The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-05
GERMAN OFFICER
SPILLS STORY OF
KAISER s PLANS
FOR MORE WARS
Expected to Bring About
War Between United
States and Japan
(Bv Associated Press. J

tBy Associated Ersss.1
French Headquarters in France,
Nov. 4.-Germany's armies are I'M
beaten. according to a German d.
visional staff officer recently taken
prisoner on the French front, and
Germanys' request for an armistice
was the result OF the influence which
pessimists have gained in the gov
eminent and over the emperor. This
officer, an intelligent representative
Of his class, said:
Socialists Subnerae Kaiser
1.-THE Germans request for an ar
mistice is proof to me that the grand
headquarters has been submerged
by the crisis in the interior of Ger
many. The influence Of the general
staff over the emperor has been eX-
aggerated.
Have Scared Wilhelm
1.-THE emperor is surrounded by
people who feel and talk defeat of
the species of Scheidemann (the
German Socialist Ieader.) They are
continually setting before the en-
peror the unfavorable situation OF
Germany from their point Of view
and painting in somber colors the
frightful responsibility he has incur
red. as well as the possible conse-
quences to his person in case of de-
feat. which appears to them to be
imminent.
Needs Prayers
There are days when no officer Of
the general staff can gain access to
the emperor. These are days of
acute pessimisn1, passed by the mon
arch almost entirely in prayer and
Bible reading.
1.-THE German people want peace
at once and at all costs. They have
had enough of war.
Tired of Prussianism
Another cause Of anxiety is the
separatist movement which has be-
come very serious lately. The talk
through all South Germany now is:
Let us separate from Prussia"
Bavaria is the worst. There ev-
erv one. even the soldiers, may in
suit Prussia without provoking a
word of defense in our behalf. The
Bavarian press employs the same
that this Is desired by the Bavarian
armv which will make no further
effort. Their attitude is an enigma.
Military Opposed to ePace Now
There appears to be no military
necessity for the conclusion of
peace now. This is the opinion Of
the majority Of my comrades Of the
different stats.
1--WE thought generally that our re-
treat upon the Siegfried positions
would continue till winter, in the
meantime weakening the enemy by
our stubborn resistance. We would
have utilized the winter to reorgan-
izing and regrouping our forces,
while our diplomats would have en-
tered into negotiations that would
surely have terminated in a favora-
BILE peace for us.
Forced Peace Spells Ruin
1.-THE abandonment of the Alsace-
Lorraine territory, the evacuation Of
Russian territory ana the creation of
a Polish kingdom are equivalent to
the ruin Of Germany, taking from us
the raw materials Of Alsace-Lor-
raine which are indispensable to our
Industries and the markets that we
aim to create in the east.
"In consequence there will be a
stoppage of a great part of our in
dustries for several years. an impov-
erishment of the working class, in
terror troubles, separations and a
complete upheaval.
Then our enemies will have what
thew have desired-the complete an
Inhalation Of Germany. That would
be a peace due to Scheidemannn.
But the Army Failed
1--WE thought our present retreat
would end upon a position chosen
by us. that the war would finally ter
inmate by the success Of our arms
at some part of the front with the
aid Of our new tanks and would
bring about conciliatory peace IA
vorable to US.
Calculations Failed
The divisional staff officer reveal
ed that 1t was the opinion OF the
military caste in Germany that but
for untoward events, Germany
after a successful termination Of the
present war would have put her in
dustries in shape to furnish war ma
terial to both sides in a hypothetical
war between the United States and
Japan, and then, after both sides
had become exhausted. would have
joined hands with one country to
crush the other.
Big Scheme Spoiled
The officer said: Japan and the
United States would surely clash
some day and we would then fur
nish both sides with enormous guam
titles Of material and munitions. We
would have extinguished our debt,