THE GERMAN PRISONERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14049, 20 July 1916, Page 3

THE GERMAN PRISONERS.

REMARKABLE IGNORANCE OF THE POSITION. ALL SHOW CRAVING FOR PEACE. AMAZED AT KITCHENER'S FINE ARMY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 10. Mr. Philip Gibbs, the war correspondent, writes: — On questioning prisoners to ascertain the German viewpoint of our attack and Germany's prospects, it is difficult to obtain a real indication of the spirit of the German, people. Many of the prisoners are still dazed. Some are proud and sullen; others are ready to talk, but are ignorant of anything outside their dug-outs. All show 'a great craving for peace and to see their '.wives and children. The prevailing thought reveals itself frequently — that they fight in obedience to higher powers and cannot help them selves. A doctor said : "You are strong and we are strong, and neither can crush the other. If the war. continues, it will be Europe's suicide." Many said they had been promised that the war would end in August or September. The soldiers believed they were winning, and were confident in the strength of their lines on the West front. They did not believe that defences lik» those of Fricourt and Mont Auban woul.J ever be broken. They always speak of our artillery with terror. Onr new power amazed them, and the officers especially admit tlip,t they did not imagine £ amateuv gunners," as they call the British, coull achieve such results. They, have always had great respect for our infantry's courage, but they count the strength o. armies by their strength in guns, and they knew until recent days that thev possessed the greater power. The possibility, of defeat is not mentioned, and airfare still convinced thei'army will never 'be beaten to the point of surrender. ' They now know that the English ar? stronger than they anticipated. They talk of another inevitable AngloGerman war years hence. They have been taught that the British throughout were the aggressors and that Germany will seek revenge. Many frankly express hatred of the war, as being the cause of horrors and suffering beyond a man's strength to 6ear. They talk like men under an evil spell placed on them by unknown and uncontrollable powers. The ignorance of most of the prisoners is remarkable, yet they mostly conceal the fact. They have been kept unaware |of Germany's series of defeats. They I stoutly deny that th© people are Buffer ing hunger in Germany.