• Germany To-day
Germany Puts the Clock Back. By Edgar Ansel Mowrer, (John Lane. 7s. 6d.) Ma. EDGAR MOWRER has written, a first-rate account of post-War Germany from the standpoint .of a keen eyed. keen witted, if necessarily hasty, American journalist. Its clever title Cermany Puts the. Clock Back sums up its author's view of what has 'happened in Germany. His book closes with the triumph of General von Schleicher, not of Herr Hitler, but subsequent events will no doubt only confirm Mr. Mowrer's opinion that the world now faces a Germany fundamentally similar, in object and method, to that of 1914. For Mr, Mowrer, as an American Liberal, regards the German Fascists as but a highly coloured version of German reaction in general ; and -the programme of German reaction is sum, maiized for him in the words of a young german author, Hans Schwarz van Berk, as " a coming War* for space and employment. Its preparation must be invisible and it must be started without formalities."
Mr. Mowrer's book has the defect of its qualities. He is too much of a journalist to be willing to tell his story in a logical,. chronological order. His twenty-four chapters jump about from subject to subject in the most bewildering manner. But his point of view is perfectly consistent throughout. He considers that the German Democrats have failed, partly because of the severity of the Treaty obligations imposed on them by the Allies, but principally because of their own weakness.
The German Revolution of November, 1918, was never carried through. Power was given back to the reaction : . " Fritz Ebert, the Baffler 'President, Philipp -Scheidemann, the tailor, Gustav Noske, the carpenter, snatched it. (power) from the street where the Communists were about to seize it—and handed it back 'to the 'astonish'ed 'general's. Through patriotism. Through fear of Communism.. Through abhorrence of disorder, Through the deference obviously owed by the ' lower orders' to their social superiors. Ebert knew his place."
Ever- since that time; Mr. 'Mowrer believes, the old German, or rather. Prussian, caste of feudal nobles and high state officials has been creeping back into power.
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