Evening star., 1918-01-20

pressure.
principles the demands Of Chancellor
Won HeEtling and the moderates per-
tanning to the east will be needed. while
Won Hindenburg and his followers will
be permitted to have their way in the
west. in order that further political
strife may be avoided. That this un-
derstanding is unlikely is indicated by
the fact that the pan-German press con-
tinues stoutly to champion the idea
that Germany should never surrender
her advantage in the east. Possibly
this principle is sanctioned in official
circles of Berlin, inasmuch as the Ger
man armies have accomplished little in
the west in the past two years and the
result of their forthcoming effort re-
ma ins in doubt.
It was rumored during the past week
that Count Won Hertling was to step
down and that he was not to be per
mitted to deliver the answer OF Ger
many and her allies to the entente pow
ers. It was claimed that Won Hert-
thermore was reported that Count Won
Hertling radically disagreed with the
pan-Germans and had refused to stand
sponsor for the principles OF ag-
grandizement championed by Won Hin
denburg and Won Ludendorff.
X
The significant fact in the situation
is that Won Hertling's appearance be-
Repeated Delay fore the main
:. committee Of the
In Stating Aims. reichstag has been
three times postponed. That there is
dissension and that the highest officials
of the German government are having
difficulty in reaching an amicable un-
derstanding as to what shall and shall
not be said in order to influence inter
nal sentiment, and as to how far Ger
many shall or shall not go in her an
swer to the entente, is made plain by
this one fact alone.
There have been increasing reports
that it is but a question of time until
Chancellor Won Hertling and Won kuehl-
mann are forced to step down and a vir-
tual military dictatorship established
over the German empire.
The militarists may win the govern
ment, they may establish military die
tatorship as has been limited. they may
usher in period of intense warfare
on the Italian western or Macedonian
fronts Immediately after the statement
of aims and purposes. but, will the mil
itarists be able to perpetuate them
selves indefinitely until they have run
their whole bloody course?
Most recent reports from Germany
indicate that the keenest suffering pre-
walls. The spirit of discomfort with the
existing order of things has even per-
vaded the army. One dispatch chron-
icles a serious mutiny of U-boat crews
at Kiel, where thirty-eight officers are
declared to have been slain. Food riots
have been more frequent in the larger
cities of the nation. Even Chancellor
Won Hertling was forced to admit to
the Prussian upper house of the Prus-
sian diet that conditions in the large
Industrial centers of the empire are
terrible. Neutrals declare the people
are murmuring loudly against the con-
tinuance of the war.
The general verdict, however, is that
the military war lords of the empire
will be able to keep the German people
in line as long as there is hope left.
The people are being led to expect
much of the great offensive on the
western front. Dispatches indicate that
during the past week there has been
even greater curtailment of public
train service in Germany, the govern
ment utilizing carriers to transport
more troops to the west.
The weakest spoke in the Germany
war wheel is believed to be Austria
ii 1un gary. The
Weakest Spoke in German militar-
German Wheel. 80 aaac,. @ "e aDie
own people, and, if not, hold them in
check should they offer serious menace
as the result of the breaking off of
negotiations with the Russians but it i
is extremely doubtful according to best
informed military observers, that Ger
many with all her influence can much |
longer keep Austria in line. |
After the great offensive into Italy
the Austrian peoples temporarily for
got of their hunger. their paper shoes /
their ragged clothes and general ma
tional economic chaos. They turned to |
huZzahs for the army and the emperor
The Teutonic advance was halted by !
the Italian, however, and to day there |
is little prospect of further striking |
gains by the hosts of the kaiser and |
Emperor Charles. What was to have |
been a debacle for the Italians has re-
suited only in the Strengthening of |
Italian courage and purpose. Teutonic |
leaders have failed in their
promises in this direction. and the re-
action that has set in in Austria has
been truly of serious proportions when |
viewed from a German standpoint,
The Austrians, Hungarians and slav
peoples subject to the Austro-Hunga-
rian governments wre in high hopes
that the negotiations at Brest-Litovsk I
would be the first step toward ending
the struggle. These peoples hailed the
democratic principles of self-defhition |
and peace without annexations and in
IDENTITIES. Germany has promised Po-
land to Austria, but, in fact. the peo-
pies of Austria and Hungary today do
not desire. Poland il the obtaining of /
this country is to defer the day of
peace. They hailed the pronunciamento
that Germany was in accord with Rus
sian principles. Austrian and Hun
garian newspapers engaged in extend
ed comment on the negotiations and in
every action and speech saw a step to-
ward the end Of the war. The disap-
pointment occasioned by the let-up Of +
successful activities in Italy was not
half SO great as the disappointment in
Austria-Hungary over the reversal of
the stand on the part of the Teutons at
which eventually may
lead to a permanent split with the
Russians If the bolshevik leaders
should happen to be sincere.
Already there has been serious riot I,
ing in many Of the cities Of Bohemia,
Hungary and Aus
Rioting Follows tria. The people