HEROES.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2734, 4 June 1915, Page 2

HEROES.

OF THE GERMAN NATION

HINDENBURG AND WIDDIGEN

BY ELEOTBIO TELEGBAPH.—-COPYRIGHT. London Times —Sydney Sun Services,

FEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. (Received June 4, 9 a.m.)

London, June 3

A neutral correspondent writes that the German nation is given over to hero-worship. Next to Iron Cross winners, the portraits of General yon 'Hindenburg and Commander Widdigen (who went down with the U29) are idolised. They were unknown to most of tho people before the war, bnt are now sacred.

Yon Hindenburg stands alone in tho foreground as having saved the country from the Russian danger, which was deemed so imminent that even Berlin trembled. He is commonly caled "Our Hindenburg," and has probably inspired absolute confidence in the military position nowpervading the country. Whenever one analysed tho reasons for this spirit of confidence one always came as a last resort to the name of yon Hindenburg. Legends aro now woven around his person, scores of books describe him, poets sing his praise, aud volumes of anecdotes and sayings of this idol of Germany have been published. Women smother him with letters and presents. In every home there i.s a Hindenburg picture or miniature or statue, which have been sold in" thousands.

The fame hi Widdigcu is of a different quality. He touches tho deep romantic feeling of the Germans more than even the Emdcn's deeds, and ho stands as a'vindication of the German sea power against an overwhelming too and personifies the ruthless warfaro of Britannia.

There is such a subtle change in the position that the Kaiser is now quite in the background compared with Hindenburg and Widdingcn. Yet tho Kaiser was never more popular-. His subjects believe that ho tried "to the last to prevent the Avar. The Crown Prince has faded out of sight as a personage, and interest in his doings has Avaii'xl. He i.s rarely mentioned by the public, and even then stories of all kinds are whispered against him.