FRITZ IN A FUNK.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 6

FRITZ IN A FUNK.

Doubts the " Truth."

IT is very evident that the German people are no> longer believers in local industry and the home-produced article so far as German official "truth" is concerned. Hence the semi-wrathful, semi-pathetic appeal of General von lansingen to the people of Berlin, who are solemnly warned against "doubting the truth" —of the German official bulletin. To give any public expression of doubting "the truth," as it is formally proclaimed by Hun officialdom, will mean fox* Fritz a year's sojourn in gaol. But we may be certain that Fritz will privately be more and more a doubter as the weeks go. by. Xfike "jesting Pilate," of Bacon's famous essay, Fritz may well ask what is truth of the official brand, and will himself supply the answer—& sham, and a fraud.

If the people of Berlin are to be gaoled for doubting the official "truth" how about the Cologne "Zeitung" and othar influential German newspapers which have recently made no bones about accusing the FTigh Command of camouflaging the real state of affairs at the Front. Dislike it as he may, the wrathful Linsingen is destined to find this "silly and treacherous prattle" of discontent and anxiety increase rather than easily stamped out. Lincoln's famous saying about fooling the peoplei applies very closely to the official-made German "truth." Like the "synthetic sausage" and the "acorn coffee," the tea-leaves tobacco and other luxuries with which Fritz has become • acquainted during the war, a very little of the German official "truth" goes a long way with the consumer.