The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-06

tude has left the German masses. So
long as the war was ostensibly being
waged for the preservation of Ger
many the kaiser could rely on the
backing of united people. But fol-
lowing the collapse of Russia and the
removal of the immediate danger to
the Fatherland. the demand for peace
or the part of the German masses has
been insistent. for 1t becomes crystal
clear to them that the struggle was
being continued, not for their indie
pendence as nation. but merely for
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT and the in
creased power OF the Junker caste. 1t
is In the recognition of this fact by
the German proletariat that we must
look. as / suggest. for the true ex-
planation of the almost incessant re-
volts. sporadic and ineffective, but
still very significant, that sooner or
later will result in a dfsruptive up
heaval inside the central empires.
At first, the discomfort of the Ger
man masses found expression in par
liamentary agitation. in resolutions
against annexation, and in demonstra-
lions demanding peace II was very
easy for the kaiser TO ignore or side
track these. but mark what followed
The agitation for peace entered on
another phase. The people ceased to
look to the reichstag for relief. Strikes
at munitions factories began to be an
almost constant phenomenon. they
were followed by sabotage. by .ncen-
diarism. bly, by explosions at NUM-
lions factories. fires at aircraft fac
tories. and finally by the great strike
which took place throughout Germany
in the middle of February last,
strike which President wilson has told
US he is satisfied from careful in
qulrifs was political in Its aim. and
- as definitely intended by its authors
TO enforce The cessation Of the war
upon the kaiser.
MiIitartsm Triumphed.
That strike was suppressed. ORA
eoons charged the people in the syeets
OF Berlin. The leaders were sent to
imprisonment for FIVE years, others
were shot out OF hand. For the
moment miittarism .riumphed and
there followed the great offensive Of
the German army which began on
March % and was to have ended on
the complete victory over the allied
forces. Paris. however. is stfn uncap-
tured The allied armies are intact.
achievements are pouring In from
America and, almost imm ediately there
reappeared all the symptoms of disor-
der inside the central empires with
hunger riots. sabotage. and. so far as
Austria hungary Is concerned. almost
open revolt The German people, In
my view. are getting desperate and the
failure OF Hindenburg 10 win swift
decision in the west and OF the gov
eminent TO provide additional food
supplies from the Ukraine. Is likely TO
involve the kaiser IN d. catastrophe,
from which no recovery Is possible.
Unless within the next few weeks~the
kaiser can force decision In the west,
We shall have chronicled a series of
happenings inside Germany that will
ciagger humanity. We shall read of
strikes. of riots, OF bloody upheavals
and Of revolts before which the Boil
sl,eviki excuses will appear insignin-
cant
II the kaiser can but achieve a spec
tacuiar success in the west he will
avert or postpone the catastrophe. II
not. then for my part I am persuaded
that his empire will be rent in twain
rom within.