The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-10-11
RULE OF WILHELM
GROWING WEAKER
WASHINGTON SEES SIGNS OF
LOSS OF DEsPoTIc CON-
TRoL BY MILITARISTS
MAKE DEMOCRATIC PRETENSE
Belated Attempt to Erect Structure of
Government by the People, Hop
ing Entente Statesmen Will
Treat With 1t

Washington, Oct. 3.-Even the most
conservative of military observers
here are convinced that the German
grip on France and Belgium has been
definitely broken Outflanked in Bel
gium and in the Champagne, the great
Hindenburg line already was becoming
untenable when the forces of Field
Marshal Haig crashed through it yes
terday just north of st. Quentin. Mil
ltary authorities here were inclined
to speculate more on the efforts of
the German command to extricate its
armies from the allied pincers than
upon other possible offensive thrusts.
1t was believed that the penetration
of the Hindenburg line might furnish
Foch with means with which to en-
barrass the German retreat, always
with the possibility Of precipitating
rout
| Thus Outflanked in Belgium and in
the Champagne, and with ST. Quentin
in the hands of the entente, the swift
widening of the breach in the line.
coupled with the continued rapid prog
ress of French, Belgian and British |
forces in Belgium. it is thought here |
may possibly upset the whole German |
scheme of retirement which already |
had begun on the Rheims front
Hinged by wall of victorious enc
mics over the whole front from the
North sea to Verdun, the legions of
the German empire are face to face
with disaster. Official reports to the
state department yesterday indicate
that the evacuation of the submarine
bases on the Belgian coast is imm-
nent. There also is conclusive evil
dence that the evacuation of the lines
before Rheims is we'll under way.
kaiserism Weakening.
Signs are multiplying in reports
reaching the state department from I
various agencies in neutral European
countries of the rapid weakening of I
the despOtic control which the mill Re
fary elements in Germany and Austria [
have imposed upon the civilian popula- t
ions. So extensive and consequential
ire the events quickly following one :
mother in Berlin and Vienna that
|
7inced the imperial rulers have been a
orced, however reluctantly, to the con- =
fiction that if they are to preserve o
heir dynasties from destruction they n
must yield to the growing demands of n
he civilian elements for the right of +;
in the government during q,
his crisis. vi
Make Democratic Pretense.
Germanic rulers are apparently
taking belated attempt to erect al
tructure of democratic government m
trough the creation of cabinets re- In
ponsible to the parliaments in the nj
ope that the entente statesmen will 70
e willing to treat with these bodies. w
Indications of such purpose are te
scovered in various utterances and in
cts of the German and Austrian
aders. In his acceptance of the
,signation of Chancellor Won Hert-
ng, Emperor William appealed to h.,
lie strong men of Germany to come =,
his aid and share the burdens of -,
direct bid for the sup ~ ~
,rt of the Socialists and Centrists ~. ~.
return for participation in the cab
w;
Socialists Block Plans. to,
Such change in Germany doubt
IS would be followed, if not indeed
eceded, by similar revolution in a.
lstrian parliamentary government. ~,
One interesting development in the A.
,rman internal situation, and de-
ribed as likely to have far-reaching -,
was the refusal of the -
cialists to enter the government as -
present constituted, indicative of a 80
to hold out for the right
the majority party in the reichstag +
name the members of the cabinet uoa
IN though that involves the change 49,
the German constitution. -