The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-17
GERMANS TO FIGHT
WAR GUILT CHARGE
Continued from First Pa1s.

put vi INC UeIudu uhtlOn WITHOUT
trial by a competent court. together
with the demand for justice, will
render 1t difficult for the Allies to 90
on record as refusing to a nation
what is granted to every individual
in a civilized country. thereby ex-
posing themselves to the interpreta-
ton that they themselves are not as
guiltless as they would have the
world believe.
In circles where this step by Ger
many is being urged It is believed
that, as the United States had not
even the most remote connection with
the outbreak Of the war, the Ameri-
can people out Of love for truth and
justice will support such demand.
1t is said that three men Of note with
a number of assistants are working
under high pressure to prepare Ger
many's demand as quickly as possible
for presentation at Versailles.
Chancellor Scheldemann's speech in
the National Assembly denouncing
the peace terms imposed by the Al
lies has been acclaimed throughout
the country to a degree not attained
perhaps by any utterance of the Gov
eminent since the revolution. The
slogan industrial slaves" Is working
with increasing power among the
working classes. The picture Is being
painted of German workmen and
what their lot and that Of their chill
dren will be IL the present peace
terms are signed.
Factors Affecting Attitude.
Whether the wave Of feeling that is
now sweeping over Germany will be
disslpated in mere words or will
crystalline into firm determination
not to sign will depend upon a num-
Der OF things. not the least Of which
will be the attitude taken by the
Allies and the Americans at Yer
sailles toward the German counter
proposals and, in regard to the de-
mands for negotiated peace coming
from Italy, France and England.
1t is asserted here that confidential
reports have been received in Berlin
calling upon Germany to stand firm
and not to yield to such terms but to
hold out at all costs, as In doing this
Germany will be fighting the battle of
the democracy Of the world for right
and justice. From we'll informed
sources 1t is learned that similar
suggestions are coming from Ameri-
cans through Holland.
With all the keenness Of the dis
appointment over President Wilson
there is a strong under. current OF
belief that the President and America
have not yet said the last word and
that both the President and the peo-
pie Of the United States expect Ger
many to do some fighting for herself
for justice and right. Even since
yesterday this belief has strengthened
considerably and now is very strong.
although upon what basis II rests no
one seems to know.
The rapidity with which sentiment
shifts is one Of the most striking phe-
nomena here. On Sunday and part of
Monday feeling here was running
strongly anti-American; suddenly 1t
shifted almost over night. and to-day
hostility to the United States Is
hardly discernible. Members of the
foreign missions here express amaze
ment over the restraint shown by the
people.
Two Ministers. Herr Inndsberg and
Herr Giesbert, accompanied by a
dozen members of the German delegn-
ton at Versailles, have arrived here
in an effort to check the dlsaffection
In the ranks Of the Independent So
cialists, who at first were for signing
the peace treaty at any price on the
ground that 1t could not be fulfilled
and therefore would not be kept. They
called thirty-four mass meetings the
first day.
! Numerous speakers. including
Haase, Daumbig and Breitscheld, de.
clared that the Government in Great.
Ing sentiment against signing the
treaty was not showing the people
any better way out of the dilemma or
lessening their misery.
Efforts are being made to get to.
gether 100000 men in gigantic meet
Ing Of protest before the Relchstag
building tomorrow. Voricderts and
the TdgCblGtt to-day excoriate the de,
monstrations yesterday before the
Hotel Adion. Voricuerts declares thai
several agitators who tried to arouse
the crowd to storm the hotel were
, Pan-Germans. The TqgGbldn in q
/ similar charge warns the public
against association with men who de
mand peace and Justice, but them
selves Ignore the rights Of others and
charaCterizes such demonstrations as
childish and not tending to further
Germany's cause.
! A veritable deluge of protests IL
continuing TO pour into Berlin. II
would he difficult to find any Organiza
ton or society in Germany which has
not sent in n formal protest or is ar