Evening star., 1917-12-30
Allies More interested for Time
in Internal Conditions in
Teutonic Realm.
PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING
AS NEVER BEFORE
Glib Talk of Peace and Military Vic
tory Necessary as Tonic
for Courage.
SOCIALISTS ROUNDED
Minority Faction Has Dragged Veil
From Government Claims, Telling
Civilians "What Is What 4
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

Germany has dragged forth her dust
covered stereotyped peace terms from
the governmental pigeon hole in Ber-
yin and rendered them to the belliger-
ent world once more. The entente
bowers turn to the United States,
:winks. then yawn as if they really
tneant it.
German purpose is we'll known
among all the powers arrayed against
Germany and her allies. That Ger
many would like peace. but peace cut
according to strictly Teutonic cloth. is
admitted. That Germany continues to
discuss peace and promote discussions
looking toward the end of the war for
political effect only. is realized. Con-
seeuently, when nowadays the kaiser
with smooth flowing and high-sounding
phrases offers peace, he meets with
merited rebuke in all entente capitals
They realize that nothing Germany has
advanced SO far can promote democ-
racy for the entire world or remove
menace of renewed conflict long after
the present war has stopped.
But the entente powers more than
ever are watching the trend of events
In Germany, which make 1t extremely
difficult for the present German gov
ernment to long continue in the
struggle without exerting almost su-
perhuman energies in combating in
ternaI conditions which make for an
early end to the struggle whether the
kaiser would have It this way or not.
~
Jrnuuestionably the internal condi-
items in Germany are worse than they
have been at
Internal Crisis any time dur
ing the course
Greater Than Ever. Of the present
struggle The people are hungering in
many sections of the land. Only the
wealthy are able to obtain foods and
most exorbitant prices. even for them.
TIE middle class German population
Is undergoing severe want. The privi-
legged workers. those engaged in gov
eri1ment enterprises. now are suffering
for the first time since the war. Those
workers in occupations not identified
closely with Germany's war machine.
ara in even worse shapes Dutch labor.
ers who have returned to their native
land have died there Of maluntrition oc-
casioned by the lack of life sustain-
ing yictuals, while engaged in work In
Germany. They bring stories of the
gravest hardships and suffering.
Scandinavian capitals have received
reports of extreme suffering in many
pies are contracting many different dis
eases all attributable to the lack of
balanced rations. Children are emaciat-
ed and dull. The whole German popu-
iation behind the lines is going about
fts daily tasks In dreary fashion. ex-
cept in the larger cities where the peo-
pie engage in gaities and wine to
drown the spirit Of encouragement
ard hopelesness which is pervading all
Germany at the present moment
The enthusiasm born of military vic
tories in Germany cannot I'LL an empty
stomach. even though Increasing cour-
age a hundred fold.
The economic and food questions are
counted uDon to bring about decisive
results. That it will not be this week
or next week of course. goes unques-
TONED. but that sooner or later there
viii come complete collapse of Ger
uflouestioned. 1t Is matter of time and
the long and extremely severe winter
months will not better the situation
from German standpoint. In fact. they
VIII but increase the smouldering re-
sentiment which may break forth in
Name at any juncture.
The German government is absolute
~ forced to make II appear to the peo-
PIE that every possible step Is being
taken to end the struggle. The Ger
man government knows its people. BY
continued reiteration of its desire for
peace coupled with continued refusal
by entente nations. the kaiser can con-
unue to claim that Germany is fight
Ing defensive struggle appealing TO
the waning patriotism of every Ger
man TO resist to the last in order that
the fatherland may not be crushed and
0ermanic kultur and institutions for
ever wrecked
-
Won Hindenburg. Ludendorn ans the
various other war lords OF Germany,