The sun., 1918-09-11
.BOLSTERING UP THE
NERVES OF GERMANY


and await the devastating effects Of the
submarine war.
THE danger Of our being starved out
Ia removed now for another year In
consequence of fairly good harvest.
The situation indeed Is much more Sc
cure than It was in the autumn OF 1917.
Raw materially questions indeed are
urgent but so far as one can see they
will not in any case have decisive
effect upon the war. So the great ques-
ton at the moment is whether our
morale on the front and In Germany
will remain euch that both In the field
and at home the necessary war work
will continue to be done with the neces-
sary cheerfulness and devotion.
III that il so even pessimist can see
no possible reason to think that our
enemies might yet reach their goal"
Baemeister omits to observe that one
of the main causes for pessimism In
Germany Is the definite military failure
this year OF the Germans after a definite
military success had been promised
which Is apart from the question whether
Germany can succeed in her defence.
He gives an interesting account Of
the bad feeling that is spreading in
Germany because of the food situation,
saying:
easy for the German people In their
night for the maintenance of the neces-
sary morale. England's economic war
has produced conditions in Germany
which are difficult to bear. which can
hardly be borne at all in a state OF de-
preston. Conditions gladly suffered in
the enthusiasm Of a great idea are felt.
without such enthusiasm, to be an in
toleraole burden.
Calls Profiteers "scum."
THE economic organization OF the
German Empire has not been able TO
create the belief in a national necessity.
1t has ma de mistake after mistake and
its conduct has simply attracted the
hatred Of large parts Of the population.
The feelings of the masses are domi-
mated by anger with the food admin
istration. thus the organization has pro-
duced an effect exactly opposite to what
It was hoped to achieve by a so-called
system Of just tribution."
The second German trouble Is Amer
lea. Baemeister denounces the German
press for painting in dark colors the
consequences o. American intervention,
instead Of declaring every day that no.
body can win victory who does not be-
lieve in victory. Thirdly. the German
people are disguised with the protiteers.
THE war has shown u.s." Baemeister
writes. many troubling things. One
can well understand the disgust Of many
German soldiers when they see what
scum the German people contains-the
people whose present and future they
have to defend with the sacrifice of their
best years. even their lives"
Fourthly, German morale Is suffering
because the German Government fails
to meet the enemy arguments. especially
the argument that the German people
are being sacrificed by its rulers and the
Junker military caste.
Always" he continues. I'VE hear the
same enticing refrain. Separate your
selves from your rulers so you can
have the peace for which you yearn.
Meanwhile on our side there Is nothing
but the cry that We are fighting for
our existence and must hold out
This doubtless Is true, but gradually
II has become q mere phrase which no
longer really penetrates our conscious
ness. Is 1t any wonder that the simple
man says to himself. Will the English
and French really slaughter the whole
German people II they get into the coun-
try" Whose existence is really at stake ?
Will they kill me and my family and de-
{
perhaps only the existence OF the rich
and ruling classes that is at stake?
"Are we not perhaps giving our lives
only for the capitalism which now es-
pecally is enjoying such wild orgies
Is it not war only of the ruling
classes?"
Baemeister says these Views find a
lively echo in the country, and he adds
The simple man asks himself why
| the great ones do not come to a sensible
understanding. INSCRIPTIONS agitators
tell him that these great ones care little
for the lives of small people. so in the
and everybody who insists on the i'm
possibility of the understanding Is re-
garded as a cold hearted war agitator."
! Baemelster wants the whole German
| people to be taught that defeat would
, mean slavery and that none will be
+ spared-not even those whose blood
! mixture enables them to think and fee
in French or English instead Of in Ger,
! man"