Evening journal., 1918-02-07

German troops have their periods o.
inactivity, but German gold and German
propaganda never have.
Indeed, the German autocracy seems
TO set more store by infamy and treach-
cry than by valor IN the field. 10 may
be that this is born Of the fact that
wherever the German troops have been
met with equal numbers and conditions
they have been defeated or fought TO
a stop.
Not that the German soldiers are
lacking in bravery. Tho world has never
seen anything like the calm with which
German troops 10 mass formation,
shoulder 10 shoulder, marched 10 the
mouths Of guns and humiliation.
But individually. the German is not
a good fighter. lie lacks the Initiative OF
the French and British. He does not
distinguish himself when, as sometimes
happens In battle, there Is no one at
hand 90 tell him what 20 do.
A commissioned ofllcer never goes at
the head Of German troops In a trench
attack, as Is the British custom. The
German ofilcer Is always behind, auto
matte IN hand, and the private knows
that death awaits him either way. So
/ he goes forward.
Tricks Of trcachory have found their
way into the German army. When
was in France the Canadian troops
were in a frenzy. They had made az at
tack on the German line a few days
/ before The Germans In the FIRST trench
came running forward, dropping their
guns. and yelled "Kamerad; republic
] Hfsf-. a. L. D tr 20
render and let the Germans pass as
prisoners back 10 the British trenches.
F AS soon as they were behind the light
/ ing the prisoners" took from well
/ filled pockets hand erenades and BE-
GAN A REAR ATTACK on THE AD-
/ VANCING CANADIANS.
The Canadians were 30 bewiidered
that they not only failed TO take the
/ German trenches, but came near los
/ ing their own.
Another trick Of the Germans was
the posting Of plaeards above their
trenches bearing such messages as:
I'VE are Saxon. So are you, why
/ nght?"
I'VE are Socialists. Why nghtl'
why should working men nght?'
At first the Anglo-Saxon troops were
disposed 10 meet the supposed desire
at determination half way.
BUT THEY SOON FOUND THAT IHE
IPLACARDs WE'RE RAISED AT TIE
/ ORDER OF GERMAN OFFICERS, THAI
/ THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO THROW
1 THE BRITISH OFF THEIR GUARD AND
TO MAKE THEM EASY VICTIMS IN AN
/ ATTACK.
We in America think we know some
thing about German intrigue and propa-
eands-hut Won should visit Switzer-
land! That tiny republic Is the Whlrl-
pool Rapids Of European politics.
Undoubtedly Switzerland wants 70
remain neutral. The entente allies are
willing that Il should remain neutral.
But Germany does not want Switzer-
land 10 remain neutral she wants
switzerland on her slde-at least, pas
sivelv on her side. and from one end
10 the other Of the little republic the
snakes Of German intrigue and propa-
ganda are a-crawl.
seventy per cent Of the Swiss popu-
llatlon uses the German language. A
large proportion OF the people are OF
/ German origin. The cities Of Berne, Eur
ich and Basel are flled with native
/ Germans, most Of them naturalized as
swiss. In Basel alone It is estimated
there are 5000 native Germans.
A majority Of the newspapers are
printed In German, and some OF them
are owned in Germany. These keep up
a discreet. but persistent propaganda
calculated to influence the Swiss In the
interest Of Germany.
There are 700 acknowledged attaches
in the German legation at Berne. The
American legation has 20. Twenty IS
suf1cient for the ordinary purpose Of
a legation IN Switzerland what are inc
duties of the $50 surplus in the German
legation
In addition there are thousands Of
German agents not Identified with the
legation. doing their furtive best 10
bring switzerland in on the side Of Ger
many.
Switzerland became rich soil for pro-
German and anti-American seed when
the United States put into effect the