GERMAN DEMORALISATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 157, 3 July 1917, Page 6

GERMAN DEMORALISATION.

MESSINES SHAKES MORAL. LONDON, June 28. The pessimistic tone of the German Press towards a fourth winter in the trenches again raises the question of how far Germany is feeling ami concealing the effects of war and. exhaustion. Regarding this Mr. Pirrie Robinson ("Times" correspondent), writing on Friday, says that the latest prisoners talk much regarding Germany's growing difficulties, both military and internal. Air. Robinson, while pointing out that there is a wide different between demoralisation and total exhaustion, considers it absolutely certain th-at Germany's military strength is positively and visibly less than before the Somme offensive, while the morale on the Messines front is more shaken by the British victory than by the September victory on the Somme, winch means that before mid-summer we have broken dowu Germany's long winter recuperation. Other correspondents generally agree, with Mr. Robinson's conclusions*, but admit that Germany's military strength is. still considerable. It is even more difficult to gauge Germany's internal condition. The liaytian Minister, Al. Eotichard. who has just arrived in Geneva from Berlin, describes Germany's condition, as " Hungry, but unyielding." There are no signs of revolution, nor is there any anti-dynastic tendency. Al. Kouchard thinks t.liat Germany will find it difficult to hold out for a fourth winter. '.Much, however, depends on the blockade. TOUCHING I-'AITH IN U-BOATS. Australian officers from the front agree that there is some demoralisation in the German army compared with the Somme offensive in lOlti. It is particularly noticeable in the decreased efficiency of the counter-attacks. Cue officer estimates that the loss of 20 or 30 per cent of the attackers is now sufficient to check the most determined counterattacks, compared with 50 or 70 per cent in the first year of the war. German prisoners—officers as well as men of all grades—invariably reveal the most touching belief in the efficacy of the U-boat campaign, which they confidently expect will compel Britain to terminate the war In-fore the end of the summer. Nevertheless, it is significant that the prisoners now do not expect a German victory through the l-iboats, and merely hope to bring about some «ort of peace. An Australian officer thus s-uins up the present situation on the Western front: •'The Gentian moral is still respectable, but is undoubtedly weakening. On the whole the great German fighting machine is not so good as it was, while the Empire's fighting ma-chine is better than ever. Any Empire battalion, no matter where it is from—Rritish, Scotch. Irish, Australian. Canadian, or South African—would beat any given German battalion in a fair fight." THE MESSINES MAMMOTH. It is agreed that the Australian troops were never better, nor more cheerful and confident. They are enjoying the summer weather to the utmost, and are lit lor any amount of hand lighting. Tlicv realise that much bitter lighting is ahead before victory. The Messines mining, whioh the Germans admit was one of the finest pieces of milling in the war. was largely the work of the Australian tunnelling companies. Mr. Robinson states that while digging on the Messines front the troops unearthed a .splendid specimen of mammoth, with the flint instruments. of great antiquity, with which the beast was killed and cut up. This treasure trove is being handled with due scientific care.