The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-23

felt themselves compelled to I
A German officer told me that he
had a very short interview with an
American who was taken prisoner
either in the British lines or the new
American line, who told him that the
war would not end until they reached
Berlin. He was greatly impressed with
the apparent sincerity behind the
American soldiers bravado. I men
ton this because my officer friends
state of mind represents the temper
of the average German military man.
I observed that in spite of their boast
full statements, the rank and file Of
the soldiers were greatly excited over
Americas possibilities.
Another German officer, a major in
charge of drilling new recruits, sought
me especially to learn from me, for
his own personal satisfaction, if it was
true that America was making serious
efforts to take part in the war. I had
four Berlin newspapers on my table
beside me, and picking one of these
1 called his attention to a certain arti-
che by military writer who made
biIities.
saThose Are Not For U.s."
My visitor pushed the paper aside
brisl1ly with the remarkable statement
that '"Those are not for u.s.
'Then these learned discussions are
intended for the civilians?" I asked
with some pretence of surprise. My
visitor became slightly indignant and
replied: eff these discussions satisfied
me do you think that I would seek
the trouble of visiting you for further
enlightenment?
1 explained to him that had no
infallible method of learning the ex-
tent of Americas sincerity n making
war on the side of Germany's enemies.
told him that my knowledge OF
Americas military activities were &C
quired through my reading various
American newspapers that regularly
reached Zurich.
what is their tone?'' inquired my
visitor impatiently.
I told him that I sincerely believed
that America will make war with all
it's power and that judging from their
newspapers they are making every eff
fort to send 100000 electives tc
France. I was surprised to learn that
my visitor had the most inexhaustible
knowledge of America and it's char
acteristics. I will be violating my
fraternal friends confidence if re-
produce here everything he told me
But I can report this much, that he
| became visibly agitated, and murmur-
ed: '"They have employed deception
even on us!' He meant that the au-
| thorities had even deceived the Of
| fcers.
My visitor friends parting remarks
were these:
1--WE Are Lost"
'tI know America better than you
| if America decides to send to France
100000 electives, they will not stop
at any number. In that case we are
overpowered,-lo
During all my later vis1tations tc
various other centres, military and in
dustrial, I kept in mind this officers
alarming statement, and made many
inquiries, with a view of finding out
other military opinions regarding
Americas strength in making war
| Without even one exception, I found
| every German military man fully
awake to the fact that America has
| the possibilities of making effective
war f'if she wills it, But with very
| few exceptions I found the Germans
military and civilian, under the deep
rooted delusion that the Americans
had entered the war formally" This
impression is so deep-rooted that il
| will take many months before they
become disil1usioned.
Truth About German Strikes.
| On returning to Zurich, friends anG
comrades anxiously inquired Of me
about the recent strike disturbances il
German Industrial centers.
With my own eyes I have witnessed
many of these strikes and have talk
ed with their leaders. 1 have beer
made to believe that there will BIZ
in great German industrial centers
more and still more serious strike riots
but to my sincere conviction the mos
serious Of these strikes will not induce
the authorities to materially chang,
their poncy elmer at nome or towards
other lands.
In the first place the leading tradt
union bodies or the Socialist Part,
has not yet been forced to approve o.
support such strikes. I have investi
gated a great many of these strike
tat took place during my visit t,
Germany, and I sadly confess that ii
every Instance the attitude Of the of
| fetal trade union bodies and the So
| cialist Party towards the movemen
), has been passive. They did not rails
finger to encourage the workers t.
continue in their efforts to cripple Ger
tain war industries. Most of thes
Strikes were simply individual she,