ians upset conditions throughout
the Central Powers. Rumania's declaration of war made another crisis.
But Germany passed all of these successfully.

The ability of the German Government to convince the people that Wilson
was unneutral and wanted war caused them to accept Germany's note in
the _Sussex_ case. The defeat at Verdun was explained as a tactical
success. The Somme battles, with their terrible losses, failed to
bring a break-up because the Allies stopped attacking at the critical
moment.

Von Hindenburg as chief of the General Staff of Central Europe remedied
the mistakes of the Austrians during Brusiloff's attacks by
reorganising the Dual Monarchy's army. The crisis which Rumania's
entrance on the Allies' side brought in Germany and Hungary was
forgotten after von Mackensen took Bucharest.

In each of these instances it will be noticed that the crisis was
successfully passed by "stimulation." The German mind was made to
believe what the Kaiser willed.

But what about the future? Is there a bottomless well of stimulation
in Germany?

Before these questions can be answered others must be asked: Why don't
the German people think for themselves? Will they ever think for
themselves?

An incident which occurred in Berlin last December illustrates the fact
that the people are beginning to think. After the Allies replied to
President Wilson's peace note the Kaiser issued an appeal to the German
people. One morning it was printed on the first pages of all
newspapers in boldface type. When I arrived at my office the janitor
handed me the morning papers and, pointing to the Kaiser's letter, said:

"I see the Kaiser has written US another letter. You know he never
wrote to US in peace time."

There are evidences, too, that others are beginning to think. The
Russian revolution is going to cause many Socialists to discuss the
future of Germany. They have discussed it before, but always behind
closed doors and with lowered voices. I attended one night a secret
meeting of three Socialist leaders of the Reichstag, an editor of a
Berlin paper and several business men. What they said of the Kaiser
that night would, if it were published, send every man to the military
firing squad. But these men didn't dare speak that way in public at
that time. Perhaps the Russian revolt will give them more courage.

But the Government is not asleep to these changes. The Kaiser believes
he can continue juggling pub