The Sentinel=record., 1918-10-10
CONDITIONS iN AUSTRIA
 WORSE THAN GERMANY
It Is Regarded as a Foregone conclus- ion That Turkey is Already Lost to the Central Powers Minister Sharp is Investigating Devastation of the Germans in France and Eel sium.

Washington. Oct. 9.-An early re- sponse to President Wilson's note of inquiry to the German chancellor is expected by American officials While Fealzing that an answer to the three pertinent questions put to the prince of Baden will be difficult if the or iginal proposal of the German gov ernmeGt were not sincere. officials are .confident that internal conditions in Germany and the tremendous exigen- cies of the military situation win force speedy action.
 So far as the hold of the govern ment upon the people is concerned, conditions in Austria are even far worse than these in Germany. This fact is calculated to strongly affect the German government which is un- derstOod to entertain grave doubts Of the strength of the purpose of the dual monarchy and to fear that Aus tria, or perhaps Hungary, acting In- dependently will follow Bulgaria ie seeking an unconditional peace This would leave Germany to wage the war alone for 1t is a foregone conclusion that Turkey already is lost to the central alliance.
 The pointed inquiry directed to Prince MaXimian as to whether he Is speaking merely for the constituted authorities for tbe empire gno have so far conducted the war, tt is believed will be embarrassing If the response is in the affirmative, Germanys pro posal will be reJected as the president has already given notice that he will have no dealings with such author ities.
 The powerful socialist elements in the reichstag also are counted upon to resent any such statement by the chancellor as directly in conflict with the reiehstag resolution of July, 1917, on which the very recent pledges to make the cabinet a representative body. under which the socialists were enticed to take part in the government
 On the other hand if Maximllian at- tempts to repudiate the military party he undoubtedly will bring about de- mand from that still powerful organ1 ization for his retirement and .he adoption of a reactionary policy.
 The general belief here is that the chancellor will endeavor to find a middle course and confine himself n his reply to half way admissions, hop ling thus to begin a long diplomatic discussion which might develop dir 1 ferences between the entente allies and America, as to war aims and to lower the armies opposed to the cen tral powers Any such move Is cer- tain of failure anI in the meantime the German army in the west arc be
 ing subjected to hard blows by Mar shal Foch's forces-blows which arc
 adding to the difficulties of the Ger man high command in extricating their forces from an already serious i situation.
 The fact that American Minister i Sharpe is making a personal inyesti- gation of the havoc wrought by the Germans in their forced retirement from French and Belgian territory nas led to the belief that 1t is the purpose Of the state department to fully sup port the enormous claims for damages win be forced as condition of peace So far Germany has not indicated a disposition to join with the entente iallies in continuing threat to destroy 1 a German city or town in retaliation for every such community destroyed by the Germans .n France and Belgium, /, but Mir Sharpels inyestisation might be regarded as also including pur-