BERLIN'S BLUNDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 10526, 2 December 1916, Page 8

BERLIN'S BLUNDER.

BRITAIN IN EARNEST. I'p to mid July there wae hardly a man in Berlin who believed hi a serious military effort by England. The public firmly though! thai England, lor political reasons, has nover intended to throw her hill military weight into the war. They swallowed what they were told by every newspaper—namely, that France was "bleeding4o death." and that England was deliberately withholding her assistance. The '•reasons" for this wwo advanced, seriously advanced, (.hough they are no! worth stating here. The ! present at titnde ol the German pro])!.' I its exactly as if a new enemy had filtered the field against them. This, again, may ,- 'em incredible, but, equally again, it is ;i naked fact. Their most trusted commentators lia'e talked for months about England's "paper army." The events on the western Iron! have, now shown the German public that the paper army has materialised into a great hoe! ol trained soldier.-, who are driving their own bent troop,- from position., they believed to he impregnable. The result is a manifestatio'i of public dismay that is giving the Govcrnmen he greatest concern. Tremendous efforts are being made through publicity sources to change an atmosphere thai is regarded a* becoming very dangerous, in Berlin they are talking for the first time < f the possibility oi their "iron wall' in the west lining broken. The danger fur the Government that lurks in the spread of tin's belief needs some little explanation. The vast majority of the German people long ago gave up any hope oi conquests and, as far at least aa the middle and working chores are concerned, any desire for anything other than a speedy peace. They have helieved for the last few months in the termination of the war this year on the ground that the Allies would exert their maximum strength in an attempt to break the tines, thai that attempt would Fail, and that they would then he prepared to negotiate a eompromive-peaee. The possibility of the Allies' ofTort succeeding has never bem contemplated—until the "British captured the second-line positions on (lie Somme.