The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-15
LUDENDORFF, FRIGHT
HAND" OF HINDENBURC.
FOR CHIEF OF STAFF
Wild Rumors of Kaiser 8 Alb
dication Not Confirmed
Germans Are Fearful Lest
Changes May Affect Fight
ing Forces
London, July 14.-Bethmann

London. July 1A.-Bethmann-
Hollweg Is OUT
The German imperial chancel-
Tor resigned today, exactly eight
years after he took the Office. He
was appointed chancellor July IA,
1909.
Emperor William. upon accept
ing Hollweg's resignation appoint
ed DR.. George Michaclis to sue
coed him.
The new chancellor has been, sinca
1908. under secretary in the ministry
of finance. He has a wide experience
In the fields OF finance, national econ
omy and government administration.
He is sixty-six years of age. A Prus-
sian by birth and education, he has
been in the Prussian state service
since 1879
DIR. Michaelis is known to hold de-
cidedly liberal views He Is credited
with antipathy rather than with lean !
ings toward the 3unker caste. His
appointment came as tremendous
surprise to Germany and the entente
countries. simultaneously with tho
central. responsible head OF the en-
pire, the directing chief of the Prus-
sian-and herewith German--army
system. General Won Stein resigned.
Hindenburg May Be War Minister.
There is strong probability that
Field Marshal Won Hindenburg will
be named to succeed Won Stein as
burg's right hand" General Won Lu-
dendortf< would become chief OF staff,
1t Ia believed. .n
Upon these two men. long since the
two directing geniuses Of the Teuton
war machine. rests today to large
extent the fate Of the empire. Both
were summoned bacg to the capital
by the kaiser just after they had
started for the front upon the con-
ferences. For hours yesterday and
today they have been closeted with
the kaiser and the crown prince.
Democracy is on the march in the
empire. With the war minister the
entire Prussian war cabinet Is re-
ported to have resigned. New blood
ehof the Michaelis type Is about to be
poured into the veins of the anaemic
Prussian system. All indications to-
changes will be brought about swiftly,
smoothly, virtually over night.
But one great fear haunts Germany
as 1t sees itself passing into the ranks
of self governing nations--the fear
that the spirit of discomfort. due to
temporary loosening of centralized au-
thority. may permeate the empires
the revolutionary sentiment swept
through the Russian army after March
/ 3 last. resulting in months OF disor-
ganization.
Unlike the Russian armies. the Tell
ton forces would have no time to rally
and organize once a state of dissolu-
ton had set in.
It is to prevent such a catastrophe
that the two military chiefs are con-
ferrfng with the kaiser and his eldest
son.
Within the next orty-eight hours
| 1t is believed the flames Of political
strife will either have fared up into
with the crisis weathered temporarily
at least.
Fears Weakening
Another great fear casts its shadows
into the council chambers OF Wilhelm
strasse and the Potsdam. palace-the
| fear that the Internal upheaval will
weaken the empires position abroa
| in its relations with the few neutra's
that are left It is for this reason. oh
servers here believe. that Berlin Is
| still keeping mysterious silence about
| the status of Foreign Secretary Zini-
hermann. The general belief Is that
he has been shelved- But no sue
cessor having as yet been chosen.
Wlhelmstrasse refuses to divulge
| vacancy uHtii a new StronE Hdnu
| has taken charge. The crisis comes
at time when circumstances played
strongly into the hands of the Berlin
/ foreign minister. From Holland.
Scandinavia. Spain and Switzerland
comes news OF great irritation over
the American export control. Ger
many saw in this situation her chance
| to align these neutrals. or some OF
them at least definitely on her side.
Then came the crash.
| To swing the little neutrals into the
play of entering the war at this late
stage. a strong foreign policy backed
by solid national support would DO
necessary.
/ Curious paradoxes add their witty
criss-crossing to the tremendous DIM
culties that confront the shapers Of
the German nations fate In casting
about for a new foreign secretary.
one that would suit the political die
ttators in their thirst for moderation
land democracy-Count Johann Heinz
rich Won Bernstorn was hit upon.
But strong az his following e, his
foes are r1any and mighty.
1 Crown Prince Plays GhreWd 0annA I
In this connection Il seems - e1nN