Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-18
GERMANY May PUT
CHARGE
INDICATOR STANDS
REPORT REACHES AMSTERDAM
THAT MlCHAELiS MAY BE sue
CEEOED BY Won RlN0ENSURG
as MILITARY CHIEF.

Amsterdam, July is Opinion that
Chancellor Michaelis VIII be succeed
ed BY military distator in Germany
if the Liberal coalition continues to
defy the government was strength.
oned. if not confirmed. by adyices
reaching here today from various
gouees.
II the Kaiser decides upon this dras-
tic move II is believed thai the dicta-
tcrship would be conferred upon
either Field Marshal Won tlindenburg.
the German chief Of star. or First
Quartermaster General Lundedorf,
Won iiindenbufg's chief aide.
The Liberal element in the Reich
stag Is stili "strik'ns" and the leaders
declare they will press their inter
parry peace resolution calling fer no
anuexa.ions and nc indemnites as the
cir peace terms.
Germany is literally standing on
tip-toe to hear what policies Dr
M!chaelis will announce in the Reich
stag tomorrow. II is believed here
that the new chancellor will speak in
general terms and viii not commit
himself 10 details
His address. if made as scheduled,
likely viii follow this inc;
First, he win appeal 10 all factions
to support him. calling UPON the pa
triotism and reminding them Of the
sacrifices being made for the father
ana and the field Of battle He will
ask Tor national unity So that reforms,
promised by the Kaiser and planned
by the cabinet can be carried out
He will demand the passage of the
war credit so that the government
will be free 10 prosecute the war with
greater Sigor now that more foe
men face the fatherland He VII
ask for patience and promise peace
terms that will be satisfactory to ALL
a promise of reform IN the intena-
tional policies will be given.
Ii the LIBERALS continue their fight,
throw down the gage Of battle 10 the
Junker element and demand an i'm
mediate declaration Of peace terms
without annegations ana indemnitles,
the the military dictatorship may fol
low That would mark the final
struggle between the forces Of auto
crate militarism and democracy in
Germany and would unquesionablY ex.
ert inuence extending farther than
the German borders
Advices from Berlin today said that
the new chancellor seems TO be very
popular with beth press and public
The Socialist newspaper Vorwaerts
had this TO say:
at Is known Of hm that he has a
sure and decisive way of performing
his tasks. His attitude towards the
great problems Of the time is still I'M
known. Nobody knows as yet how
Michaelis looks upon his new duties,
But at the next Gessicn Of the Reich
STAG which probably will be haid on
Thursday. the new chancellor will
most likely give some explanation on
which the attitude Of the Social demo
Gratis party towards him will depend
For two years Michaelis was the
one person In whom all the fear and
apprehension concerning the bread
supply OF the German people were
concentrated, and IN that position
oven a war mad fanatic would have
been converted into an honest friend
Of peace. There is no evidence how
ever, that Michaelis Is such a fanatic
There Is one point upon which we
VII be thankful for frank statement
from tao new chancellor Either we
conduct a war Of conGucst or we do
not. Either wo intend to make other
countries pay up money, even il to
't'"' stiAh l'AttAA tAAob ENA IAl%t wv navy w
,ight for another ten years, Or we
welcome peace within visible time,
ana limit ourselves to the plain pro-
gram OF q defensive war
II the chancellor takes the second
view he will have strong majority
in the Roichstag in his favor, which,
t,,y n fffr Ia t,,
crease further, He cannot work with.
out a Relchstag majority. That is a
fact proved By Won Buelow's fall and
by the resignation OF Dr. Won Beth
mann-lIoIlweg SO that to pretend
that Germany could be governed with
ont Reichstag majority is ignoring
he true and actual facts.