The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-05-28
GERMANS HERE ACT
TODETHRONE KAISER
Refuse to Be Tools Of Con-
quest and Junkers, Is Plea
for Republic.

The Friends Of the German Republic"
a national body designed to aid in a
general revolution to dethrone the Kaiser.
planned by German radicals in and out
Of Germany. has been organised.
A provisional revolutionary committee
has been formed with headquarters in
the Rand School, at 14o East Nine
teenth street. and an appeal has been
made to Germans to help in pushing the
propaganda having for its object the do
ing away with the autocratic Hohenzol-
lerns and the establishment of a true
democracy.
Circulars in German and English have
been issued on behalf of the committee
by ]. koettgen asking Germans and
others to. join in the movement. They
have been distributed generally by So
cialist party leaders among New York
Germans and have started many people
thinking along unusual lines.
Events and Developments in Germany
are clearly pointing to a near upheaval
similar to that which We witnessed in
Russia some months ago." the document
says. Travellers recently arrived from
Germany report rapid spreading OF the
republican movement.
Things evidently are getting very un-
comfortable for the German autocracy.
though to the outside world 1t attempts
to show a bold and unconcerned front.
The Russian leaven is working in Ger
many. .I-,.
The chairman Of the Petrosrad Coun-
ell Of -workmen's and Soldiers Dele
gateS Comrade Tchcheidse. issued an
appeal. portions OF which only were d.
rected TO the workers OF Germany. In
that appeal we read: We call upon you
to throw OF the yoke Of your absoiutist
regime as the Russian people have
shaken off the autocracy OF the Cars.
Refuse to serve as the tools Of conquest
and power in the hancs Of the kings,
junkers and bankers, and We shall with
common efforts put an end to the fearful
butchery that dishoners humanity and
darkens the great days Of the birth of
Russian liberty.
I'VE 60 not know whether that ap-
peal ever reached the masses of the Ger
man people. but the same idea must
have sprung up spontaneously in Ger
many as soon as the glorious news of
the Russian revolution became known.
The clearest heads must have imme-
diately perceived che quickest and surest
way out Of the prevailing misery-the
proclamation Of German republic
Russian example the war must almost
automatically come to an end anc an
impetus would be given to the radical
and democratic movements throughout
the world such as men have not wit
messed since the days OF the great French
revolution.
There are men and women in Ger
many now struggling and scheming to
bring about that happy event. Can We
help them in any way? The ways OF
the Russian revolution were largely pre-.
pared by the admirable work done by
/ the numerous Russian societies abroad
which. with the help Of earnest SYM
pathizers, carried the revolutionary
! propaganda to the people anc soldiers
Cannot the Germans abroad undertake
a similar task with regard to the Ger.
man revolution? There are thousands
and thousands of men and women OF
German descent in this country with
sincere democratic and republican con,
+ victions who would hail with unboundet
! joy the birth Of a democratic German
republic"
Mr.. Koettgen. who signed the circular
was formerly correspondent of German
| Socialist papers. He came to this coun.
| try from England at the beginning Of the
war.