Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-10
.RUMOR AUSTRIA HAS
SPLIT WITH BERLIN
OVER PEACE TERMS
REPORTS FROM GERMANY lNOi-
CATE GREAT INTERNAL UN-
REST AS CRISIS PENOS AND BIG
SHAkE-UP OF RElCHSTAG
THREATENS.

Amsterdam July l0-While the pol
itical crisis in Germany grows more |
acute an attempt is being made TO
patch up temporary coalition in the I
Reichstag in support of the Chancel-
lor. DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg. Des- t
pite the attacks of the Junkers, the
claricals and some of the socialists
the position of the chancellor seemed
stronger today as a result of reports /
that the Kaiser has come TO his aid
and is supporting his peace demands
OF annexation and indemnities
And now another element has en-
tered ito situation already compll-
Gated Ii has grown out of the re-
ports that Dr.. Matthias Erzberger lead
err of the clerical party. who attacked
the chancell0r in a fiery speech on
1 Saturday. had conferred with Emper-
or Charles of Austria before making
/ it.
This has aroused the question:
Has Vienna split with Berlin over
peace terms
While the future of events is still
obscured the air has been greatly
cleared by the Developments OF the
past forty eight hours.
Germany now knows for the first
time that she is really fighting for
material ends. and that if she is vic
torious in the end she will be enrich
ed by new territory and by ndemni-
ties. It is reported that the Kaiser
will demand S., 900, 000,000 if the allies
are beaten,
All Of the details OF the new fam
/ Gus ErZberger speech are not yet
known, but the general lines OF 1t are
indicated in dispatch printed in the
Weser Zeitung, the organ OF the
Great German shipping interests.
This telegram says that admiral Won
Capelle, the German minister of ma
rine, is expected to resign shortly, and
THAI DR. Erzberger's speech is re
sponsble This indicates that the
| Clerical leader was attacking Ger
many's ruthless submarine policy as
we'll as the government. The Junker!
have completed cabinet slate o
their own. They want Field Marsha
Won Hindenburg present chief of staff
az chancellor and admiral Won Til
nt,rt, nf
ness on the high seas, as minister o
maine.
III The atmosphere in Berlin is thicI
with rumors and with questions TIL
Berlin press is commenting with grea
freedom and making widespread pre-
dictions. One of these is that Fiel
Marshal Won Baester, will succeed d.
Won Bethmann-1ollyeg, as chancellor
The Germania, the organ of tn
powerful Centrist Party, in comment
ing upon the political development
says:
The Chancelor's attitude has Gel
III tainly taken the edge off the excessiy
tension to which a certain part of tn
Press is inclined This is especial
| true as regards the conduct of th
| war. which had unfortunately bee
| mixed up within the discussion of oil
u er matters"
N The national liberal organ, the Boo
sen Zeitung, says:
ID @We cannot continue to have int
4 nal political troubles while in fierc
: combat with our powerful enemies 0
al fronts. The Imperial governmel
must be in a position to act wit
freedom.
The Kreuz Zeitung, the organ Of I'll
war party, congratulates the Cha
celor, saying: 1T would be an II
pardonable mistake to offer peat
without demanding annexations al
ndemnities.