The midland journal., 1917-05-04


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The German and Austrian Socialist
peace propagandiSts have taken from
one of President Wilson's addresses
the phrase Of "a peace without VIC
| tory" and are using it with some eff
feet. The duma and the delegates rep
resenting the various classes in the
councils are as firm as ever against
concluding separate peace, but they
do not find the masses of uniformed
people easy to control. Germany Is
reported to have started the expected
movement to cut off Petrograd from
the army, a large naval and military
expedition having left Libau, presum.
ably for Pernau or Reval, and at such
an inOpportune time a great many
Russian soldiers are deserting. These
deserters are peasant soldiers who are
Fastening to their homes in fear that
there will be distribution of lands
of which, in their absence, they will
not get their share. The old agrarian
trouble is coming to head and despite
| the assurances of the authorities that
it cannot be settled until the consti-
tuent assembly acts, the peasants are
in many localities taking the matter
into their own hands.
| AS for the threatened German of.
fensive, the leaders of the new Rus.
sian government assert that it will be
| good thing for Russia even If the
enemy should occupy Petrograd, foE
it will unite the nation in determine
| ton to fight the war to the finish and
nullify the efforts Of the Teuton Soa
cialists. The Russian Baltic fleet and
army sent wireless message to the
allied fleets saying they were in COM
plete readiness to defend free Russia.
President Wilson has selected the
members of a commission that will
visit Russia to pay this nations re-
spects to the new government. and
Elihu Root has consented to be its
Edward T. Hurley, Daniel Willard and
Oscar S. Straus.
Spain Warns the Kaiser.
On Tuesday Spain sent to Germany
note concerning submarine warfare,
with the warning that Spanish pa
tience was nearly exhausted. The
imperial government consented to a
parley for the mitigation of the diff
culties which have arisen in Spain"
King Alfonso has tried diligently to
preserve neutrality, but it seems as If
his efforts were doomed to failure.
Turkey having severed diplomatic
relations with the United States, the
representatives of the two nations
started for home.
Reports that came from Europe dur.
ing the week told Of revival Of the
attempts to oust Bethmann-Hollweg
from power because Of his support Of
the plans of the Socialist Scheidemann
for a peace without annexation and
indemnities. The pan-Germans, con.
servatives and liberals all are oppoS-
ing the chancellor In this. But Ger
many's foes should not count too much
on such demonstrations, any more
than on the strikes there, for there Is
no reason to believe any Of them por-
tend the overthrow of Prussian autoc-
racy-the one thing, probably, that
can bring the war to an early con-
clusion.
Mayor Thompson Of Chicago sue.
ceeded on Thursday in attracting some
attention to himself. He issued q
printed statement on the food short.
age in which he attacked conscription,
argued for ban on food exports and
assailed the war policies of the admin.
istration. The same day he evinced
disinclination to extend to Marshal
Joffre and the French mission an in-
vitation to visit Chicago, saying he
thought some Of the people "might not
be wildly enthusiastic about it." Mayor
Thompson Is overly careful about the
stability of his Teutonic political
fences, for Chicago is decidedly en-.
thusiastic over the proposed visit by
the French commissioners and will
give them splendid welcome. Plans
for the event are being made. the
mayor being ignored.
The Wisconsin senate gave a lesson
to disloyal citizens by expelling from
membership Senator Frank Raguse Of
Milwaukee, a Socialist, for refusal to
retract alleged disloyal statements
made by him on the floor of the senate.
At the hour of writing it appears
certain that the government selective
conscription bill will be passed by
both houses of congress. Agreements
were secured in both senate and house
that assured vote not later than
midnight Saturday.