The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-03

the need to take precautions against boIshevism became all the greater STIL TALK OF ANNEXATION At this meeting I emphasized once more the infinite economic importance | or the territory under control of the | commander-in-c chief in the east No | decision cetld be taken as to eyacuat- l Ing the Ukraine, the necessary prelimin-
 ary discussions not having yet taken place, and the question being one quite l impossible to settle out of hand Count Roedern wanted to abandon the Uk- ralne, as the civil population got little ! benefit from it.
 Secretary SOIf mentioned the great
 wealth of the Ukraine, and desired also that it should be retained on hum unitarian grounds. I couIy not look at
 the question from any other point of view than that of Germany's advantase, secretary von Waldow brought no enlightenment, but enlightenment was essential and I begged the Chancellor to have the question exhaustivelv ex emlned G. H. Q. had occupied the , Ukraine in February in agreement with the government, the latter being then Iully convinced of the absolute neces- sity for the step, not merely to avert the dangersof Bolshevism, but also to secure the supply of the quadruple alliance
 In the summer Austria Hungary had only been kept alive with the help or the Ukraine. We, in Germany had oplalned from the country cattle and i horses, and much raw material. even IT we had not the corn we expected. The war was not over. Roumania' s harvest was complete failure. By early threshing we had again had to mortgage our future. We and ou,- allies had to look somewhere for addi- tlonal foodstuffs, and the Ukraine was the only possible source. Without this aid there would be severe crisis in the early summer of 1919
 TROOPS NEEDED IN EAST
 The government never cleared up this question of the value of the Ukraine Tn the autumn of 1918. Had we eva cuated at this stage, which would have taken us considerable period of time, we should have gradually released ten divisions which were not really fit for the line. The advantages would not have been equal to the disadvantages that we should have brought upon our selves by evacuation. I am confident that not a man too many was kept in the east. We now turned to discuss the vital question: how much could and would the people still give to the army Everything else depended on this. Il had hoped that the government would have been clear on this point. The. new Minister of War General Gronet) gave me a more optimist ac- count of the prospects for reinforce ments than had hitherto received. He estimated figure of 6OO,OOO men. II could not check his figures.
 l was very greatly impressed by the statement that 6o,000 to 10000 men were immediately available to be sent into the army. Why had they not been sent sooner? I said: "Tf I have these endorsements now I can face the future with confidence, but must have them immediately" The Minister promised not to lose a day.
 SCHEIDEMANN IS GLOOMY
 ! now turned to the question of moral | at home and in the army I expressed ] myself as I have so often done in this book. I emphasized that the army 1 at this moment above all was in need l of support.
 The Chancellor requested the three ! Parliamentary Secretaries of state to ! give their views \ Secretary Grober did not speak quite | to the point on the matter
 Secretary Scheidemann spoke very seriously. He was glad to believe that we could stiii release Hundreds of thou sands of men for the army, but it would 1 be quite wrong to suppose that these 1 men would improve the spirit in the | army. Everywhere working men were beginning to say: "Better . terrible |, end than terrOrs without end.
 Scheidemann stated that the cause | of this regrettable attitude was the l lack of food, which he attributed partly i to the shortage of railfoad cars. I ! agreed instantly to adopt, so far as lay i in my power, every measure that could . relieve the shortage. In general his | statement constituted-a serious indict- i ment of our government. which had all lowed the splendid spirit of 1914 to be so terribly changed. Secretary Scheide- tfon of bankruptcy of the domestic policy of the Chancellor and the Major ity parties.
 Secretary Hatesmann thought that an appeal to the people would have con siderable effect
 Secretary Erzberger was not present He had recently lost his son in the service of his country.
 PAYER SEES SOME HOPE
 Vice Chancellor von Payer did not
 Children Cry