Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-09
SERIOUS POLITICAL
CRISIS IN GERMANY
Berlin Telegram Says 1t Is Prob
able Kaiser Will Dismiss Won
Bethmann-H Hollweg.
DAY OF "AlARUMS" IN BERLIN
Won Hindenburg and Won Lud-
endorff Arrive for Confer
ence With Emperor.
DAY OF "ALARUMS" IN BERLIN

tBy Agence Radio to International
News Scrvice)
ZURICH. July S tvia Paris)-A se-
rious political crisis has arisen In Ger
many.
y Berlin telegram to the Koelnische
Ieitung says it is probable the Kaiser
will dismiss Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg.
The German governments semi
official mouthpiecc. the Nord Deutsche
Allgemeine ZeitunE. mentions Vice
Chancellor Dr. Karl Helfferich. who was
the first German food dictator. as the
most probable successor to HoIlweg.
should the latter fall.
4 Reichstag crisis was provoked yes
terday by a speech by Dr. Matthias
Erzbereer. leader of the Centrist Cath
olic) party. before the RcichstaE's main
committee. DR.. Erzberger expressed
serious misgivings as to the general
military and naval situation. He do
manded clear statement from the
government regarding the Russian Of
fensve and the situation on the west
ern front He also demanded assu-
RANGES that the U-boat war is really
as efflcacious as 1t is claimed to be.
The Kaiser had a long audience with
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg last
night Afterwards the Emperor re-
ceived Field Marshal Won Hindenburg.
War Minister Won Stein and Minister Of
Marine Won capelle.
REICHsTAG's MAIN COMMITTEE
RESUMES MEETING
The meeting of the Reichstag's main
committee continued far into the night
and was resumed to-fay
The Frankfurter Zeitung says another
attempt is afoot to bring about the
downfall OF the Chancellor
The Berliner Tageblatt says the So
cialists and National Liberals are con-
vinced the government must declare
finally whether it wants Pan-German
peace or a peace without annexations.
According to this paper. leading Ger
man politicians believe the present
crisis only be solved by the crea-
tion Of a national ministry. 1t is un-
certain. the TagebIatt adds. whether
DR.. Won Bethmann-H Hollwes can con-
tinue to hold the chancellorship in such
a coalition ministry. but the paper re-
CARDS 1t as certain that Admiral Won
Capelle will not retain the portfolio OF
the Marine Ministry.
The PanGerman Deutsche Tages
Zeitung says: The question at issue Is
whether we are going to continue our
policy in accordance with the deter
mination of the German people to con-
quer. or whether we will abandon our
victorious arms and ruin the empire"
The above dispatch from Zurich, with
quotations from such officially inspired
papers rs the Nord Deutsche Allge-
meine Zeitung and the koelnische
zeitunE strongly indicates that the
proconquest element in the German
government is fast gaining the ascen-
dancy if it has not already attained it.
In that case the doom OF Bethmann-
HollweE, champion of compromise
seems sealed. Vice Chancellor Helf-
ferich is counted among the adherents
Of annexation.
The crisis evidently developed on
the even Of DR.. Won Bethmann-Holl-
weg's Reichstag speech, which has been
heralded in dispatches from neutral
sources as new peace feeler, more
definite than any previous utterances.
The Zurich dispatch indicates that
there has been an eleventh-hour at
tempt to block the reported peace
speech of the Chancellor Each of tho
three men-Hindenburg, Won StSn and
Admiral Won Capelle-whom the Kaiser
saw after his conference with Beth
ann-Hollweg. is unequivocally op-
posed TO all peace proaers, until ,;,e
allies are forced to sue for peace"