The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-11
PEOPLE OF BOTH
central STATES
TO FORCE PEACE
Popular Unrest Grows Daily in
Germany and Austria.
III Allies 'Sit Tight" End of
Struggle Is in Sight.
GERMANS BELIEVE WILSON
Presidents War Aims Sink
Deep in Heart of Enemies.
Masses Seeing the Light De-
nOunce Imperial Ambition.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMs.

w LILLIAN 1IllLlI M Mo.
Copyright 1918 by the United Press.)
Zurich, Switzerland, Feb. 11.-An
ominous unrest is growing daily thru
out the central empires
Germany and Austria must have
peace or go under. The people Of
both countries demand il.
If the allies stand pat on the Will
sonian program and make. stone
wall of the western front, the end of
the war is in sight.
This sums up the situation, as seen
from here. at this time:
1t does not mean that Germany is
on the brink of revolution But it
does mean the people are tired of war
and opposed to the pan-German pol
icy of conquest
Angry Over War PrivatiOns.
They are angry over the privations
at home and the losses of men folk at
the front At the same time they be-
heve President Wilson is sincere in
his statement of war aims
There is no doubt but that the
masses of the German people are be-
ginning 10 see the light Only the
diplomatic blunders of the allies have
kept them bound to the war party
this long.
For Instance Philip Scheidemann
eighteen months ago threatened some
thing little short of a revolution un-
less the junkers changed their tone.
an intimation the war would not stop
until the central powers were dis
rupted.
Thereupon. Scheidemann and his
followers automatically aligned them
selves with the government Like
rats in a corner, they meant to fight.
Judging from what everyone fresh
from Germany is saying, the allies are
now on the right track, in that they
will only continue the war until the
German war party gives up its afnbi-
Tions for world conquest, when they
are ready TO make an equitable peace
but until then they will fight re-
1entlessly.
Today the masses in Germany and
in Austria are in a mood to listen to
reason.
Domestic Conditions Appalling.
From the most dependable sources
1 have learned that domestic condi-
tions in both countries are appalling.
Austria is threatened with disrup-
ton. Long professions of women and
children are common, marching thru
the streets of the cities demanding
bread The recent strikes broke out
spontaneously because the people de-
sire peace and are hungry.
Illness is rampant. The death rate
is steadily mounting. Deaths from
consumption alone are sometimes
higher than the birth rate. strange
malady popularity called the "bread
disease is taking off multitudes.
The coal shortage is severe. There
are many deaths from the cold.
Milk is impossible to procure even
for the babies. 1t is the same with
butter and all fats The rich still live
well, securing their wants by bribery
and stupendous prices or by sending
their families to neutral countries,
But the masses suffer horribly,
despite plenty of work and high
wages. Even when they manage to
fill their stomachs the quality is SO
poor the food fails to nourish. The1t
constitutions are so weakened the
slightest malady takes them off in a
jiffy.
A crime wave is sweeping the coun-
try. People are robbed on the streets
in broad daylight. Discomfort is rife
In the meantime two parties are strug-
Cling for mastery. One is the small
DOW erful plutocratic war party which
clearly seeing disaster ahead, is at
tempting TO browbeat the masses to a
b point where they will support unprec-
edonted losses in terrific attempt tc
drive thru the Franco British lines
The other is the peoples party, un-
organized. but to which 80 per cent OF
the population at heart belong
They oppose another big offensive
anG call for Cancellation and peace
claiming even the capture of Paris and
Calais. We're this possible. would not
end the war, but would, on the con-
trary. prolong it.
Doctor Dernberg, among others, is
of this view,
War Party Promises Victory.
The war party says peace can only
be secured by fighting. They promise
early peace, if the people will follow
them.
Thus the offensive being prepared
by Hindenburg and LJrdendorf is pos
itively Germanys LATEST card. AND
only on the promise that it will bring
Immediate peace do the people agree
that it be played.
q The French of Nerdun and the Brit
isl: of Ypres hold the trump card.
Behind them America has a fresf
hand.
l repeat-the centrals must hav,
peace soon, one way or another, or thu
masses will force the government
hand
: It's up to France. Great Britain anC
the United States.
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