In this war and the last the Germans have a special pride in their fleet, particularly as it is youthful as compared with the British fleet. The (we air forces are of equal age and they expect their air force to be about good as ours; they take victory on land for granted. but victory at sea fires them with pride, for their inferiority complex is assuaged. because they are comparatively new as a naval power. German commentators on the sinking of the Hood were therefore jubilant. calling it a daring and happy enterprise; one said it el hat the whole British navy as out of date. another pointed to our loss of prestige. another drew ty conclusions about German invincibility at sea There was no depth, no height. to which their imagination did not stretch as a result of the sinking of the Hood. But how do you suppose they were affected by the sinking of the Bismarck and by President Roosevelt's speech? The loss of the marck has a special significance. so they in that it is a special cause for pride, for it shows that the British fleet is not at all sure of itself because it sent so many ships to engage a new German battleship and cruiser—as though the Germans. if they had had the chance. would have refrained from sending superior forces against a British battleship. The Germans were at first silent about President Roosevelt's speech, but knowing their. general attitude towards America. as shown in their recent commentaries, we can guess with fair accuracy what they really thought about the speech,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.