The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-09-12
pOPUlACE IN PANICKY STATE
Rotterdam Correspondent OF the Lon
don Daily Telegraph Says There
Are More Than 10000 Desert
ers In Berlin Alone.


zatian Of the German population and
widespread and growing dissatisfac-
don in the German army, accompanied
by mutiny and assertions. are describ-
ed In dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
from Its Rotterdam correspondent.
The correspondent says that informa-
ton reaching him Is so sensational as
TO inspire skepticism but declares that
he has received confederation from au-
thoritative sources which establishes
the authenticity OF the information he
yond a doubt.
He asserts that the German army
Is filled with dependency and seeth-
Ing with mutinous spirit, and that
alarming outbreaks have occurred In
several units. principally Bavarian and
Silesian. One incident Of the Arras
front terminated in whole Bavarian
division being dlsarmed and transport
ed TO Bavaria. where II was placed In
prison camp, and the mutiny of one
Of the Silesian regiments resulted in
nearly 100 Of Its men being executed.
Wholesale DesertIons.
A huge number Of desertions are oc-
curing the correspondent says. and
II Is estimated that there are more
than 10000 deserters in Herlln alone.
Large numbers are scattered through
out the country, and the authorities
are having the greatest difficulty In
trailing deserters, owing to the con
nivance OF the working classes. New
ertheless, hundreds have been arrested
and generally these have been SEN
fenced TO fifteen years Imprisonment. A
great number Of imprisoned deserters.
broken by solitary confinement. have
been released and sent back 70 the
ranks.
Disobedience and defiance Of off,
GERS Is common AT the front. accord
ing 10 the correspondents information.
and n similar spirit is shown In the
munition factories. where the workers
deliberately are slowing up, with the
result that the output has been seri-
ously decreased.
Death for Rail Tamperlng.
The military commander In the dis
/ trict Of Altoona. Prussia. has issued a
proclamation. warning the populace
against damaging the railroads and
thus exposing military transports 70
danger says dispatch to the Ex-
change Telegraph from Copenhagen.
The proclamation. the correspondent
adds. threatens the death sentence up
on such persons as are found guilty
of disobeying the order.
Public interest today is quite equal
ly> divided between the unbroken ad-
vance Of the allied armies and the ap-
parent signs that the German people
are In state OF nervous anxiety Dor
dering on decentralization. More edi-
torial space is being given here re-
Gently TO future events than the re-
| treat OF the German army. The be-
lief that something like a papic has
seized the German populace is not
based upon stories from neutral
sources which have raised false hopes
In the past. but upon the utterances
of the leaders I'm the German nation
and the appeals Of German newspapers
] w wv ph'ii' w h''p us h'uus NHlIt
they themselves admit the seriousness
of the military situation.
The emperOr's bold vein of assur-
ance, Chancellor Hertling's franchise
speech, General Linsingen's stringent
order, and above all Field Marshal
Hindenburg's proclamation are cited
as manifest efforts to check the decay
Of the German spirit. which is con-
tended must exist TO have called them
forth.
In short. II is declared that the Ger
man people and perhaps also the mill
tary chiefs evidently are greatly dis
turbed by recent events.
Kaiser BaIks Ballot Reform.
Amsterdam. Sept. 9.-In the course
OF debate on franchise reform In the
Prussian upper house. Friedberg, vice
president Of the Prussian state minis
try. said that the government respect
ed the sentiments which had found ex-
preston and was therefore striving for
an understanding which. however,
must not conflict with the fundamental
ideas OF the emperor's message OF July
II, 1917. He said he did not believe
the necessary sequel 10 the extension
OF the franchise would be parliament
tization OF the government. The ap-
pointment OF ministers was the privi-
-. l.