New-York tribune., 1918-07-28
Death Cry of Civil Government
In GERMANY

in Germany
The latest German newspapers to ar
rive in this country contain reports OF
the debates in the Reichstag on June "a.
rs and 26, covering the earlier and more
dramatic phase of the so-called "Kihl-
mann crisis" AS the result Of those
debates, however, it had already become
evident that Kihlmann was doomed
man; the Junker organs of Berlin were
already celebrating their certain triumph
over him, and fortnight later he fell
before their onslaughts and the silent
electric currents set in motion at army
headquarters.
The whole incident illuminates as with
a flare the present political situation in
Germany. A sham government and
Reichstag only thinly disguise its real
subjection to military rule. KGhlmann's
offence, as will be remembered, was that
he admitted his inability to see any pros
pect of complete military victory for
Germany. After having spoken of the
practical impossibiity of bringing about
an interchange of views among the bellig
erents, he said-and this was the head
and front of his offending-"And with
out such an interchange of views it is
hardly to be expected--owing to the
enormous size of this war of coalitions
and the number of powers engaged in it
that an absolute end will be reached
through purely military decisions alone.'
That was on Monday. Between the
sitting of the Reichstag on that day and
the Tuesdays sitting something had hap
pened. Kuhlmann's words had thrown
about as much fat into the fire as was
possible during these fatless days in Ger
many, and the telegraph wires leading
from general headquarters, as the Ber-
lin newspapers plainly intimate, had
evidently been busily working Monday
night. At the opening of Tuesdays sit
ting, accordingly, Hertling at once took
the floor, and after saying that it had
not been his intention to make a speech
at that time he proceeded briefly to ex-
plain that there had been "misunder-
standing, and then he tried to tone down
what KIhlmann had said.
contribute his mite toward Cancellation
= and appeasement Of the wrathful war
gods. But his very first reference to
his words of yesterday drew shouts
from the Conservatives charging him
with having changed the official steno-
graphic report and toned down the Of
Tending passage. He proceeded to ex-
plain that he chad not denied that
military victory was the presupposition
for any talk about peace" He only
meant to say that negotiations would be
necessary, "inasmuch as military deci-
sions alone would not bring us to the
goal"
AT the next sitting the Socialist
Deputy Noske made a telling speech
and was able to throw characteristic
flashlight upon how Germany is at pres
ent ruled. He said that at press con-
ference on Monday, after Kuhlmann's
speech had been delivered, the military
censors had told the newspaper men that
they would not be allowed to print the
Interpretation that a military decision
could not end the war; the Supreme
Army Command, it was added, believed
in victory, and any other view was pro-
hibited"
Then he produced climax by reading
the following letter, which the military
censorship had sent to the Vor1vdrts:
"Thc Vorwdrts thought that the re-
marks of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
justified it in printing them under the
display headline: No End to the War
Through Military Decisions That con-
ceptlon is in conflict with the
real situation, endangers the victorious
termination of the war, and the publica-
ton OF it shakes the justihabe conf
dence of the people and the army and
their resolute purpose to 60 on with the
war, and it terminates the spirit of re-
sistance in the enemy camp. The Su-
preme Army Command is convinced. as
hitherto, that we shall have victorious
termination Of the war. Any other in
depreciation of the speech of the Secre-
tary Of State is inadmissible."
Herr Haase, leader Of the Independent
Socialists, also contributed to the debate
q remark that hit the bull's-eye. After
Hertling and KIhlmann had kotowed to
tho military gods on Tuesday Haase
said: 1.-THE military party is ruling US,
and 1t would be best to have the true
ruler Of Germany, LudendorfP, become