Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-11-29
THE KAISER AS l KNEW
HIM FOR FOURTEEN YEARS

One OF tne principal articles OF fresh
meat to be seen in the butcher shops
consisted of black crows. They were
selling at 70 cents apiece. There was
something ludicrous in the thought Of
the Germans being compelled to "eat
crow" but there was little to laugh at
in eating 1t oneself.
To obtain oil, prizes were offered to
the school children to collect fruit
seeds, from which 1t could be extract
ed, and veritable mountains of the
seeds were thus obtained.
The last meal l had in Berlin was
on January p, 1918, when dined at
the Hotel Adlon. 1t consisted of one
sardine, three thin slices of cold
smoked salmon. soup which was hard
ly more than hot salt water, two small
boiled potatoes and as substitute for
cornstarch pudding. No butter and no
sauces of any kind were served. Black
bread took in my pocket. The check
for this elaborate table d'hote meal
amounted to $3.50.
To sum up the situation as / was
able to observe it, living conditions In
Germany in January of this year were
rapidly becoming absolutely unbear-
able. How much worse they can be-
come without bringing on internal
troubles which will bring about the
collapse Of the German empire. can be
only matter of conjecture.
The twentieth century has seen such
radical changes in world conditions,
views and aspirations, that am afraid
history will prove but poor guide to
the future. In the past few centuries,
Germany has experienced several more
or less serious social revolutions, but 1t
would be dangerous to predicate very
much upon those abortive uprisings.
AS long as the officers remain stanch
to the kaiser little may be expected
In the way of successful revolution,
no matter how discontinued and rebel
lious the people at large may grow, but
believe that the time will surely come
when the officers themselves will turn
against their government.
There may be two revolutions. The
civilians, consisting of women, old men
and youths and others who hive moi
been called into the army, may rise up
but their effort will be in vain. The
defeat of such an uprising, however
may be the signal for greater one IL
which portion of the army itself will
take part, and then civil war will re
the worlds history.
The basis for this belief lies in tn,
fact that the officers of the German
army realize the extent of the distress
prevailing throughout the country
Their families, as well as those of tn,
rank and file are suffering from under
nourishment and privations. and the.
know, even better than their interiors
the extent of the reverses which tn,
German army has suffered and will
continue to suffer and how the govern
ment has misrepresented actual con
ditions.
If the German officers consisted en-
tirely of men of the old SCHOONER
who were willing to fight for fighting
sake and who would rather cOntinu
the war until the last German ha,
dropped than give in-we could no
look for much in this direction.
But the rayages of war have dis
posed of large percentage of thes,
bred-in-the-bone officers and thei
places have been taken by civilian'
who have been raised from the ranks
Therein lies the hope of a successful
revolution.
Will not venture a guess as to wheI
that will be, but feel sure that it viii
certainly come about. Fortified by ,
large portion of the army, the German
people will at last turn on their ruler!
and destroy the throne and the whole
HOhenzollern regime.
In this connection, l recall &
prophecy made early in the way ny al
honored colleague of m.ne of Dresden
an American dentist who hsd lived ant
practiced in Germany for forty years
ana understood the German people ant
their rulers as well, perhaps. MS any
man alive. He WAS leader of his
profession and man whose judgment
on all things was most accurate. He
was in close contact with many leading
figures Of the German nobility.
"Germany will lose the war because
her cause is wrong" he declared. "She
Will fight 1t through to the bitter end
uAiii the foundations of the empire are
absolutely Destroyed"
THE END