Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-16
The MiIitariStS Must Go

and formation or JOINT ulCldloFNhIp loF '''l4L'"
under Generals Won Hindenburg and Won Luden-
dorff is no solution of the Teuton problem 1t may
DELAY but cannot avert the ultimate downfall o.
Germany if she continues on her present course
Won Hindcnburg was CIermany's war her" when
he was taken from the eastern front and placed IN
high command Of the German armies. But while
his name is known far better than that Of Won!
Iudendorff the latter has recently been credited
with being the brains of the German military sys-
TEN, while Won Hindenburg is it's Drawn Al any
rate the two have worked together remarkably
well and it must therefore be supposed that their
ideas Of military and political policy are similar
That Won Hindenburg counselled the resort t."
1ruthlessness' last winter is fact generally cred
tied outside of Germany on information from Ger
man sources. 1t is believed that the grim old war
rior Of the Mazurian marshes and his chief of staff
Won Ludendorf were influential in bringing the
government to indorse the U-boat campaign of un-
restricted warfare. 1t is therefore reasonable to-
believe that joint dictatorship of these two would
not end the "ruthlessness," modify it to an
appreciable extent.
How Germany can expect to modernize her poll
tics or better her international position with these
two in the saddle is impossible to conceive. Even
topsy -turvy German logic could scarcely hope that
dictatorship of these militarists will improve her
relations with the world In fact the dictator pro
gram as limited at in London dispatches Saturday
night must be taken with large grain of salt as
must the reports of the kaisers abdcation Not that
these things are mpossble-far from it; but that
mere change of military masters offers no hope for
Germany either to tighten her grip on Austria nor
to better her relations with the world she has shock
cd and angered by calculated brutality and viola
ton Of law.
sn-r
but not hard to believe. The young Emperor
Charles has never been blind follower of Berlin,
and since he had nothing to do with the launching
Of this world war, nor with pro-German intrigues
that preceded and followed the attack on Serbia,
he Is bound by no special ties to follow Germany
through growing disaster. For Austria it is becom-
ing question of expedieney, and soon as Aus
tria feels safe in breaking away from Germany, En-
peror Charles s not likely to offer any excuse that
ties of honor forbid. The heavily censored reports
from Vienna indicate that the peace clamor in Aus
tria and Hungary is growing to such proportions
that the cabinet of the Dual Monarchy cannot
ignore ii.
Russia's unexpected offensive on the east carried
out with a speed and force which has proved dis
tinct surprise to military critics, is a spur to Aus
TRAN peace talk. No matter what excuses Germany
may give that the Teutons have merely thin line
regained hundreds of square miles of territory,
taken many thousand prisoners and large supplies,
IN the past month. To regain the lost ground Ger
many must detach men from the west front, hard
driven as it is, and sacrifice them the east Eth
er that or try vainly to still Austrias peace talk
with diplomacy-and Austria is tired Of Berlins
diplomacy.
AS was apparent several months ago, Germanysi
one hope of success was to sink foodships for Eng
land at such rate that the English by mid summer
would face actual starvation. This Germany has
failed to do. Her U-boats have shown unexpected
Possibilities but not sufficient to isolate the British
isles. Meanwhile the entrance of the United States
into the war has assured the financial future of
every member of the Allies; has given France new
military hope; and has put at the disposal of the
Entente powers an enormous reserve of men and
Wealth. reserve more effective than that great
British feet lying ready to strike the Germans i'll
they again come out to do battle. Americas men
and Americas millions ready to strike the Ger
mans If they called for action; are, in fact,
now beginning to hit hard.
Doubtless the German masters will make a pre-
tense of governmental reform in the hope of salts
flying the starving, sacrificing people. The only per-
nanent reform is that of substituting democracy
for autocracy, and this will not be accomplished
even with the abdcation Of the kaiser unless men
other than militarists like Won Hindenburg are
placed in power.
Macmillan Harden, the German editor; DR.. Karl
Leibknecht, Socialist leader-such men as these
have more promise for Germany than all the gen
erals and admirals who now control her military
activities