The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-12-19

the Hotel Adlon. 1t consisted OF one
sardine, three thin slices of cold
smoked salmon, soup which was hard
ly 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 l took in my pocket. The check
for this elaborate table d'hote meal
amounted to $3.50.
To sum up the situation as I was
able to observe it, 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 will bring about the
collapse of the German empire can be
only a matter of conjecture.
The twentieth century has seer such
radical changes in world conditions,
views and aspirations, that 1 am afraid
history will prove but a poor guide TO
the future. In the past few centuries,
Germany has experienced several more
or less serious social revolutions, but it
would be dangerous to predicate very
much upon those abOrtive 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
lious the people at large may grow, but
1 believe that the time will surely come
when the officers themselves will turn
against their government.
There may be two revolutions. The
civilians, consisting Of women, old men
n youths and OtherS who live not
been called into the army, may rise up.
but their effort will be III vain. The
defeat of such an uprising, however,
may be the signal for a greater one In
which a portion Of the army itself will
take part, and then a civil wal will 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 we'll as those of the
ank and file are suffering from under.
nOurishment and ppivations, and they
know, even better than their interiors
the extent of the reverSeS which the
German army has suffered and will
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-mer
who were willing to fight for fighting's
sake and who would rather continue
the war until the last German hat
dropped than give in-we could no
lock for much in this direction.
But the ravages of war have dis
posed Of a large percentage of these
bred-in-the-bone officers and theil
places have been taken by civilians
who have been raised from the ranks
Therein lies the hope of a successful
revolution.
L will not venture a guess as to wher
that will be, but l feel sure that it will
certainly come about. Fortified by 6
large portion of the army, the German
people will at last turn OF their ruler.
m destroy the throne and the whole
H~ohenzollern regime.
In this connection, I recall
prophecy made early in the war by ar
honored colleague Of mine Of Dresden
an American dentist who had lived ant
practiced in Germany for forty year.
and understood the German people ant
their rulers as well, perhaps, as an!
man alive. He was a leader Of hi.
profession and a man whose judgmen,
on all things was most accurate. He
was in close contact with many leading
figures of the German nobility.
Germany will lose the war because
her cause is wrong" he declared. "Sht
will fight it through to the bitter end
until the foundations of the empire arr
absolutely destroyed"
THE END.