El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-02
GRIP OF KAISERISM RELAXES
UNDER THE PEOPLES ASSAULTS

HE Ceramic powers have reason to dread the cam
paigns Of winter than those Of summer. In the
= summer they have to meet the enemy's offensives
snd in winter attacks Of the folks at home 1t is
harder combat the Of German and AustroHun-
garan population than to stand before the blows Of the
entente.
Winters are always hard in Germany and Austria
Hungary The cold is There is and ice and
bzzards sweep the land The rivers and canals Of Ger
nzny which are important parts CT the transportation sys-
tem freeze and shipping is almost Frustrated Add to
these the greater harassments Of of food lack Of cloth
ing lack Of fuel and much work and much worry
and too mich grief ones lost general
kopeessnes regarding the future and it is easy why
Germany and AustaHungary the most cherries.
ToWfui suffering countries IN the world except Belgium and
the other countries which Teutonc troops have oceuped
It is in the winter therefore, that military and political
leaders the central powers have to fight against the de-
mands Of their people for peace and for end to the
suings which the prvations Of have forced upon
them They to combat hostility the reichstag and
Ihsra They have to answer denuneatory speeches and
embarrassing quesuonings They have to que mutines,
strikes and riots They have to try persuade their people
there must be surrender and that the only way out
forward. They have to Try to brace up broken down
morale
is not SO hard in the spring and summer The warmth
Of the season carries with it certain cheefuness Besides
food is more plentiful especially in the harvest times and
improved communications facilitate its distribution. Then
too the army is active ard the ministry is able to
arrange victories the semblance Of victories at opportune
times to encourage the people. It will be noted one
reads the news that German military leaders always pro
kind Of victory in the field about the time Ger
many floats war loan 1t is not coincidence.
than usual this winter to keep their people in the
var There IS starvation, grief overwoIk and
WEAKNESS Conditions very bad in Germany and even
in AustTaHungary. The nation wide strike IN the
dual monarchy in favor Of peace with Russia Russian
is most significant and more The announce
nent that Austa-Hungary willing continue negotia-
tons with Russia the basis of annexadons and no
indemnities, matter what Germany may do. This an
aouncemen however with the statement that BolsheTk
organizations Of workmens ard soldiers delegates be-
ing formed in Vienna, Budapest and other cities Of Austria
Hungary should be read with reserve They come from
PetrogTsd and PetrogIad is without Of direct
nunicsion with AusTo-H centers The advces
zv he authentic or they may been fabricated fo1
Russian consumption It admitted, however that
they have certain FEASIBILITY Of from other
that rotng and strong peace demonstrations have
been taking place in AustaHunga1y and that than
100000 workers have been strike The official
Of last Wednesday from Vienna that the work
al returned to duty after two days demonstration does
not ring Il would be almost impossible to re-tors
order so quickly One is therefore justified in believing
that disorders prevalent in Hungary all Of
last week and that the peoples pressure for peace has not
been relaxed.
If Germany and Russia should break off negotiations be-
cause Of Germanys outrageous demand for the Baltic
provinces and CouTand and if Hungary goes ahead
with negotiations for peace the basis of annexaons
and indemnies too much Importance should not Re at
taced 70 that apparent split between the central powers
Austra-Hungary has little to hope for IN the way Of
territorial expansion the east Poland be made
ostensibly Independent kingdom under Austrian patron
age that IS about ali Austria hope to obtain and there
to believe Russia regards Poland as lost and
would not quarrel that point. Moreover there would
be set NJ between Austria Hungary ard Russia buffer
which would be useful IN preventing friction in the
future
Most important would be the fact that peace between
Russia AustaEungary would permit the latter to in
port large supplies of stus and other materials from
southern Russia These would help guet tie demand for
general peace and keep Hungary in the by
Germany's side Moreover Austria Hungary doubtless
would import from Russia supplies in sufficient quantity
TO send some to Germany which would be decided advan
tage IN the continuance Of the
The disadvantage in this condition would be that |
AusraHEngary would have troops the eastern front