The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-25

The BIRMINGHAM AGl
of the most important duties of the
home commands"
l Intentionally extended this patri-
otto instruction to the home territory,
although in other respects l RETAINED
from direct action there. But l could
not sit still and let everything slide
before my very eyes.
/ expected to produce a stimulating
effect. but received not the very slight
est assistance from the civil authSri-
ties. although the imperial chancellor,
DR.. Michaelis. and Secretary of State
Won Kuhlmann recognized that some
sort of machinery bad to be created in
order to raise the national spirit. An
impression prevailed that nothing
should be undertaken which might IN
flame national passions for we had
reached point at which the develop
ment of national feeling was regarded
as a damnable crime. -
HIS PLAN OF OBSTRUCTION"
The war minister agreed to the work
of patriotic. construction being extended
to the domain of TIE detached corps
commanders. In the summer of 1918,
at his request, he was accorded wide
powers in this respect.
AS the first object of instruction
recommended discussion of the causes
of the war, German Is economic de-
velopment and its Importance, the con-
sequences of a lost war, especially for
the German workman, and the neces-
sity for continuing Il struggle unless
we had broken the will of our enemies
and created a safe foun2ation for fur
Their economic development.
| further laid stress on our justlfl-
able hope of final victory, and the need
for leadership and authority on the one
hand and subordinatioS on the other
Consideration of self must be sup
pressed in view of the great common
aim. Strikes endanger the success of
the war. and are paid for by the blood
of the troops. Dreams of peace pro-
long the war and so does discomfort.
Unity at home makes us strong; every
thing else is weakening"
I designated as our object in the
war the safeguarding of our future
and closed with the words: Army and
people must unite in backing up the
leaders of the empire with all their
strength until peace is finally con-
cluded.'
DANGERS OF A LOST WAR"
These instructions were based on
the military situation at the time. They
were the natural countre-measure to
the wretched ideas prevailing at home,
| believed in our final victory. and
feared disaster. I did all / could to
show the people how serious was the
situation without still further depress-
ing them
set great value on the moral factor,
like many others. but among them
were men who designedly under
mined the fighting capacity of the
German people and with it discipline
| in the army. Between these two ex-
tremes stood the great bulk of the
nation, who had no conception of the
spirit of their own people nor of that
of the enemy.
Again and again the war press Of
flee directed the authorities RESPONSE
BILE for tbs work of enlightenment to
describe the dangers of a lost war.
Patriotic instruction was to be kept
away from all party intrigue. In this
I included attack or defense of the
war aims. l tolerated no departure
from this principle. But I had no OBJ
lection to superior officers expressing
their own opinion on war aims to their
men in a calm and objective manner,
provided the latter approached them
on the subject in a spirit of confidence.
1t was bad sign that in October
this subject Of instruction was APP
preached in the Reiehstag solely from
the point of view of narrow party
pOlLlcS, Wntle It's real SlRnlIlCa nee was
misunderstood The regulations for
the instruction were closely exam
ined. and nothing objectionable was
found in them.
I was curious to see whether any de-
mand for government action would be put
forward, or whether it might feel itself
called upon to take up the matter. But
the Reichstag was content merely te
tcriticize; useful work was no part OF its
a n
| to have steered past an obvious reef. But
the public remained ignorant of the dan
gers which enaced IL.
There were still me in Germany who
had correstly gagged the enemy's mind
They desired to strengthen the fighting
spirit and founded the Patriotic Party
CVateriandsparteD, I had no connection
with it. But its work was most welcome
| to me IL the interest of the war; that their
objects went TOO far did not matter. The
storms of wa will see to it that nc
trees grow up the sky.
I began to hope that the patriotic party
would at last achieve some good, hut
my hope was OF short duration, for il
was soon dragged into the orbit of in
ternal politics; well, we were going in for
internal politics instead of war politics
It's name may have been unfortunate. and
various circumsta noes attending its foun-
cause, but is energy was broken by its
opponents and hy the government.
In this Count Hertling not only fol
lowed the lead CT the majority parties: TO
my horror it conceded with his own nri-
waite opinions. Insted of providing allies
for those who were carrying on the war
the government took away those they
had without filling their place itself. Such
was the state of affairs the Lord in
Heaven forsook His German people, be-
cause it had forsaken itself
FOREIGN OFFICE 'INSTRUCTED''
I attached Importance to gaining per-
sonal knowledge Of the working OF pa
triotic instruction. Accordingly arranged
for the propaganda officer at Saarbrucken
to give lecture at Kreuznach of the
same nature as he was delivering in pub
lie The lecturer, Lieutenant Schmetzer,
described the effects of an unsuccessful
war or our working classes most effec-
lively. He showed that they would be de-