The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-01-12
FATE OF KAISER
NOW IN BALANCE
German Empire Confronted by
Ore of Greatest Crises in
Its History.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TERMS
King of Bavaria Says, "Not an Inch
Of Territory for Enemy"-Trotzky
With Russian Delegates at
Brest-Litovsk.

Amsterdam, Jan. 9.-Germany Is
facing one of the greatest crises in Its
history as a result of the conflict be-
tween the political government and the
high command of the army, and the
necessity of making a decision that
will solve the gigantic problem rests
with the kaiser himself.
Information as to the grave situa-
tion in Germany was secured in dip |
lomatic circles at The Hague, accord
| ing to dispatches reaching here.
The emperor conferred all day Sun
day with members of the general staff |
and the minister of war.
The kaiser also held long confer
ence with the newly appointed Field |
Marshal Won Wyrsch, who distinguish |
ed himself in the fighting on the east |
ern front
News of the momentous develop |
ments which have arisen in Germany |
followed report that General Won Lu-
dendOrff, "the brains of the German |
army" had resigned, but this was sub
sequently denied.
Annexations crux of Fight.
The domestic struggle in Germany
had its inception in dissensions over
the peace terms offered by Germany |
to Russia
The militaristS stood out for annex
/ ations, while the Moderates, support !
ing the principle of no annexations,
Z were said to have enlisted the kaiser
in their behalf
So grave Is the internal eQnAtet in
! Germany That some 70 sd Tar as to
predict that the future fate Of the
German empire may depend ppon the
n steps which the kaiser takes to solve
: the problem.
t There were hints of a militarist up
+ rising if the kaiser rejects the peace
e program of the pan-Germans and the
: Junkers.
The whole affair has been made
> more critical by the demands of Aus
= tria-Hungary for peace and the in
! sistent demands of the socialists that
g the Russian terms be accepted.
/ The mlitarists headed by Won Hin
denburg, Won Ludendorff, Won Tirpitz
q and the crown prince, are said to have
e made yelled threats of the most seri-
lt Gus character unless their imperialistic
war aims are given full support by the
: emperor.
J. Trotzky at Brest-Litovsk.
v Russia apparently will continue
peace negotiations with the central
y powers at Brest-Litovsk. A Berlin dis
patch received in Copenhagen says
II that Russia's representatives arrived
1t at Brest-Litovsk Monday and that the
negotiations were to be reopened yes
terday afternoon. Foreign Minister
II Trotzky accompanied the delegates.
IA Official confirmation of this report Il
{. lacking, but probability is lent to /
u by the fact that neither Russia no
D. the central powers have declared Off
u cialIy that the peace negotiations nav
u been broken off definitely
H. 9,,vuru ue nccorded the rreest oppOrtu
IL nifty of autonomous development.
rs Evacuate Balkans.
IS Al. 1tOulllullld, pSIDlu ullu hOhlShS
It gro should be evacuated; occupied ter
~ rltories restored; Serbia accorded fire.
ne and secure access to the sea; and tn
IS relations of the several Balkan state
H. to one another determined by friendl
n, counsel along historically establlshe
as lines of allegiance and nationality; an
Is, international guarantees of the polit
sh cal and economic independence and tel
ritorial integrity Of the several Balka
i'll states should be entered into.
ID, XII. The Turkish portions of tn
W present Ottoman empire should be as
on sured a secure sovereignty, but tn
er other nationalities which are now III
We der Turkish rule should be assured a
Ia undoubted security of life and an al
We solutely unmolested opportunity of al
he tonomous development, and the Dardf
ne nelles should be permanently opene
he as free passage to the ships and con
er- merce of all nations under intern;
tional guarantees.
be XIII. An independent Polish stat
re- should be erected which should includ
ice the territories inhabited by indispl
of table Polish populations, which shoul
ed be assured a free and secure access
fly the sea and whose political and ec'
lat nomic independence and territorial II
ire tegrity should be guaranteed by inte
national covenant.
ers XIV. A general association of nj
ar tions must be formed under specif
covenants for the purpose of affordin
ry, mutual guarantees of political ind
we pendence and territorial integrity
ed, great and small states alike.