New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-17
Germany Next"
Is Slogan Among
Capital Officials
Washington Believes Great
est Crisis of War Ha,
Been Passed

He lrNuNe hAIfa'sI
Washington, March l6.-There is
hardly a DOUBT in the mind OF any
American official that the greatest
crisis Of the war was passed when the
Russian government was snatched from
the hands of Germany by the Russians.
The Liberation of Russia from the rule
Of the bureaucrats and pro-Germans
makes the case against Germany in the
war clean-cut, according TO official
opinion.
Germany next" is the slogan that
American officials already arc suggest
ing and would be shouting from the
housetops but for the fact that the
United States is still neutral" Ger
many remains to-day the only auto
cratic power Of the first magnitude in
the world. American officialdom is be-
ginning to perceive the feeling that has
underlain the cry OF the Allies to
Crush Prussia
The German Chancelor's speech
promising equal cooperation in the
administration Of the empire is taken
as a most significant utterance at this
time. In the first place. it was spoken
several days before the news of the
Russian coup trickled through, though
it did not leak out of Germany until
Yesterday. II is obvious TO officials Of
the government that Germany had wind
of the Russian revolution through her
agents, and the Chancellor did not dare
TO let the Russian news reach Germany
before he had promised reforms to the
German people.
"But the German people don't want
equal cooperation. they want complete
control" declared a high government
official to The Tribune tonight. The
revelation Of his name would compro-
mise the neutrality of the United
States, but he reflects the sentiment
that prevails in every department of
the government up to the White House
itself. II is confidently believed that
when the Hohenzollerns follow the Ro-
manoffs' example the war can end any
day.
Complete official information con-
corning the coup d'etat in Petrograd
has not vet been received either by the
State Department or the Russian En-
bassy. From what has been received,
however there Is no room to doubt that
the people have been entirely victorious
and that the meaning of the whole
movement is that Russia will now 60
into the war wholeheartedly, in the
spirit OF France.
Russian officials seemed little wor-
red. They are for the present main
tanning strict neutrality as between the
old government and the new.
The ambassador. George BakhmeteH,
left the city for brief vacation. to
pc gone until the full details have
been received ard no doub. remains as
10 which c.de lie should cspouse.
The United States. as a government.
will have little to do as a result OF the
upset. State Department officials say
the change that has taken place IN
petrograd is 70 greater than that
following the death OF a ruler. The
government itself has not been over
thrown--merely the personnel. There
is no problem Of recognition. but the
American Ambassador, David Il.
Francis, will have 20 be accredited
anew to the new regent.
This Formally, Of course, viii not
be gone through until official notiica-
ton Is received from Petrograd of the
changes. This notification, IL is as
sumed. will come through Ambassador
Bakhmeteff. who will DO instructed 10
report tho abdicaton Of the Car and
the succession Of the regent TO Presi-
dent Wilson. The President will then
accredit Mr.. Francis 10 the regent.