ganda cry of the Navy, "Down with England." The
Chancellor and the Foreign Office tried once more to get the world to
talk about peace. After the presidential nominations in America the
press began to discuss the possibilities of American peace
intervention. Every one believed that the campaign and elections in
America would have an important effect on the prospects of peace.
Theodore Wolff, editor of the Berlin _Tageblatt_, who was the
Chancellor's chief supporter in newspaper circles, began the
publication of a series of articles to explain that in the event of the
election of Charles E. Hughes, Germany would be able to count upon more
assistance from America and upon peace. At the time the Allies were
pounding away at the Somme and every effort was being made to bring
about some kind of peace discussions when these battles were over.

On September 20th a convention of Socialists was held in Berlin for the
purpose of uniting the Socialist party in support of the Chancellor.
The whole country was watching the Socialist discussions because every
one felt that the Socialist party represented the real opinion of the
people. After several days of discussion all factional differences
were patched up and the Socialists were ready to present a solid front
when the fight came in the Reichstag on September 28th. On the 27th,
Berlin hotels began to buzz with excitement over the possibilities of
overthrowing the Chancellor. The fight was led by the National
Liberals and Centre Party groups. It was proposed by Dr. Coerting, an
industrial leader from Hannover, to move a vote of lack of confidence
in the Chancellor. Coerting was supported by the big ammunition
interests and by the von Tirpitz crowd. Before the Reichstag convened
the Chancellor went to Great Headquarters for a final conference with
the Kaiser and Field Marshal von Hindenburg. Before he left it looked
as if the Chancellor would be overthrown. But when he returned he
summoned the Reichstag leaders who were supporting him and several
editors of Liberal newspapers. The Chancellor told them that von
Hindenburg would support him. The next day editorials appeared in a
number of newspapers, saying that von Hindenburg and the Chancellor
were united in their ideas. This was the most successful strategic
move the Chancellor had made, for the public had such great confidence
in von Hindenburg that when it was learned that he was opposed to von
Tirpitz the backbone