MISCALCULATIONS. A GERAMAN CONFESSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3993, 28 July 1915, Page 3

MISCALCULATIONS.

A GERAMAN CONFESSION

It IS not only in England that the prolongation of the war has led to press criticisms of Ministers. dhe usually well-drilled newspapers of •Germany are bitterly disillusioned at finding that the war is not yet over, and vent their disappointment on the Government. A typical, example of the reproaches with which the civilian advices are assailed—the Army and its generals maw nor be criticised nppeared recently in the 1 ‘ Der lag, a paper which began the war with a violent attack of patriotic hysteria. “So many of our calculations have deceived us,” it writes in its new mood of. honorable candor. “We expected that British India would, rise when the first shot was fired in Europe, hut in reality thousands of Indians came to fight with the British against us. We anticipated that, the whole British Umpire would he torn to pieces, hut the colonies appear to he closer than over 'united with the Mother Count! \. We expected a triumphant rebellion in South Africa, yet it turned out nothing but a failure. We expected trouble in Ireland, but instead she sent her best soldiers against us. W o anticipated that the party of ‘peace at any price' would he dominant in England, hut it melted away m the ardor to fight against Germany. Wo reckoned that England was degenerate and incapable of placing any weight in the scale, yet she seems to he our principal enemy. The same has been the case' with Franco and Russia. We thought tliat -France was deplaned and divided, and we find that they aie formidable opponents. We believed that the Russian people wore tar too discontented to fight for the Government, and we made our plans on the supposition of a rapid collapse ot Russia; but instead she mobilised Tier millions quickly and well, and her Propel are full of enthusiasm, and their power is crushing. Those who led us into all these mistakes and miscalculations have laid upon themselves a heavy responsibility. It would, however, be a mistake to infer from this and similar passages that German confidence in the allpowerful Government is seriously shaken. So far. as it is possible to judge from press comments, the piosr tigo of the Government stands higher than it did a few months ago, and the majority of Germans feel as confident as We do of., ultimate vicfcoiy.