Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-16
POLITICAL CRISIS
/ RAPIDLY NEARING
CLIMAX IN BERLIN
Any Moment May Bring
Greatest Shake-Up Since
Days Of Bismarck.
EVERYTHING POINTS TO
ANNExATIONlST STAMPEDE
Chancellor Won Hertling and For
eign Minister Won KuehIrnann
Practically Out,
PEACE DEALINGS ARE OFF
Roumanian Diplomatic Staff at Pet
rograd Arrested by Leuinc
Government.
Roumanian Diplomatic Staff at Pet
rograd Arrested by Leuinc
Government.

AMSTE r DAM, January 15.-Gcr-
many's internal political crisis Is fast
approaching its climax. Any moment
may bring the greatest governmental
shakc-up the empire has known since
tho days OF Bismarck.
Count Won HcrtlinE. tho Imperial
| Chancellor ,and Or. Won Kuehlniann
were considered in Berlin late tonight
virtually out OF office. the only question
being as TO who will succeed them
Everything points to ruthless,
smashing annexationist stampede upon
the responsible officia! positions Of the
| empire. Every man in the present gov
crnment who does not unqualiticdly ad-
here TO the gospel of strong peace.
German peace is to be hit by tho
militarist AK, and militarist will stcp
up TO take his place.
The Kaiser, his generals and those
Of his advisers who swear by anncxa-
ton. and even indcmnities, arc haunted.
it is said. by the fear that backdown
before the Russians now will open tho
empires eastern gates to a tide of ter
Torism; that Il would be a matter of
weeks perhaps Of days, before Boi-
shevikism would undermine the army
and navy and rc-cnact the story Of the
Russian revolution in Germany.
thoroughly in the grip OF that fear,
tho kaiser and many OF his advisers
hitherto leaning to the moderate cause
have been definitely converted, it IL
said, to the Hindcnburs- -Ludeudorfr doc
trine OF blood and iron" based on tho
| all-powcrful argument that the ground
work OF the nation and the fate Of tbs
crown itself. is-at stake.
The decision has been reached, there
fore. 1t is reported, to defy the Reich
stag majority and come out openly be-
fore all the world for the gospel OF
might is right" and to enforce II, if
necessary, in the empire itself by
military Dictatorship
Against that plan, the Liberals ar.
making the fight OF their lives
valiant, but according to all symptoms.
losing. fight. Mass meetings arc hold
IN every part OF the Fathcrland ~
which renunciation of the anncxation;st
doctrine is clamored for by such infiu-
cntiaf men as DR.. Dernburs. Even
Junkerist meeting, Berlin dispatches
state. was turned into 4 spirited DEM
onstration against conquest the mill
. itarist speakers being howlcd down By
the crowd, which then spoke it's own
mind.
PRESIDENT WILSON'S PEACE
AIMS FREELY REFERRED TO
In hundreds Of cities huge meetings
adopted resolutions for ..conciliatory
general peace" In all speeches Presi-
dent Wilson's latest speech OF pcace
aims was clearly reflected, for his main
principles wero heartily indorsed.
though not everywhere with open ref
ercncc to him.
In this nationwide manifestation for
democratic peace, tho crown and the
brains that form it's pillars sec the
first step toward Bolshcvikisn; out OF
the paciiist speeches they hear tho FIRST
vague srumblinss of a people sick
and tired OF autocracy and militarism.T
Late tonight the news from Berlin
gave still another angle TO the sisniti-
canoe Of tho endless deliberations be-
tween the Emperor and his army chiefs,
Once the ReichstaS ma ajority has been
dciied. only. one thing can avert revolt,
in the opinion of some Of the Teuton
military lcaders-an immediate terrific
offensive in the west. That and that
alone. they argue, can create the inl.
pcrativc diversion.
Opposing the modnrates. and paving
OF the Rcichstag resolution. the junk
crs on their part ar, active through
out the empire aSitatins Tor Ger
man peace" Men like Admiral Won
Tirpitz. Count Revcntlow, and others
arc clamorins for conquest not only
in the east. bat in tho west as well.
and for indemnities thrown in.
Next to BolshcvikisIn. the greatest
nj mi n tCt Ia
that this internal dissension will un-
derminc the forces. Herein i9 seen an
other argument why Germany must
and will strike SOON In tho west. Him
denburE had hoped 70 postpone the
drive, hoping Tor, better weather ana
banking on the U-boat as an ally. But
tho past seven days events are said
to have changed his mind.
Chancellor Won tIertling's speech be-
fore the EeichstaE main committee Is
expected TO he his swan song. Pre-
ciscly wien II VIII be delivered Is still
uncertain. II was scheduled 10: to-
morrow, but he Is now reported I'LL
Won DEUNSTORFE' CALLED IN
TO COUNSEL WITH KAISER
Won tsuelow looms as the most likely
successor TO lTcrtlinE, according to Ecy.
lin advice. Among the statesmen wlo
hurried to Berlin and who arc counsel:
ing tho Kaiser is Count Won Bernstorr,
now stationed Ut Constantinoplc, lie
has been vsriously described aa a milf
iarist. Those who know him best in-
cline TO tho view that he Is the clevcfs
est 'ca,noufiage artist" In the kaiser'a
diplomatic corps. Only tho truthsof