Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-29

III AiOGIf-0 iii D1-4DuL llc LO-lLA were
thoroughly ransaeked and -~erythlng
in the way OF copper. brass or alu-
minum fixtures or cooking utensils that
wasn't absolutely necessary was
seized.
Horses were gradually disappearing
from sight when left early this year.
One saw them lying about the streets
where they dropped from exhaustion,
and what disposition was made Of their
corpses can well be imagined. II is
quite certain that no part was wasted
Dogs, too, nearly vanished from city
life. A man / know, who had kept a
fine Newfoundland dog. told me that it
had disappeared one night and the
next day its skin was found hanging
on the fence with a sign reading:
~Died for the fatherland."
One of the 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 we're offered to
the school children TO collect fruit
seeds, from which it could be extract
ed. and yeritable mountains Of the
seeds were thus obtained
The last meal I had in Berlin was
on January q, 1913. when dined at
the Hotel Adlon- II consisted Of one
sariine, three thin slices Of cold
smoked salmon, soup which was hard
" more than hot salt water, two small
boiled potatoes and as a 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 $40.
To sum up the situation as I was
able TO observe il, 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 viii bring about the
collapse OF the German empire can be
only a matter Of conjecture
The twentieth century has seen such
radical changes In world conditions,
views and aspirations, that am afraid
history will prove but a poor guide 10
the future In the past few centuries
Germany has experienced several more
or less serious social revolutions, but IL
would be dangerous to predicate very
much upon those ahortiye uprisings-
As long as the officers remain stanch
to, the kaiser little may be expected
in the way OF a successful revolution,
no matter how discontinued and rebel
Hous the people at large may grow. but
1 believe that the time viii surely come
when the officers themselves viii turn
against their government
There may be two revolutions. The
civilians. consisting Of women, old men
and youths and others who have not
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 in
which portion of the army itself VIII
take part, and then a civil war viii re-
suit which Will have no counterpart in
the worlds history.
The basis for this belief lies in the
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 the
rank and file are suffering from under
nourishment and privations. and they
know, even better than their interiors,
the extent Of the reverSes which the
German army has suffered and viii
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 school-men
who were willing 10 fight for fighting's |
sake and who would rather continue |
the war until the last German had /
dropped than give in-we could not /
look for much in this direction.
But the ravages Of war have dis
posed OF 4 large percentage Of these /
bred-in-the-bone officers and their /
places have been taken By civilians |
who have been raised from the ranks. !
Therein lies the hope Of a successful /
viii not venture a guess as 10 when 4
that viii be. but 1 feel sure that it viii /
come about. Fortified by /
arge portion of the army. the German 1
people viii ar last turn on their rulers
and destroy the throne and the whole /
regime.
In this connection. I recall a /
prophecy made early in the war by an /
colleague Of mine OF Dresden. /
IN American dentist who had lived and /
'ractieed in Germany for forty years 1
md understood the German people and 4
heir rulers as well. perhaps. as any /
nan alive. He was a leader Of his !
Profession and a man whose judgment i
N all things was most accurate. He
vas in close contact with many leading
igures OF the German nobility.
Germany viii lose the war because