The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-07
Correspondent Believes Ger.
many Is Badly Demoralized.
DesertiOn and Mutiny in the
Army, He Says.
10000 DESERTERS IN BERLIN
Speeches of Kaiser and Others
Show Great Anxiety.
rritish Watch Developments in
st. GObain Region.

London, Sept. 7.-Genefal demorali-
zatien of the German population and
wide spread and growing dissatisfac-
ton in the German army, accom-
panied by mutiny and assertions are
described in a dispatch to the Daily
Telegraph. from it's Rotterdam cor
respondent under date of Thursday.
The correspondent says that infor-
nation reaching him is so sensational
as to inspire skepticisI--, but declares
that he has received confederation
from authoritative sources which es-
tablishes the authenticity of the in
formation beyond doubt.
He asserts that the German army
is filled with dependency and seeth-
ing with mutinOus spirit and that
alarming outbreaks have occurred in
several units, principally Bavarian and
Silesian. One incident of the Arras
front terminated in whole Bavarian
division being disarmed and trans
ported to Bavaria where it was placed
IN prison camp and the mutiny of
one of the Silesian regiments resulted
in nearly a hundred of it's men being
executed.
100000 Deserters in Berlin.'
A huge number of assertions are
occurring the correspondent says and
ii is estimated that there are more
than twenty thousand deserters in
Berlin alone. Large numbers are
scattered thruout the country and the
authorities are having the greatest
difficulty in trailing deserters, owing
to the connivance of the working
classes. Nevertheless, hundreds have
beer arrested and generally these
have been sentenced to fifteen years
Imprisonment. A great numbr of inn
prieoned deserters, broken by solitary
confinement have been released and
sent back to the ranks.
"Munition Workers Slow Up"
Disobedienee and defiance of Off
GERS is common at the front, accord
ing to. the correspondents informa-
ton and a similar spirit is shown in
the munition factories, where the
workers deliberately are slowing up,
with the result that the oltput has
been seriously decreased.
Germany in a Pani;.
London, Sept Public interest to-
day is quite equally divided between
the unbroken advance of the allied
armies and the apparent signs that
the German people are in a state of
nervous anxiety bordering on democrat
ization. More editorial space is being
given here recently to future events
than the retreat of the German army.
The belief that something like a
panic has seized the German populace
is not based upon stories from neutral
the past, but upon the utterances OF
the leaders in the German nation and
the appeals of German newspapers to
the public to keep it's head while they
themselves admit the seriousness OF
the military situation.
Proves People Badly Disturbed.
The emperor's bold vein of assur.
ance, Chancellor Won Hertling's fran
chise speech. General Linsengen's
stringent order and above all, Fie16
Marshal Won Hindenburg's proclama.
ton are cited as manifest efforts te
check the decay of the German spirit
which it is commended must exist tt
have called them forth. In short, il
is declared that the German people
and, perhaps, also the military chiefs
evidently are greatly disturbed BY
recent events.
British Watch st. Gobain Sector.
The interest of military commenta
tors. while not ignoring the continued
British progress centers chiefly on thu
important FreI.ch successes on tn,
southern end of the line of attack
The stiffening of the enemy resistance
on this front is noted and the Difficult
operations before the French ant
Americans is recognized.
The Times. referring to the Franco
American arrival before 'the grea
pivotal position of the enemy II
France, of which the forest of ST
frontal attack in this forest is out o
the question and now, as last year, tn
French doubtless prefer to go aroun
but have some very difficult groun
to cover before they are on tn
Chennin des Danes.
VOrvvaerts Demands Facts.
Copenhagen, Sept. 7.-German arm
leaders are urged by General Ardenne
writing in the Berlin Tagebiatt, t
withdraw behind the line of March q
on account of the coming unavoidabl
winter campaign. In addition to th1
information today, reports from Ger
many indicated growing nervousness
on account of the bad news from tn
front. In many towns, the militar
commands have issued orders prohit
iting the spreading of rumors.
In the Altoona district. an ofhcis
proclamation warns the populatio
against damaging railway lines an
exposing military transports to daT
ger. Violation of this order is puT
ishab1e by death.
The Berlin Vorwaerts editorially d.
mands the uneensored truth about tt
fighting situation SO that if there
reason to despair, the government ca
summon the reichstag and make e.
feetive the Prussian electorate reforl
to stimulate the soldiers.