The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-18
SITUATION IN GERMANY.
SECTION OF GERMAN PRESS FOR
JOINT DICTATORSHIP BY Won
HINDENBURG AND Won
LUDENDORF. 1
Peace Outlook Not Very Bright-'No
let up in German War Aims; Slight
Chance for Prussian Franchise Re-
forms.

forms.
London, July 1.-THE political tpr-
moil which has been convulstng Ger
many ever since Russia's first startling
success on the resumption Of her Of
has eliminated for the pres
ent In the resignation of the imperial
chancellor. DR.. Won Bethmann-IIo
veg. but all indications serve to show
that his resignation. far from being
the last act in the drama. is but the
beginning Of far-reaching Develop
ments which are bound to AFFECT the
fabric OF the German empire and have
momentous consequence on the pro-
gress Of the European struggle. The
of the chancellor came
quite unexpectedly. for DR.. Won Beth
mann-H -Hollweg In the prolonged party
discussions and heated debates of1the
main committee Of the reichnttg.
which have been proceeding LII
through the week. seemed to hayestfi-
umphed over his opponents, who Ndve
been clamoring for his head. by nfv(k-
Ing concessions which were taRk-
mount to the formation of kind of
imperial coalition ministry. M
At the same time the chancellofSlby
the declaration that Germany waSS J.
fighting for the freedon( bf
her territorial possessions. evolved = q
formula that seemed satisfactory 10
both those who clamOred for psac
agreement and those who demaH a
reputation Of the formula mo
nexation and no indemnities."
In all this. DR.. Won Elethmann-
veg was strongly backed by the
peror. The advent Of the. crown -
upon the scene--summoned by ftl
perial father to share the deliberS{
affecting the future, Of the dynaS
seems to have changed entirel2
position with regerd IN .the e.
chancelior. The crown princes e me
took a leading part in the discussions
with the party leaders. ancient hostil-
lty toward DR.. Won Bethman- Hollweg.
coupled with his notorious dislike for
political reform undoubtedly precipi.
tated the chancellor's resignation.
The fact that Field Marshal Won
chief Of staff. and Cen.
von Ludendorff. first quartermaster
general. have been most prominent
throughout these discussions and that
section of the press has been clam
oring for joint dictatorship by them
hardly argues well for the realization
FOR Prussian franchise reform. which
the Emperor has just decreed, or the
movement toward dimunition of
Germans war aims and thereby to-
ward peace. on which the Austrian
emperor has been doing his utmost to
persuade the German emperor to en-
bark. l,.g
The Bavarian ministers have been
among the most active in the Berlin
and the fact that the
Centre Catholic party has rallied to
the peace gospel preached by Matthias
directly on his return ia
backed in his determination to secure
peace by at least one. and that the
most powerful Of States in the Ger
man empire. Whether other southern
German States will join in what ap.
pears to be a movement toward the
of Prussian hegemony.
events In no distant future probably
will show.
DR.. Bethmann-Hollweg's successor,
DR.. George Michaelis. is a bureaucrat
of the old type. whose appointment can
scarcely be regarded as promising
much In the direction OF the parlia.
Of Germany. Entering
the Prussian civil service in 1879 at
the age Of twenty-five, he followed the
customary placid career Of Prussian
holding various minor posts
n different provincial places until he
was appointed under-secretary in the
hhance ministry in 1909. In February.
1917, he received the additional ap-
pointment Of Prussian food commits.
''oner' special post authorized by
The Prussian cabinet,
AGITATORS NOT WANTED.