The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-04
The decision must be won on the west

munition factories and military environments.
The German war party is not worrying halt so
much about the labor disturbances at home as 1t
is about the unknown strength which America
has added to the cause Of the Allies. If German
camouflage can bring about relaxation OF Amer
ica's activity, it will be great accomplishment.
In the calculations of the German military au-
thorities the military strength OF the United
States is still an undetermined factor. So far our
efforts have been derided and the German peo-
pie have been told that Americas entrance into
the war is neglible factor. The common people,
however, evidently have accepted this derogatory
opinion with reserve, for they know that the AL
lies have gained powerful friend and that our
resources of men and material can hardly be off
set by increased German effort.
If the United States can persuade the German
military leaders and people that our preparations
are going on with increased speed and vigor, their
morale and determination to win the war will be
undermined, and the Allies will find it easier to
smash the divisions that have been modified on
the western front
Contrariwise, If we accept at face value the re-
ports emanating from Berlin and abate the extent
of our preparation, we are bolstering up the Ger
man morale and increasing the Teutonic deter
mination to win.
1t is clear that the Kaiser would believe it to
his advantage to have other countries, the United
States especially, obtain an idea that Germany is
in worse condition than it really is. If the la
Dor situation is acute, Germany certainly would
not want the outside world to know it, unless it
served her interests to have this knowledge
scattered broadcast.
The German military leaders may be gambling
that news of German labor disturbances will
create unrest among the workmen of France,
Great Britain and the United States, and that the
combined agitation of these men will force a
speedy consideration OF peace terms as result
of which Germany virtually could hold the terri
tory she now occupies by force of arms.
Others interesting conjectures may be adj
duced to explain the reason why the censor is per-
hitting news of German labor riots to reach the
outside world. The leaders of the Allies and our
own government are paying no attention to the al
legged bad industrial conditions of Germany. The
people will do we'll to follow their example and
turn deaf ears to the siren song of the German
tricksters.
Berlin dispatches indicate how quickly the re-
volt has been put down. Workers and civilians
have been officially notified that they will be shot
if they congregate in groups.
Do you want more convincing proof of the
war parts ability to handle the internal situa-
ton?
Philip Schedemann's prominence in the "Peo-
pies Council which demands exclusive right of
dealing with the government, may induce some to
believe that the revolt is headed by big liberals.
We have no proof that Scheidemann is not an i'm
perial agent, coached by the war lords to assume
Imperial Government may be sure that the rebels
will not make demands that it does not want to
coneede.
The labor revolts may be genuine, but until we
have better evidence than the dispatches on
which base our conclusion, it is wisdom to dis
count the whole outbreak and redouble efforts
at home to put an aggressive and we'll prepared
army in the Field.