The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-05
GERMANY TAKES
STERN STEPS TO
CHECK UNREST
Intense Canvass to End
Propaganda of Workers
Based on War Losses.
SEE FOOD SHORTAGE SOON
Socialists Protest Military
Policy Is Raising New Crop
Of Small Enemies.
yGec'di Gable D,spo,ch TO The sux from ne
London Times

yrec'di Gable D.spoica 10 The srS from ne
London Times.
Copyright. 1918; oil r|oAn reserved.
THE HAGUE, May "A traveller who
has recently returned from Germany de.
clares that the most characteristic feat
ure OF the public activity OF the moment
is an intense, almost a house to house
canvass of workers. men and women.
Every conceivable argument 10 brought
to bear to urge the people to hold on.
IInformers are invited to denounce
''pessimists' and the authorities promise
stern measures against persons circulat-
Ing rumors OF terrific losses on the
battlefront.
In some OF the towns. particularly in
tho Hansa towns and certain industrial
districts OF Westphalia- -Saxony. searches
have been made for Illicit pamphlets.
This secret propaganda does not directly
iIcite strikes. hut calls attention to the
full hospitals. the long lists Of local
losses and the hopelessness OF the at
tempt to win a complete victory.
In regard to food. distribution Is the
main reason for the pronounced advan-
tage of Germany over conditions In
Austria. Most OF those OF the middle
class admit that another period of short
age and great difficulty must come at
the beginning OF June unless supplies
from the Ukraine arrive freely. but even
the ordinary German public realizes
that something worse than n shortage
threatens Austria.
"They are unreliable comrades in
arms" was a phrase heard repeatedly
both before and after the publicity given
to the letter of Emperor Charles.
German Doctors Callous.
Scenes in some Of the German hospi-
tails beggar description. There is a
shortage OF the most rudimentary es-
eertials men bleed to death merely for
| lack OF bandages or any appliances to
. make tourniquets. The German doctors
! have become absolutely callous. step
| ping indinerently over bodies lying in
pools of blood on the hospital floors
In regard to the political situation.
| observers generally are agreed that the
| farce or comedy that is being played
| in the Prussian parliament In the mat
| ter of the extension OF the franchise Is
being exploited to direct public attention
| away from the enormous price that Is
! being paid for such results as have
| been obtained on the hatt.efelds in
! France and from the threatening re-
suits Of the militarist policy in the east.
| 1t Is pointed out in this connection
that both Germany and Austria Hungary
are going through one OF those recur-
rent periods when domestic politics. with
| q show OF Government benevoleuce at
| tached. are employed to tide public opin-
| ion over awkward intervals. 1t is sig-
nifcant that DR.. David. reputed to be the
most statesmanlike OF the leaders OF the
majority Socialists. issued yesterday In
the Bremen Bur0erseitunO long appeal
| printed in heavy type. against the policy
| Of the abandonment Of the July resolu-
ton OF the Reichstag
Raising u Crop Of Enemies.
He points out that German militarisn'
by It's policy In the east has succeeded
only In raising crop OF small enemies In
| place Of one big one. Not one single
friend has been gained. and enemy coRli.
tions have not been rendered impossible
lie adds that IF Germany does not sue
ceed when peace comes in dissolving tho
coalition OF the world against her sht
has lost .hc war" DIR. David sum
marizes the situation as follows;
Even the political friendship with
tho Ukraine, the one single friendship
which seemed to have been won. now ap
pears to break down. Enmity OF broad
masses Of peoples from the Baltic TO thu
Black Sea-that In the result Of the mil
itary strategy pursued in those coun
tries"
Or. David concluded by asserting no
only that the Reichstag majority does no
think Of dropping the July resolution
but that the results in the east NOR,
than ever force the conclusion that M
such policy as that used In the cas-
must be tolerated In the west. In NOR,
than a year since the Kaiser's Easte
message Of 1917. the activities of tn
ma jority Socialists have been an accu
rate barometer Of Germanys mil;ar.
and general situation and also a meas