SPECTRE IN GERMANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 10

SPECTRE IN GERMANY.

TRUTH DAWNING ON NATION. EBBING HOPE. / ' Reuter’s Agency learns from a high diplomatic quarter that ' telegraphic news has been received through, various channels concerning the position in Germany, which,, taking into account the sources of the information and the circumstances of its receipt, places it entirely outside the category of the many stories purporting to emanate from Germany. Although in many respects similar to the reports with -which all are. familiar since the beginning of the war, it differs in this, that- it comesc not merely from individuals who nxay have been visiting the enemy countries, but from diplomatists who have carefully collected and considered the intelligence before transmitting it to their Governments.

ANXIETY FOR A DECISION. Another significant feature is that news of a confirmatory character and on precisely the same lines is to band front places as far apart as Holland, the. United States, Scandinavia and Switzerland. Aluch of the information is of a confidential character, and cannot be published', but its general tendency is to show that Germany is becoming" very disheartened and realises the necessity for a shasliing blow against the Allies, and that at an early date. Notwithstanding apparent victories as shown on the map, the impression is gaining ground that after sixteen months of war the Central Powers are in fact making no real progress towards a victory. In spite of the attempts of the authorities, this is gradually coming home to the people, and except, perhaps, in Berlin, the country is showing signs of mental and moral fatigue. It is admitted that one of the greatest factors in this situation is the existence of the blockade.

An interesting fact is that Prince Buiow. Prince Hatzfield', Count Donnersmark and others who are not associated with the extreme military party, and consequently were somewhat under a cloud, are all at Lausanne, where they are extremely active, and said to be in communication with the Emnoror.

Generally speaking, the Germans recognise that their chance of a successful offensive on the west has gone, but the question of a new offensive in that quarter is being strongly debated. This nart of the theatre of war is looked upon as the scene of the worst antiGerman spirit, and the conclusion is stated to have been reached that it is best to make a really splashing blow there. This, however, it is felt, cannot, he attempted* in the form of a general offensive unless a satisfactory result is certain. t «*- THE EASTERN DANGER.

The fear of Russia, it is stated, i.s becoming very great, and the Germans are extremely apprehensive of what is in store for them in the near futureknowing as they do the new strength of the Czar's armies and their strength in the matter of arms and equipment. In the Balkans it is admitted that what has been achieved is in reality nol of much value as helping forward a victorious termination of the war fot the Central Powers. There is. too. i stronjr and growing party in German? greatly averse front despatching German’troops to other theatres than the eastern or western fronts. There is nA objection to sending German officers-ff. Asia, although it is admitted that’ there is a great shortage of officers, and that those with the new classes are very unsatisfactory, but a strong objection exists to proposals to despatch German troops to Asia. From Sweden, a country well calculated to know the situation in Germany. comes the information that a great change is apparent in those seclions of Swedish public opinion which believed in a German victory, and that the financial position in Germany is causing -a great diminution in the confidence that formerly existed. Alert-over, it is declared that the Germans ore beginning to realise that their attempts to show discord among the Allies are doomed* to failure, and that the determination of the Allied Powers to continue to a victorious end is stronger than ever.