Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-09
only have been done well II the Ger
man soldiers had fought well.
Crisis In German Morale

only have been done well II the Ger
man soldiers had fought well.
Crisis in German Morale
The crisis in German morale does
not show itself either in a feeling
ot revolt against the military chiefs
or hatred against the enemy, but by
fatalistic acceptance of destiny and
the belief that they must still fight
on. The boche does not fight quite
so well. perhaps, but he still fights
formidably. I may say that the best
military opinion of all the Allied
armies support this view.
A large factor in this psychological
situation is the willingness OF the Ger
man soldier to believe whatever he
is told by his chiefs. He is made
that way. When told two months
ago that the Germans were fighting r.
victory drive. that they would soon he
in Paris, and the war soon won, he
believed Il. Now that the Allied armies
have smashed that hope, he has
been told that the German army will
fight and fight backward until II shall
have worn out the Allied armies to n
point where the Germans can have
that implicitly.
HIS dlplIfS W lItt VI Nht
German army. There are exceptions
There nre Prussians who say: We
will win the war or go to hell" They
will probably keep on saying that
until they have achieved their alter.
native to an Allied victory.
Then there are Pres and Alsace-
1.orrainers who do not want to fight
longer for the Kaiser. but they were
never very keen about doing 1t. The
great ma ority OF the German army is
still willing to do what il is told
Our prophets may tell us that this
will change. When II does well and
good. For the present the Allies
must depend upon their own military
power and not upon German detection.
Germans Beginning to Crack
F'issures are beginning to show in
the German army. Perhaps tissures
would be now appearing in the Allied
army were II not for the enormous
support coming SO rapidly from across
the Atlantic. These tissures in the
German force, however, must grow
larger before the Allies can depend
on passive victories.
In considering the conditions of the
kaiser's army a study Of 1000 pTis.
oncrs recently captured is interesting.
The officers may be divided into two
classes--tirst, remaining officers OF the
old regular army and very young OF
fcers, and second those who are really
tired of the war.
The first class are all arrogant and
sure that Germany cannot be mum.
bled. The second class, while tired
oe the war and doubling its outcome
see nothing to do but 10 keep on tight
ing.
They are uneasy. The diminution
of effectives. the wearing down OF
shock troops, the use of very young
recruits and the effect Of America s
| military force-all these things are
worrying them. But while they taLR
ns all sorts OF eventualities. they dc
not talk OF Germany surrendering
| They are quite sure that Germany
| can fight on until favorable peace.
| talked the other day with one OF
| these officers, who before the wal
worked in New York and lived at Bay
Ridge. He said;
Germany cannot aCSteve an over
whelming military victory now that th'
, United States is in the war but we car
/ keep on falling back as far as the Ger
man border. If need be, and in so doine
we will kill 80 many Americans a1t
/ French and English that by the time
! YOU reach the German border yot
will be too worn out and weakened tt
90 further. Then you will make peace.
T have talked with many German
officers lately, and believe that this
man summed up what most of then
would say.