East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-02-08
WAR SATIRE NOW
SEEMS PROPHESY
REVOLUTION HINTED
ACCORDING TO PLAN
Indifference to- Revolt and.
Pepless Change Bring \
Suspicion.

II LONDON FEB. 5.--Je Sails Tout
: the well known French magazine
published in 1917, a satiricaI history
OF the German revolution.
The "revue" opened in room in
tho iniepriai palace wrn the Kaiser
and four or five leading socialists hur-
riedl2 rehearsing .'vive le zozialzme'
scene. The kaiser abdicated, repub-
lie was proclaimed. the army sociaI-
! ized-under the secret direction of
| Hindenbnrg. as a last extravaeant
melodrania to avert military annihi-
lation. Eventually the kaiser was to
return and things resume their nor
NAL course.
The revolution went beautifully.
according to plan. An armistice was
declared and the army returned home.
waving the red flag, according to
plan" All would have been lovely, If
the stupid soldiers hadn't overstepped
their cues. 'f'
They became more thoroughly in
Ffected with the idea of revoIution9
than had been anticipated. They up
set the pseudo sociaiistic government
set up real one. and turned the play
into a reality far beyond its authors
detentions.
Just how good a prophet Je Said
Tout was. probably will be demonstra-
ted. one way or the other. soon. I'll
is note worthy however, that dis
patches ffom neutral sources recentlyl
have Interpreted the present situation
in Germany in way that corresponds
strikingly with certain parts of the
prophecy. |
People Indiffcretit
Disregarding the persistent rumors
OF the kaiser's plans to return later. |
these facts stand out to justify sus.
pension of judgment upon the present
German regime:
First. Germany as a Whole has thus /
far manifested significantly few of the
usual symptoms OF nation in revo- /
luton. The apparent nonchalance OF
the public at large is even arousing /
comment. Accounts seem to Indicate
the overthrow of the monarchy is re-
garded with Indifference. (
In some instances mute regret is
evident
There apepars no nationwide exul-
tation In the newfduhd liberty no
particular indignation-on the part Oh
large classes-against the authors of
their national misfortune While theirs
has been some scalp hunting. it has
been mostly political in character. Il
There have been as yet no startling
disclosures of responsibility for the
war. no publication Of secret docu-1
The former hostility to the al
lies seems to be continuing in the form
Of resentment at the severity of the
armistice.
There apparently was some viol-
ance in connection with the naval mu.
tiny. and there has been some rioting
in Berlin. But the general condition i
the country does not seem
much more perturbed than would nat Il
frally he expected under the circum- Z
stances of defeat.
True. the German "public" is now
made UP largely of old
men, children and women. But even
they might register a little more pep. ]
Suspicious SmoOthncss.
Second the transition i'm admins
Lration in Berlin appears to have ta> =
ken Place with a suspicious smooth>
ness. 1t is significant that half of
the present heads of the revolutions
airy administration were supporters o.
the kaiser regime. So far as is
Known, they suffered no dramatic
change of views. They have made no
public whitewashing of their former
records.
They seem to have quietly and
simply stepped over and taken their
seats as "revolutionists."
Concerning the sincerity of Lieb-
knecht, Dittmann. Haase and Bart
there seems no question. But Lieh-
knecht is not even in the government
ana his three colleagues do not make
4 majority.
Ebert is strong reactionary.
The third facor In Germany's inn
mediate future. Of course, is the re-
turning army.
Its Influence stlll remains to be
applied.
Perhaps, as in the Je Sais Tout