The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-08-29
GERMAN CRISIS
IF ALLIES GAIN
British Official Predicts Politi-
cal Upheaval Will Follow
Big Allied Advance.

Special Gable Despofch TO TUE sux.
LONDON. Aug. 2s.-''1f we can gain a
big and important military victory this
autumn 1t promptly will precipitate a
serious political crisis in Germany"
nigh British official told the correspond
ent for THE SUN to-day. Germany is
nearing the exhaustion Of her man power.
as shown from the fact that a great
number Of the prisoners now being cap
tursd are under IL l-2 years old. 1
personally have received a letter from
a German boy Of this age who said that
he was called last spring. but exempted
then because the medical examiners
found he was growing too fast and was
not strong enough for service. Other
wise he would have been taken then, in
dicating that the Germans months ago
were taktng all the boys OF II who
possibly could be useful at the front,
Conditions latterly are more serious than
they were then"
Germany Sealing Frontiers.
That German authorities are greatly
concerned over internal conditions Is
shown in the recent tightening of the
for Germans to get permission TO enter
adjacent States or for citizens OF neutral
states to pass into Germany. During
the first year Of the war 200 Germans
arrived daily in Denmark now four ar
rive daily
1t recently was reported, according to
Copenhagen. that Germany Is to be
hermetically sealed. This is attributed
to the determination to prevent unto
ward news OF uprisings from reaching
the outside world.
German concern TO keep news from
the Allies Is shown in the announcement
that German superintendents have been
placed in complete charge OF operation
Of the railroad between Berlin and
Constantinople. German guards even
are placed at all stations en- route This
and other demonstrations Of German
miSgivings are causing intense concern
In Turkey.
Turkey has heard that Germany and
Austria have decided to abandon her
when the-peSrs -ronfcrtxc9 meets and to
permit the Allies to partition the Turk
ish raiment among themselves as the
price OF immunity for Turkeys allies.
Consta ntinople Is convinced this is true
because Austria and Germany are be-
lieved to have inspired the Pope's note.
which suggests an autonomous Armenia
and ignores Syria and Mesopotamia, in
dicating that Turkey will be cast to the
allied wolves.
May Force Naval Battle.
Thus, while German effort through the
Vatican failed to DIVIDE Germany's enc
mics. there Is grave suspicion that II
will develop the implacable suspicion OF
Turkey. which never has been confident
OF German loyalty.
The failure OF submarine warfare and
the ominous tendencies of military oper-
atoms are causing increasing agitation
for the German high seas fleet to go out
In an effort TO force conclusion The
fact that 1t was promised that the t-boat
warfare would win in July and that IL
now IL the latter part Of August is cause
OF increasing dissatisfaction, As re-
suit British warships Of all sorts are
on the Qui vive for an engagement at
any time.
In Germany party warfare rapidly Is
becoming menace to the Michaelis
regime Chancellor Michaelis's pre-
tence Of making a concession to the
Reichstag by establishing committee
Of fifteen to confer with the Government
on foreign affairs turns out. on exami-
nation, to be a thoroughly undemocratic
and reactionary move.
Chancellor COntrOls Majority.
The new committee includes seven
members Of the Bundesrat. or Federal
Council, absolutely controlled by the
Chancellor. Besides these the repre-
sentatives OF the Right and Centre par
ties are almost certainly pro-Govern-
ment while the Chancellor himself is a
/ member. Thus the new committee
practically is certain 10 count eleven ah-
solutely ro-Government and only four
possibly anti-Government members,
This body Is not allowed to give pub
/ licity to its proceedings, even in party
| parliamentary conferences. Its estab-
iishment really means the taking away
| Of a shadowy authority which had been
vested In the Rechstag Main Committee
! without giving II TO new committee.
| thus leaving the Government freer than
/ ever TO follow its own course regardless
of the Reichstag.
| Whether the mass OF the German peo-
ple or even the politicians recognized
| that they were being humbugged is un-
certain, but specialists In German affairs
believe that In the present ferment this
shortly will be realized.