The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-12-26


A keen desire TO make something out
Of nothing is another national trait OF
the Germans. If my observation has
been accurate What is commonly re-
ferred to as German thrift is only a
polite name for German stinginesS, and
have seen so many illustrations of
the petty meanneSs Of the Gerz9an peO-
pie that 1t seems idle to specify single
instances.
One of the first Impressions 1 re-
ceived about the German people, when
went to live among them fourteen
years ago, was the lack OF comrade-
ship among them. Glass distinctions
are drawn so fine, and there are so
many gTadatiOns, that II was almost
impossible to find two Germans on the
same social plane. One was always the
others superior. After my fourteen
years experience among these people,
L cannot say that that early impression
has been removed; if Anything, it has
been deepened.
Anyone who has lived in Berlin. and
is familiar with conditions in other
European capitals, will bear me out
that the German policeman is the-most
arrogant police official in the world.
His word is taken in court in prefer
ence TO that OF six civilians, and his
power is such that it might very easily
be used Oppressively; but strangely
enough, despite the cupidity of the
German character, graft and cOrrup-
ton among the German police and
other officials were practically I'M
known before the war.
Such were the people behind the
kaiser when the great war started. 1
shall never forget the sentiments ex-
pressed to me by private individuals
in every walk Of life as the various
phases of the war developed.
No measure that was taken by Ger
many, no matter how atrOciOuS or in
consistent with the worlds idea of
what is permissible in civilized war
fare, ever brought a word of condem-
nation from the German public as a
whole, although, of course, there were
some notable exceptions. The great
majority of Germans who discussed
these matters with me, however, not
only defended everything Germany did.
but complained because more rigorous
measures were not taken.
Merely by way of example, and not
because her suggestion was any worse
than hundreds of others raised by my
German patients, I may mention the
surprising viewpoint expressed by the
Countess Sierstorpff, a relative of Won
Henckel-DOnnerSmar 1t was after
Italy had Joined the allies and when
German resentment against that ma
ton ran very high.
what we should do at the very first
available opportunity" she declared,
sis to destroy every single work of art
in Italy. Not single one OF their
landmarks or art treasures should be
left standing. Then when the war is
over and Italy no longer derives the
enormous revenue she has been col
lecting for years from tourists, she will
be sorry for what she has done to
Germany! 20
Did the German people cOuntenance
the submarine warfare and the slaugh-
ter Of innocent women and children. In
defiance of all rules of international
law and the dictates of common hu-
manity? They had only one criticism
to make of tit was not cOmprehen-
sive enough 1t was absolute folly, IL
not a crime. they said, for Germany
to prescribe safety lanes for neutral
vessels to use. The whole world should
have been declared a war zone. that
death and destruction might be dealt
wherever and whenever the OppOrtun-
ity offered. Every ship that sailed
should be sunk, and every American
who ventured within range of a Ger
man gun, on sea or land. should be
shot. That was the universal senti.
ment.
The suggestion that a continuation
of the submarine warfare would in.
evitably bring America into the wal
did not perturb the people in the
slightest.
How can America do US more harm
than she is now doingY' they asked
american bullets are shooting down
our men, American food is sustaining
our enemies. American dollars are
working against US in every possible
way. Let America come into the wal
and give US a chance to pay her back
for what she has done TO us. She
couldn't harm US any more IL she were
a belligerent. Why allow her TO re
main neutral and go unscathed?"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)