New-York tribune., 1918-10-12
German Unrest Is
Shown by Comment
On Wilson'S Note
lunkers Trying to Save
Own Skins Before
People Act
Try to Hearten Public
Spirit of Resistance Is Famed
in Case Allies Refuse
to Farley
Bv II. w. Smith
,seeosal cable to The 7rionae)

ANsTFRDAM. Oct, 11.-ln the Lon
-, comment on the German peace
,Oytures which has been wired here l
.otc fine remark that Germany is max
mo political virtue out of military
.scessity. This is true only in the linn
,,,a sense that the military disasters
,ava convinced all the minority in the
,onrt and military circles that peace af-
.,rds them the only hope Of saving
,hs;r own skins. The nation at large
sincerely desires peace and apparently
- eren willing 20 make amends.
n might perhaps too easily be AS
.unsd that on the advice OF linden
nurc II was decided that peace must be
nod 81. anv price. But whether this IL
q or rot. it should be remembered that
- ,onx ago as March Hindenburg WAS
convinced that Germany could NO
lonrer homo TO carry through success
s,,,v her offensive Although he Was
overhorne by Ludepdorf and his Clique,
40 may we'll take tho view after the dis
,sters Of the last six months that even
defensive war viii prove beyond her
nowers The failure Of the spring Of
sonsive. which he opposed. has added TO
h;s nrestigo, and il is safe to predlct
mo. his advice will be followed this
,;ne and that the opposition OF tho
army CLIQUE and the Junkers, who share
With LudendorfT the responsibility 1of
she German disasters IN the nrth Fsas
~ tne war. will not affect the lSsue.
Meanwhile. one note is beng STRUCK
again and again in the German papers
N obedience to ofnclal promp~'hs'
.boueh perhaps because it does echo
.so s.ronp feeling Of very large pro
,o-t;on of the German people. 1t ls
,honrht that should the reply OF ths
A1I;os maize Il clear that they intend
lso-nnanv.s absolute subsection and par.
-ial disnem herment. the nation WIZ,
,n;.o IN life and death struggle and
S~bt bitterly to the end. Herr Rath~
anau's article on the text in the 'Nos-
sischc Zeitung" ignores, however. wnat
< almost an anguished longing 1nr
neace which prevails among the work
ing millions.
Workers Tired Of War
As far 80 their views and aspirations
oi,herto have been represented in the
nrexs. Il has been mainly by the "Vor.
warts" the "Rerlner Tageblatt' and
he "Ger-nania" that is. by organs OIL
the Social Democrats and ProgressiTes'
The left wing OF the centre OF shese
parties is responsible for such REFORMS
as have been obtained by their leaders
Who have been called TO share IN the
government. and their papers have been
as one in declaring the chance for good
work IL in their hands; but the people
,hev nominaliy represent want retnrms'
lsreely because of the belief that they
will smooth a way for peace and tnaI
nssce will nut an end to their niseYies
and give thonl bread.
When thov find peace is not to he had
al the nlice put forward by the new
democratic COVE ernment, whether they
viii De content 10 carry on the ion%.
continued underfeeding and the NE
stripped bare of every comfort and az
deviation IS & factor tha% Will h@So "
De reckoned with.
This winter food is likely 10 be q
more difficult problem than last. The
trouble began with the ruin Of the early
potatoes. and the late potatoes are re-
ported 10 better. The food depart
ment offered farmers high premiums
tor the carly thrashing of wheat. and
Germany thus began to live. rms
ears corr harvest exhaust ie set At an
slarLlinoly early date now. Nitn TIE
failure CT the crop the use Of potatoes
toY dilutinc the bread -four may have
% he reconsldered.
Prepare for Bitter Fight
The Kaiser's overtures may on one
nand keep Germany fighting, or on the
other nay dictate surrender, but the
balance. ! think, is against the former
pessibil;ty from the military viewpoint.
Already imperative provisions nave
oeen made against the consequences
expected from the breakdown OF Aus-
tria and Turkey. Shortening Of the
front will be imposed by necessity of
defending the frontiers, and this means
,he abandonment Of most Of what h.
oeen won in the East. the danger on
The West must grow as American mill
IONS continue to arrive, and the sprirg..
at the latest, will confront Germany
WITH an altogether overwhelming 81
periorlty against her. Meantime her
people will live through the fifth v'intay
OF the war certainly no more resigned
'nan last year. when there we've orli
nous signs of trouble and q great strike
et munitions workers which seriously
alarmed the government and which YES
headed off by the Social Democratic
'saders as part Of their old bargain
with the government. But if war goes
VI there Will be more strikes this
WINTER and those who know say they
Nul De moro Independently organized
.Aan before and that men viii not
pIeYe so amenable Altogether. Ge.-
many may soon think it is time to cut
and ro1x ,..t. .l,