Reserves and Toward Peace
The compulslon of women has been
extended. In several districts, par
ticularly in Cleves. Essen and Dussel-
dorf, the wives OF soldiers with not
more than two children are forced to
work. while the children are cared for
| temporarily in nurseries For the most
part these women are sent to the mu.
milton factories.
News Spreads Rapidly.
News OF the German retreat spread
| like wildfre throughout the fatherland,
causing the depression that already was
universal to become intensified to a de-
| gree that had been hitherto unreached.
Official excuses for the defeat are being
put forward In the German press the
Berlin National zeftun9 correspondent
writing
THE French assaulted with enormous
nf IL. 4.