New-York tribune., 1917-07-15
Veteran Prussian Reaction
ary Made Head Of New
Cabinet
Hand of Crown Prince
Seen in the Change
Situation in Reichstag, Re-
ported to Have Dehed the
Kaiser, Is Obscure

London, July l4.-Dr. Georg Michse-
lis, formerly Prussian Under Secretary
of Finance and Food Commissioner, has
succeeded Theobald Won Bethmann-
Hollweg ss Chancellor of the German
Empire.
The resignation of DR.. Won Beth
mann Hollweg, its acceptance by the
Kaiser and the appointment OF Dr.
Michaelis are all officially confirmed
from Berlin. The message containing
the news was circulated through the
wireless stations by the German gov
ernment and picked up by the British
Admiralty wireless.
Dr. Michaelis is a typical Prussian
bureaucrat, now sixty years old. who
began his service with the government
when he was eighteen and has served
its interests faithfully since. He
leaped into public notice during the
war as the first to give public warn
ing that Germany was in danger OF
starvation.
On the strength of his observations
at that time he was made Prussian
Food Commissioner to cooperate with
Won Batocki, the Imperial Food Die
tator. In his public statements he has
been a "hold QUITO o-the-bitterend" ad-
vocate and has urged the conservation
Of food for this purpose.
Crown Prince Opposed Hollweg
The appointment of DR.. Michaelis
makes clearer the apparent opposition
of the Crown Prince to Won Bethmsnn-
Hollweg as well as the effort Count
Czernin Of Austria is said TO have made
for the retention of the former Chan
cellor DR.. Michaelis is believed to be
a reactionary. thoroughly amensbIe to
the imperial family.
II is also announced officially from
Berlin that General Won Stein, the
Prussian Minister Of War, has resigned.
The Prussisn War Ministry operates
for the empire also. Lieutenant Cen
oral Won Stein is a pan-Germsnist, and
as such was opposed by the Socialists.
"Vorwaerts" last month accused him
Of aiding in the circulation Of a pan
German pamphlet opposing peace ef-
forts. At the beginning Of the war he
WAS in command Of the Prussian home
forces, and also served as quartermss-
ter general. Before his appointment as
Prussian War Minister last October he
held an. active command on the Somme
front.
Peace Issue Obscured
In the confusion of designations and
new appointments and the discussion
of a real parliamentary system for the
empire less has been heard Of the peace
issue. which was so prominent at the
beginning Of the crisis. According 10
dispatch from Berlin to the Der
linske Tidende," the new peace fof-
mula nut forward by the Liberals is
being supported by a great part Of the
Centrist, or Catholic, party. All par
ties have summoned their members 70
Berlin as soon as possible.
The resignation of the Chancellor
came in the end quite Unexpectedly, TOT
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg, in the pro-
longed party discussions and heated
debates of the main committee OF tne
Reichstag, which have been proceeding
all through the week, seemed to have
triumphed over his opponents, who have
been clamoring for bis head. by making
concessions which were tantamount to
the formation Of kind Of imperial
coalition ministry.
Offered Compromise
At the same time, the Chancellor, by
the declaration that Germany was de-
fensively fighting for the freedom OF
her territorial possessions, evolved
formula that seemed satisfactory to
beth those who clamored for peace By
agreement and those who demanded re-
pudiation Of the formula mo annexa-
tons and no indemnities."
In all this DR.. Won Bethmsnn- -Holl-
veg was strongly backed by the En-
peror. The advent OF the Crown
Prince upon the scene summoned
By his imperial father 70 share
the deliberations affecting the future
of the dynasty-seems TO have changed
entirely the position with regard to tie
Imperial Chancellor. The Crown Prince
at once took leading part in the dis.
cussions with the party leaders, sri
his ancient hostility toward Dr. Won
Bethmann- Hollweg, coupled with his
notorious dislike for political reform.
precipitated the Chaneei-
lor's resignation.
Poor Chance for Reforms
The fact that Field Marshal Won Hin,
denburg. chief of staff, and General
Won Ludendorff, first quartermaster
general, have been most prominent
throughout these discussions and that
a section of the press has been clamor-
ING for Joint dictatorship by then.
hardly augurs we'll for the realisation
of the Prussian franchise reform,
which the Emperor has just decresd,
or for the movement toward diminu-
ton of Germany's war aims. and there
fore toward peace, upon which the Aus
trian Emperor has been doiuO hts-uss