DESPONDENCY IN GERMANY

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144670, 3 May 1915, Page 7

DESPONDENCY IN GERMANY

DEPRESSION AND GLOOAI. All tho available information from German,v (writes the Copenhagen correspondent of the Standard, on March lOi. points to the certain conclusion that the, lack of food in that country is far more serious than has hitherto been admitted in Berlin or believed in Loudon. The passenger traffic between Denmark and Germany is fpiito np to its normal bulk, if not greater than usual, so that daily hundreds of travellers are crossing the Danish-German frontier and effecting in this way an exchange of news and information relating to the war. Danes and other neutral travellers who have been in Germany recently report a very widespread depression of spirits, owing primarily to the shortage), of food supplies, and a very general desire on the part of Germans to hear bows which comes to them without being modified and falsified by their own military censors. It may be safely said that the confident belief formerly held among Germans that their country must win, has been superseded by persistent doubts and fears, which find expression in many different ways. During the last week fourteen mid-dle-class German families have pass d through Copenhagen on their way to South America, tn each rase tho head of the family was an elderly man, too old or feeble to serve in tho army or in any other public rapacity, who had been reduced practically to ruin by the eifocts of the war. Alt were convinced that tho outlook at homo was hopeless, and that conditions after tho war would be even more disastrous than at present.

One of the most frequent causes of disqualification experienced by men registering as recruits for the 'Reinforcements in Wellington is varicose veins. The existence of this ailment, though perhaps not at all troublesome to the man in his ordinary avocation, cannot be passed over by the medical examiners, as experience has taught them that the hard foot-work demanded - of the men whilst undergoing their training in camp is alraosl certain, sooner or Inter, to incapacitate them. Even men accustomed to a fairly strenuous out-door life, but who are affected in a mild way with varicose veins, have had to “knock up” under training through an accentuation of their ailment. In such eases a minor operation might have made them fit to “stand the gaff,” but the neglect to undergo surgical treatment has left them open to a break-down. For the reason stated many men have had to be refused, who are otherwise fine specimens of manhood.