Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-13

AMSTERDAM, July 1.-THE German
goernment was reported today to have
agreed to retire five of the Prussian
state ministers in addition to Foreign
Secretary Zimmerman, Vice Chancellor
IIelfferich and Colonial Secretary Solf
| in a compromise with the Centrist-So-
cialist reformers.
This is the first time the name OF
DR.. Solf has been brought into the Ger
| man rumors of cabinet changes. He Is
| a strong conservative.
Reports received here today lead to
! The belief that while Chancellor Won
Bethmann-Hollweg will weather the
storm, radical changes in the cabinet
may be expected within the next TWEEN
| ty-four or forty-eight hours.
That Hollweg has the backing of
| the kaiser is certain.
1t is believed, however, that 1t will
be necessary for the chancellor to
sacrifice some of the men he has spon-
sored in the past TO maintain even
half hearted support from the Centrist-
majority Socialists coalition.
All dispatches from Germany are
heavily censored.
Just what is transpiring behind the
scenes of the big political fight is prob
lematical.
1t is certain, however, that the sub
marine war and the food situation with
! IN Germany are playing a big part To
date there has been nothing to Indicate
! that the military situation has been
| subject of criticism. All parties seem
! to be satisfied that Hindenburg has the
west front well in hand. and the Rus
sian offensive is expected to wear
| itself out.
, There is a disposition, on the other
hand, to demand more satisfactory re-
suits from the submarines, or abandon
the warfare, which has alienated neu-
trails If the submarines can win for
Germany, all will accept the warfare.
But promises of England being brought
to her knees" with the date for such
capitulation constantly advanced have
apparently ceased to be convincing.
Whether Hollweg's retention of his
post Would be at the price of The resig-
nation of at least two and possibly three
of his ministers, or without any sacrd-
flee seemed to depend on the pressure
which the kaiser will be able to exert
on the political recalcitrants in the
reichStag.
Dispatches showed no dimunition in
the stress created last week by the at
tack of the Centrist Leader Matthias
Erzberger on Hollweg. and the joint
demand of the Centrist and Socialist
leaders Tor internal TeIOIHlS. II was
Indicated however, that many of the
Centrist party members were wavering
in their opposition to Hollweg because
of the kaisel's backing, and would prob
ably be p;,cifed into support OF the min
istry If certain concessions were made.
Foremost among these concessions. 1t
was reported, was decision of the Ger
man government to reform the Prus-
sian electoral system. Other sacrifices
to hold Hollweg in his place were UNI
derstood to be the designations of For
eign Secretary Alfred Zimmerman,
Vice Chancellor Carl Helferich, and
possibly also Admiral Won Capelle, min
lister of marine. number of Prussian
state officials were also scheduled to
go.
Chancellor Ho1lweg's firm declination
TO subscribe to the doctrine of peace
without anneXations has gained for him
the tremendously powerful support OF
the junkers, including the all-powerful
Krupp business interests. Heretofore
the chancellor has not had their en-
tire support because the Junkers re-
called 1t was Hollweg who opposed
the unlimited submarine program an
who was understood to have stood or
20 the last against antagonlzh.