Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-08
M|CHAEL|S FACING
CRISIS WHICH MAY
FORCE RESIGNATION
Reichstag Demand for Peace
Terms Threatens to Over
turn the Government.
GERMANS BEGIN TO SEE
HOPE OF VICTORY FADING
Member of Reichstag Says America
Cannot Be Forced to Yield.
U-Boats Not a Success.

Cannot Be Forced to Yield.
U-Boats Not Success.
External pressure to force the German
government to set forth its war aims
clearly, having failed on the surface, in
ternal conditions within the empire
threaten to compel the issuance of full
statement of Germany's aims. What the
German leaders want, if they are sue
cessful, will be discussed in the reichstag
this week. probably today.
The imperial chancellor. Dr. Michaelis,
is finding the way as difficult as it was
for his predecessor, Won Bethmann Holl-
veg. and he must now face the critics of
the government in the reichstag. Wheth-
er, as has been charged the bureaucracy
and the army have been furthering the
pan-German scheme of annexation and
indemnities, is expected to be brought
out in the reichstag debate.
Helferich Tries and Fails.
DR.. Michaelis Saturday sent Minister
OF the Interior He1nerich before the
reichstag to make a statement on his
behalf. Helnerich failed to mollify the
critical members of the reichstag. and
the sitting was adjourned to today
after the vice chancellor's speech had
been interrupted. Gen. Won stein, the
war minister. was jeered when he at
tempted to explain the army's side of
the accusation that the high command
was using very strong methods to help
the pan-German agitation.
Former Chancellor Won Bethmann
nation. had test of strength with
Admiral Won Tirpitz. the reputed or
ganizer of ruthless submarine warfare,
and the chancellor won. The admiral
since has been busy. and the new
? -Fatherland'' party. of which he is one
reports. has been very active In op-
posing the reichstag majority -declara-
tion for peace without annexations or
indemnities.
the followers of Won Tirpitz and the
pan-Germans on one side and the ma
jorfty of the reichstag on the other.
Recent reports have shown that the
the reichstag majority has been be-
coming more intense. some socialist
members of the reichstag having gone
SO far az to charge that the agitation
% the pan-Germans is dividing the
German people into two camps on the
question of the aims of the war.
May Force Designations.
By tile Associated Press
AMSTERDAM. October S-German
newspapers which support the reichstag 6
majority severely censure DR.. Helfre-
rich, the vice chancellor and minister of
the interior, for his apacity to re-
spond othe feelings Of the reichstag
and expect decisive happenings today
They are OF the opinion that the future
Of the government may depend on the
debate to begin today, in view of the
motion of the independent socialists
that ''the reichstag is of the opinion
Interpolation did not meet the inten-
tions of the reichstag."
The yossische Zeitung declares that
this motion is a vote of censure formal
~ directed against DIR. Michaelis. the
imperial chancellor. but really against
DR.. Helferich-
yorwaerts says that il the motion is
adopted Chancellor Michaelis and his
colleagues must resign or the reichstag
must force them to do so.
Demand Clear Statement.
Other newspapers demand clear
statement from the government on the
jority.
The Cologne Gazette in it's report of
the addEess of DIR. Helferich. repre-
sents him saying:
The question of war aims Will be
discussed in the course of big debate
next week.
German Confidence Waning.
George Gothien, progressive member
of the retchstag, is quoted in a Berlin
dispatch as having said AT meeting of
the central committee of his party that
although the military situation was
satisfactory there was no hope of
crushing Germany's enemies on land.
As for the submarine campaign. seven
million tons of shipping had been sunk.
he asserted. but no disposition toward
peace on the part Of England was dis
cernible A rationing system for food
stuns had not been even introduced and
no one was able to say when the C-boat
would make England more inclined foI,
peace
"Ameriea cannot be forced TO make
peace. Herr Gothien continued I'VE
cannot force America to pay war in
demnity. There remains only England.
But should we. in order TO obtain an in
uciiulty OF loVVVsVuV.OUU marks, SaCri-
fee 10000. 100000 marks and another
half million mem"
Germany's allies, Herr Gothien con-
tinued. were not inclined to continue
the war for pan-German plans of con-
quest, but were striving for peace by
understanding and conciliation, while
the pan-German clamor for annexa-
ations was finding a bad reception
among them.
He asserted that the long working
hours and insufficient feeding at home
increased the desire for peace among
the workers and that strikes might be
expected il the war should be con-
tinued for aims of conquest.
Hold On, Says Hindenburg.
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg. in re.
plying to a congratulatory telegram
from the Catholic Peoples Union OF
Essen. advised a policy of holding or
and waiting as the one for Germany te
pursue, according to a Berlin dispatch
I'VE, too, desire what the Pope de.
sires, namely. the termination of the
war. which was forced upon u.s."
The field marshals telegram read
Our enemies. however, are not will.
ing. Presidents note was not only ar
insult to the German people, but also
an insult to the Pope's good will Oul
enemies. however, will gradually come
to their senses. Therefore we mus,
wait. Let us continue to be victorious
and hold our peace"