The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-06
Think That Central Powers Will Be
Sorely Afflicted With Revolution
Famous Author Sees Forebodngs Of Coming Trouble in Ger
many and Austria Hungary-Whle Allies Are at Hour Of
Supreme Importance Enemy Is Threatened With Internal
Revolt-Huns Do Not Take Kindly Military Service

tBy c. Sheridan Jones. author OF
The Story of the Hohenzollen." The
Unspeakable prussian." etc. Written
especially for Universal Service)
London. July 5-what is the real
truth concerning the internal condi-
tions in the central empires? The
question is forced upon us by the re-
markable reports now appearing In
the Worlds Press as to the condition
Of affairs throughout Australian
and Germany-reports of riots. str 'kes.
sabotage and incendiarism on the part
of the civil population and the spora-
die, but constantly renewed mutinies
in the German feet and the German
army. Unless we are to dismiss these
as mere inventions of the enemy, de-
signed TO lull into us a sense of Sc
curity. then we are driven to the con-
clusion that. in this hour of supreme
Importance, when to quote President
Wilson, we are at the very peak and
crisis of the war, the enemy Is threat
ened by an internal revolution. all the
more dangerous Il is likely unorganlzed
and likely to result. as / believe, in
one of the most violent catastrophes
that ever disrupted a great empire
Those who have been at pains to
study. either. the psychology or the
history of the German people Will not
be surprised at this view. In the first
place II should be clearly understood
that the iron nilitarism, TO which they
have submitted for over a century.
was impoged upon them from above
imposed on them partly by the genius
of Bismarck, partly by the fear of in
vasion, and chiefly by the narrow and
grinding autocracy OF the Prussian
junkers, who constitute the most for
r1idable menace to liberty that the
world has ever seen.
Loathes Military Duty.
The German. although - he takes
pride in his army and it's achievements.
does not take kindly 10 military ser
vice. I believe that In his heart OF
hearts he ioathes it, Thousands, nay,
tens OF thousands OF Germans have
emigrated to all parts of the world 10
escape the r!gqSs of the harshest dis
clpiine ever fofted upon a European
people. Others. while in the ranks.
have committed suicide. Not few
have inflicted injuries upon themselves
70 escape eonscripticn, and II we read
the speechss and utterances of the lib
efal leaders OF Germany in the past. we
shall find that ali laid immense stress
on the destruction OF that military
system. which they declared was pois-
on;ng the soul OF the people.
II is very important that we should
get this cardinal fact clear In our
minds. The German people, though
capable of a cruelty and brutality
which no other Western race possesses.
are not naturally warlike. or possessed
Of the military spirit, and they have
assented to the iron machine, OF which
'ney are the victims, only because they
believe II Is essential 10 their preserva-
Z. ~ as a nation, Menaced, as they
thought. by a powerful Russia on one
side. and by an ambitious France on
the other. they fell victim Of
phrase of Bismarck, who described
them as the iron between the hammer
and the anvil, and to preserve their
integrity they were prepared to sub
nit TO anything. even TO the policy
which seeks to make soldiers by de-
humaniying men
Demand Fer Peace.
Now IL is obvious TO ali who have
carefully followed the history Of the
war that this particular mental att-