The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-01
PRESIDENT WILSON

Ma - ~
vented from reaching the trenches
even such serious neys as that indi'
Gated in dispatches from border ned
trails today.
Inwsesa that information is per
rpitYea TO trfcGis through h neutrals
and reach the people cf the allies.
Just when the allies people may
be raised to high hopes OF peace, ne
a "tuss when wsr effort has re-
Taxed, be it ever SO little, then me
German army. unaffected may "e
launched at our heads.
And We have absolute proof" he
added gravely that the dtsaTectton
AT home hiss not reached the army.
This comment was put forth not
in denial Of the seriousness OF the
reports az Germany, II was made IN
Tuli vseu uf reports received At IN"
United States department OF state
that:
IN a strike Of from 10000 20 %ee'Vou
laborers in Berlin ana here
originating with the independent 50"
oiallsts, but drawing in the majority
Socialists and many others. ana CON
srantiy spreading
/. The strikes are Of & marked pc
lgticaI character demanding equal SUI
rage in Prussia. peace the reform OF
She provision system. and the release
of arrested labor leaders.
3 The strikers have organized un~
der m executive committee. i~nriudlhE
S~cheidemMna. Tbar5. Braun, Haase,
Bedebour and pittensn. representing
III the most powerful of the liberal
elements in Germany,
German system Supreme.
The French official quoted admit
49, t-4.-.f4.A- 4- INnrvv ga mas
lad a Tying start. hut, Just after rom-
oletfrx a cnfurence with A1frcd Tar
a!eu. the French high commissioner
80 the United States. he insisted h a
sbare are elements In the situation
which is vitality important fer the
American and anied peoples 10 know.
ne saw 10 immediate prospect Of the
overthrow Of the German eystefn.
d military triumph in the west, ne
said. would he used by tho German
war lords 10 calm The C'a7lor al home
LEADERS o. the unrest can Re bundled
into uniform aue sent TO The front
themselves. where they VII be care
FULLY separated from other units so
that their Ideas cannot spread
IL necessary. stringent military
mcaxures cHn he employed against the
striking civilians. Fer this purpose
fl,ere are enough loyal troops and to
spare.
Rut the anal measure for the con
troll Of the mohs at home. in the opin-
ion OF this weli-iuformed observer, is
the German food card. The distribu-
ton OF food lie absolutely in The hands
of the government, Those who do
not agree with the government will be
starved.
Decisive Year NJ War.
ENrmDrb nPanEaIa hp2v4F3Ny a~rAs yE4th
President Wilson hat 1913 will be
tie yecistve wear. They DC not think,
however. that the decisive month VIII
he February. despite the great strikes
IN Germany.
The elements admitted. both by the
state department and FNreuch officials
10 be the vital ones, are these two:
l.. The dagger Of the ~stoppags or
nnunition-mak!ng in Germany.
:. The union of the majority with
the minority Socialists.
Officials at the state department
confess they are without Information
permitting them accurately to gauge
rhe Importance OF these two factors.
The stoppage Of munition-rsa kln1
wi'i have an ultimate and vital eff
feet on the German arms, 1t is an
effect that may not be felt until the
spring campaign 10 over however.
SAt AsE E&a III AAWH w ~
summer, The German armies are be-
isevsd to have a substantial surplus
ahead.
But tire stoppsee Of the shell
jathes for sven "A few days. the cloF-
ing OF the Rirpisne factories for even
n fsw hours. ts bound 10 result in an
overwhelmingly soperiority for the al
lies one Gay or another IN the future. L
in Insisted. however. that, provided
she Germans have enough r7unition*
sor the drive soon 90 come, that drive
itself will start tire wheels turning
agAIn az Essen and Berlin.
Detection of seheiaemsan-
The dsfe~fiou # scheidsv1an from
4he government forces marks the faN
Of the reich stSE rnatarifv IA nj present
eonrtituted HIS ninety Votes break
I'D vou He~t'}nEs present support,
Bat observers. tofh American nnt
french. be}ieve that p new majority
ear bs mustered from among The other
g,artfes. notably tine Conservatives,
who hitherto have heer luk@wRrn in
sneir support because 81 ths T3ildness
% Won HertlirE.
Then. y is saIajttet. tHe ~'ai s'rAE-
xas will have commenced Br that
sir7s America armies ~E' be in he
eele TIE 1u0k@rs roe loUse wtli he
srle 70 fof1 ont hopes # etnrN y
IS then. ~lth tae C3Rrmsu armies fsC0c
defsar 4r The Rel9 and Ger7"sr lther-
slisnn united 81. enwe. that the allies
fooul fer o. victory thr9SEh fhe co'-
11nxe " ne foe