GERMAN PSYCHOLOGY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16497, 24 March 1917, Page 6

GERMAN PSYCHOLOGY.

♦ ' . It is now very apparent that . the ' mysterious event for the success of which.special services were held in , German .churches was not a naval enterprise— was supposed in Bri- •; tish countries—but the great 'retire-; ment now in progress. This retirement to other prepared lines is pre- ■ Biimably':/'well understood by ; the > Allied commanders, who could not be ■ i ignorant of; the/ great construction- , work which must have been carried. P I on, although the exact date fixed |i for the movement was unknown to l thorn. The special service pro'.;'gramme was evidently inspired by * r the German professors who claim to I ■ ■ have, reduced " psychology" to a i j science and who are convinced l that " frightfulness" is ' a most . powerful means of terrorising . nations into submission. We do not know the position of the lines upon which the German invaders are b slowly falling back, but even though ; the Somme victory may not redeem . almost the whole of North-eastern } Franco it is a visible admission that I the occupied territories cannot be f held against Allied pressure. The depressing influence of such an adr mission upon the German public, so I long encouraged to hope by the war- - map, is understood to have led to i the rejection of Falkenhayn's retire- , ment scheme of last year. Special f services for the • success of some great manoeuvre by which " the war 1 may be decided" are evidently a " scientific" device by which public - tolerance may be excited on behalf - of a retirement thus favourably int troduced to the German mind. ■ The } difficulties of Germany are exposed 3 to us by this evident need for placating and encouraging a populace which so confidently expected • speedy victory in. August, 1914. 3 =====-