Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-18
Although Labor Outbreaks
Were Put Down Unrest in
Berlin and Other Cities Near
Breaking Point.
ENTHUSIASM LACKING AT
REPORT OF VICTORY
Dissatisfaction Of action With
Chancellor Likely to Lead
to Another Change in
ChanceIIorS.
tBy Van der Klutc. by tho Interna-
tiOnal News Bureau. Incl

tBy Van der Klutc. by tho mterna-
tiOnal News Rureau. Incl
The Hague, Feb Whatever hid
den strategy may underlie this ap-
pearance OF great national dispute,
it is impossible to deny that the Ger
man masses are perceptibly nearer
the breaking point than they have
ever been before.
The signs of bitter discomfort are
more open than at any time during
The course of the war; and the causes
are more pressing and more varied.
Never has the general ill-health of
the civilian population been more ap-
parent than now, just as the period of
extreme scarcity is opening afresh for
the winter.
clothing have undermined the stoutest
constitutions; and now Germany
wakes to the realization of the fact
that no substitute can be provided for
fuel, to warm and light the war-weary
workers through the bitterest winter
they have experienced for quarter
of a century.
Mocked by "Victories."
Victories no longer arouse any gen.
uine enthusiasm among these people,
who have celebrated too many vaunt-
ed successes in the field, only to find
themselves more destitute and hope
less as q consequence.
The promised offensive in the wes,
is the cause Of. nothing but apprehen-
sion, the relatives of the soldiers
openly prophesying another blood
bath of Verdun."
Faith in the submarine campaign
has given way to loudly expressed
fears of the ultimate consequences oi
frightfulness at sea upon Germany
econimic relations with the outside
world.
More important still the German
public has at last realized that the en-
try OF America into the war is no
mere bluff. as they have SO often been
assured
The fact that millions of American
soldiers will be poured into the war
zone before the summer has reached
its prime is generally recognized, ana
misgivings have turned to profound
pessimism.
Wave OF Crime.
Self-restraint and respect for me
law have given way under the strain.
and crimes against property have in
creased abnormally. Many young
women have figured in the courts
charged with forgery, embezzlemen'
and similar offenses. and all seem to
advance the same plea
Money will still buy necessities and
Injuries In Germany, though the
prices are infinitely higher These
girl thieves all declare they stole 70
buy food for themselves and depend
ants.
one girl who had paid SIS for a
ham and $40 for goose, 10 iurhisl
a dinner, with other accessories ~
proportionate prices, was sentenced u
twelve months imprisonment Hei
case was so common that it escaped
comment in the German press
Political Chaos.
The fall of Michaelis represented
the failure of an attempt to ignore
the collapse of the fighting spirit II
civilian Germany.
All the portents point to another at
tempt TO ignore the spirit of the peo'
pie, and the insistent cry of Germany
allies for peace. But popular feelint
flows much more strongly than at tn
time of the last reaction, and the ex
pertinent may prove most hazardous
one.
The crown prince returned to Ber
lin the other day to accomplish tn
fall of Hertling, the chancellor, jus
as he had previously acted as the opel
instrument in the downfall of Beth
mann-Hollweg. The great crisis Of thu
war finds Germany in the throes of ;
political convulsion.
With Hertling, it is extremely likel!
that Kuhlmann will also be cast from
office. and that the old breach be
tween the German and Austrian EN-
peror will be re-opened.
The reconstruction of the ministr.
has again been brought about By tn
military party, backed by the who'll
strength Of pan-Germanism. and th
mower of the great munition kings.
willy Bolsheviki.
Hertling, no less than Kuhlmann
allowed himself to be misled by tn
apparent simplicity of Trotsky and nj
Bolsheviki coadjutors, and the pal
found themselves in cleft-stick.
On the one side the German social
lists called upon two minister's to liv
up to their professions; on the othe
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(CsatlnDed - rnss Twe)