THE NEW LEADER.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1920, Page 5

THE NEW LEADER.

ONE OF THE JUNKER SCHOOL. EXTOLLED SUBMARINE WARFARE. Dr. Wolfgang Kapp, who is leading the new Government, was president of the Fatherland Party during the war, and his name was included in the list of Germans, the trial of whom was demanded by the Social Democrats immediately after the revolution in 11118. The Fatherland Party was the creation of Admiral von Tirpitz, and was notoriously junker in its policy. Dr. Kapp'w chief activity during the war was the writing of pamphlet-; accusing the Government of weakness, and urging a more ruthless prosecution of hostilities. .So persistent was his pen that lie hecame known as the 'Chief of the Prussian Pamphleteers." H e extolled sunmarine warfare, and urged Germany, in any peace, to safeguard her right to use submarines to sink merchantmen^ The abdication of the Merman Emperor was announced on November !>, 1918. and from that date Germany became a Republic. The Council of Peo- | pie's Commissioners in Berlin took over the Government of the country, the reigning princes of the Federal' States being either deposed or abdicating. The existing Imperial Parliament was declared dissolved, and arrangements were ' made for summoning a National AsJ sembly. The elections were held in Jan--1 uary, 1919, and resulted, on the basis ■ of proportional representation, in the return of the following parties:—Majority Socialists 1G.1; Centre (Catholic) Party, ' R8; Democrats. 7">; Conservative, 42; 1 Independent Socialists, 22 j German People's Party, 21: Bavarian Peasants' • League, 4; minor parties, (I; total. 421. ' The National Assembly was summoned ' to meet at Weimar on February (i. and on February 11, 1919. it elected FrieE drieli Ebert first President of the German Republic. On February 13, 1910, ■ a Cabinet was appointed with Philip Schcidemruin as Prime Minister. The ' Seheidemann Ministry held -office until - -Time, Ifllfl. when it resigned rather than • sign the Peace Treaty. It was swwertr ed by an Administration lindev Tlerr , Bauer, a Majoritv Socialist, which is the . Ministry deposed by the latest revolution.