The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-07-21
LUDENDORF MAY
Be DICTATOR OF
GERMAN PEOPLE
If Liberal Group Continues Its
Defiance Nation Will Feel
the Iron Heel.
PRISON FOR FOOD RIOTERS
1875 Persons Sentenced After Rough
Action at DuesseIdorf-Big Labor
Meeting Protests Against
Severity.


Copenhagen, Denmark, July 49,
Reports received from Dusseldorf say
that the state of siege there, the re-
suit of food riots, has been raised
after 1856 persons received sentences
averaging IS months.
At big labor meeting vigorous pro-
tests were made against the severity
Of the sentences of children and MI
nors and guarantees against reduc-
ton of the bead ration were de.
manded
Twelve thousand workmen attended
meeting at Bielefeld, the center of the
Westphalia linen industry, and adopt
ed resolution demanding peace with
out annexation or indemnlties.
Amsterdam, July 19.-Opinion that
Chancellor Michaelis will be succeed
ed by military dictator in Germany
If the liberal coalition continues to
defy the government was strengthened,
If not confirmed, by advices reaching
here today from various sources.
If the kaiser decides upon this dras-
tic move 1t Is believed that the dicta-
torship would be conferred upon either
Field Marshal Won Hlndenburg, the
German chief Of staff, or First Quar-
terfnaster General ludendorf, Won
{ 81 ndenburg's chief aide.
4 .Ihe lsBeshl Element Ii ssle reichstae
Is = tllkfng" and the leaders de
clare they win press their inter-paTty
peace resolution calling for no annex.
atoms and no indemnities as the chief
peace terms.
Germany is literally standing on Tip
toe to hear what policies Doctor Mi
chaelis will announce in the reichstag
tomorrow. 1t is believed here that the
new chancellor will speak in general
terms and will not commit himself to
details.
To Ask Support.
His address, if made as scheduled
likely will follow this line:
First, he will appeal to all factions
to support him, calling upon their
patriotism and reminding them of the
sacrifices being made for the Father
land upon the field of battle. He will
ask for national unity so that reforms,
promised by the kaiser and planned by
the cabinet, can be carried out. He
will demand the passage Of the war
credit so that the government will be
free to prosecute the war with greater
vigor, now that more foemen face the
Fatherland." He will ask for patience
and promise peace terms that will be
satisfactory to all. A promise of re-
form in the international policies will
be given.
If the liberals continue their fight
throw down the gage Of battle to the
junker element and demand an imme-
date declaration of peace terms with
out annexations and indemnities then
the military dictatorship may follow.
That would mark the final struggle be-
tween the forces of autocratic militar-
ism and democracy in Germany and
would unquestionably exert influences
extending farther than the German
borders.
New Man Popular.
Advices from Berlin today said that
the new chancellor seems to be very
popular with both press and public.
the socialist newspaper Voraertz had
this to say:
ut is known of him that he shas a
sure and decisive way Of performing
his tasks. His attitude towards the
great problems of the time is stillsun-
known. Nobody knows as yet how
Michaelis looks upon his new duties.
But at the next session of the reich
stag, which probably will be held
Thursday the new chancellor will
most likely give some explanation on
which the attitude of the social demo-
cratic party toward him will depend.
"For two years Michaelis was the
one person In whom all the fear and
apprehension concerning the bread
supply of the German people were con-
contracted, and In that position even a
war.mad fanatic would have been con-
vertod into an honest friend of peace.
There is no evidence, however, that
Michaelis is such a fanatic. There is
one point upon which we will be thank
full for frank statement from the new
chancellor.
War of Conquest.
"Either we conduct war of con-
quest, or we do not. Either we In
tend to make other countries pay up
mony. even If to accomplish that pur-
nose we have to fight for another ten