Evening journal., 1918-05-24
Uncle Harry Tells Of Gsrmany's Desperate Plight

Uncle Harry and his little group sat
In a corner OF the piazza, gazing upon
the setting sun. for all the world like
great fiery orange. slowly sinking
behind the western horizon.
For a while they sat in silence. think
ing how beautiful their surroundings
appeared, 5sthed in the mellow, golden
glow OF twilight.
Joe was the first 10 speak. "Uncla
Harry" he said slowly, do you think
that the German soldiers In France
looking at that same setting sun think
the world as beautiful as we dor
Uncle Harry turned 10 him IN sur
prise. why, yes. Joe ] imagine they
do; why do you say that2"
We'll, then" he replied. mustn't il
be horrible for them TO think that II
Is the last setting sun they may see
end why" he continued. his voice
rising in anger. do they allow them
selves 10 be driven Ike sheep against
the Allies lines. only to be slaughtered
by the thousands7"
My boy" said Uncle Harry grsvely,
that is something that is hard for us,
here in America, TO understand. For
years in Germany everyone, from child
hood, has been taught that 10 serve
The nation-the Fatherland-snd the
Kaiser, even TO the point Of giving ones
life, is the supreme and only duty. They
have been told that Germany's enemies
seek her destruction and forced the war
upon her. Believing this. the German
people have undergone four long years
OF untold suffering, and millions Of
their finest young men have died and
suffered upon the battlefield"
But even so, Uncle Harry" said
Jimmy, "is Il wise for the German
generals to sacrifice thousands and
thousands OF their soldiers as they
have done in this late drive on the
Western front?"
That's a good question, Jimmy re-
piled Uncle Harry, "and gives me an
opportunity 10 tell you some things
that you'll be interested 10 hear.
Reasons for Germany's Desperate Effort
The latest German drive in the
West" said Uncle Harry, rs undoubt-
edly the greatest military offensive In
history. Conservative estimates place
the German losses, thus far, st from
10000 20 100000 men And, In answer
20 Jimmy's question, the German hlgh
command would certainly not make
such appalling sacrifices II they did not
think Il was a case Of now or nNer'.' y
And why is Il now or never with
Germany. Uncle Harry" asked Helen.
For many reasous" he replied. Ia
the first place. Notwithstanding their
wonderful capacity for making the
most OF their resources, Germany is
coming face 10 face with serious
shortage Of raw materials. Ine Alliea
nlsn of 'rationing the neutrsls' that !
iold you about the other night, is heip-
ing The Allied blockade TO draw tRe
ring tighter and tighter around uer-
many and cut of sources OF supply
that they have been depending on ID
,he past,
The great supplies Of srain that
Germany expected to INA IN ue
Ukraine district Of Russia have been
found not TO exist.
The submarine campaign, while u
has destroyed vast amounts OF supplies
,er the Allies. has failed to accomplish
ts purpose-that Of starving the Al
les snd preventing troops from reach
ing France. In addition, 1t has made
many bitter enemies for uermsny
lmong the neutrals. Germsny's finan-
cisl condition is such that the nation
Is worse than bankrupt. She is now
paying interest on her loans out OF
further borrowings and will have 10 I
FOLLOW the same policy after peace is
declared. Germany's war debt now
amounts to more than thirty billions
OF dollars and is increasing at the rate
Of ten billions a year Interest on this
debt. II paid in full. would consume
the entire surplus production OF the
German people. A peace secured with !
put lndemnities will almost certainly
nesn complete financial collapse. In