Evening star., 1918-02-01
LABOR IN GERMANY
SEES COST Of WAR
Thinking of Larger Rights in
Public Affairs-Peace Under
HertIing Not Expected.
MILITARY CASTE LOSING
BY RENE FEIBELMAN.
Cablegram to The Evening Star and

BY RENE FEIBELMAN.
CabIegram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
AMSTERDAM. January 31-A Dutch
ltraveler who has just arrived in Am
lsterdam from Berlin gives me the fol-
flowing report on conditions there:
THE celebration of the kaiser's fifty
ninth birthday was a simple and sad
affair indeed. The authorities forbade
celebrations everywhere for fear that
lavish display Of certain war profiteers
might catch the popular eye and cause
serious trouble.
THE military caste is no longer the
sole master of Germany. The Prussian
officer has lost his semi-divinity. When
Berlin people see one of these officers
nowadays they say: Another one OF
| those confounded sword rattlers.' or
Another one Of those asses
Labor Is Awakening.
Labor Is slowly but surely becom-
ing conscious of what this war has cost
it, and it is thinking of the larger
rights in public affairs to which 1t is
entitled. The party of the near future
will be that of the Independent social
lists, who have been consistent ever
since the beginning Of the war. The
orthodox socialists are practically
much longer. Scheidemann feels that,
and so is trying to take wind out Of
Haase's sails by delivering bitter anti
government speeches, but nobody be-
lieves that he is sincere, especially
since for three and a half years he sup
ported the administrations Of Beth
mann Hollweg and Michaelis.
.Haase's party, especially its leaders
|-Haase himself, Ledebour. Hoffman,
and, above all, the party's martyr. Leb-
enormous popularity in advanced cir
circles. where the prophetic words of
Trotzky, uttered during the pourpar-
lers at Brest-Lftovsk. The time will
jate with Liebknecht administration
are not viewed as crazy. as they might
have been six months ago.
Hertling Peace Not Expected.
Nobody believes that the Hertling
administration will bring about peace. \
not even with Russia, for Count Won
Hertling is tool in the hands Of the
military and obeys the annexationist
views OF his former master. King Lud-
wig of Bavaria, whose influence in
southern Germany. even in imperial
change in a government head Is deemed
necessary before Germany can bring
the allies to the conference room.
Won Hertling and his friends hope
that If they manage to get some kid
of a peace at Brest-Litovsk the allies
will think twice before they continue
eoseT war What old d the
reichstag in forcible terms a few days
ago-that Germany cannot win the war
because 1t cannot beat America. even
land and Italy. Once this truth has
permeated the general public and the
real mass Of the German people.
change may come in Germany's atti-
tude TO the peace question but not De-
THE one thing sure NOW is that the
super-patriots are losing ground. ow-
| ing to the increased sufferings Of the
| look. Admiral Won Tirpitz's fatherland
party, once quite popular among the
| middle classes. Is now subject to all
sorts Of indignities. Its meetings are
Marseillaise' and other Revolutionary
songs. Then there are threats of
strikes. which are most serious for the
military outlook In Germany. Austria's
example has been a rude shock to Ger
many. which saw overnight the possi-
bility of either losing its last friend in
the world or freeing itself of the merci-
less military masters.
Revolution Is Possible.
"Up to the time of my leaving Berlin
several thousands were striking with a
fair chance of more joining. They were
mostly women. however. for the women
are bearing the brunt of the suffering
| in this war. II the strikes are likely
to become general the government will
surely use its old ruthless methods, but
| the strikers seem unterrified by that
AS Victor Adler said in Vienna, They
lhave nothing more to lose, except life
land what is life under the present
circumstances"
| THE situation in Germany is very
serious. 1t is impossible to make pre-
dictions. but everybody except a hand
full of pan-German agttators feels that
unless general peace comes quickly
tnothing can avert a revolution"