Germany, The Next Republic?

ailing troubled waters by November, 1916. Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg's speech to the Reichstag on

a necessity of state which will triumph over all obstacles to utilise to the utmost those forces which have been forged in the fire and which clamour for work and

ceed in breaking through at the Somme peace forces were again mobilised. But when various neutral countries sounded Germany as to possible terms they discovered that Germany was the self-appointed "victor" and

IN VI

rters sends us

s. Again and again our unexpected attacks have disturbed this boldly thought out plan in its development, destroying its force, but now at last something has been accomplished that realises at least part of the intentions of our enemies and all their strength is being concentrated for a simultaneous attack. The victory which was withhe

ng so monstrous and never have armi

t nations published the army reports of all of our enemies in full, as our confidence in the constancy of those at home is unlimited. But our enemies have taken advantage of this confidence and several times a day they send out war reports to the world; the English since the beginning of their offensive send a despatch every two hours. Each of these publications is two or three times

ies? Is it only intended to blind the eagerly observing eye of the neutrals? No, this flood of telegrams is intended to pass through the channels

th of which could not be minutely sifted. With proud confidence in the concise, but absolutely reliable publications of our own army administration, Germany will accept these legions of enemy reports at their own value, as wicked concoctions, attempting to rob them of calm and confidence which the soldier must feel supporting him,

--"HOW CAN MY PEACE ANGEL FLY, MR. PRESIDENT,

ce. People, too, were suffering agonies in their homes because of the inferior quality of the food,--the lack of necessary fats and sugar which normal people need for regular nourishment. The Socialists, who are in closer touch with the people than any others, increased their demands for peace while the National Liberals and the Conservatives, who wanted a war of exhaustion against Great Britain, increa

t once the people will revolt a

n the Government that there could not possibly be a German victory unless every weapon in Germany's pos

Chancellor went to Great Headquarters to report to the Kaiser and to discuss w

given the people renewed confidence, this was not great

eated disregard of the rules and practice of sea warfare. President Wilson through Ambassador Gerard had sent nine inquiries to the Foreign Office asking for a report from Germany on the sinking of various ships not only contr

ite of the endeavours of the British press to twist and misrepresent facts. It is also strictly correct to state that the cruiser warfare which is being waged by means of submarines is in strict compliance with the German prize regulations which correspond to the International Rules laid down and agreed to in the Declaration of London which are not being any more complied with by England. The accusations and charges brought forward by the British press and

ich has but recourse to purely defensive measures. If the attitude displayed by England towards neutrals during the course of this war be considered, the manner in which it forced compulsory

the shipments of contraband goods calculated to lengthen the war. England evidently is being hard hit by our defensive submarine measures and i

st again be reca

h has crippled

endered the freedom o

es in excess of international agreements, and now raise

ls to supply these shipments of contraba

fact that the German submarines on the high seas are able to prevent war services to the enemy in the shipments of contraband goods, in a manner that is both militarily and from the standpoint of international law,

conditional and that, therefore, they could be broken at any time. The Chancellor was in a most difficult situation; so was von Hindenburg and the Kaiser. On December 10th it was announ

ncellor left his palace he called the representatives of the neutral nations and handed them Germany's peace proposal. The same da

t Britain instructed her embassies and legations in neutral countries to attempt to find out whether the Chancellor

n to succeed was on December 14th at a meeting of the neutral correspondents with Lieut. Col. von Haeften. When von Hindenburg became Chief of the General Staff he reorganised the press department in Berlin a

which we have received, coming from unquestionable sources, state that internal conditions in Russia are desperate; that food is scarce; that the transportation system is so demoralised and that it will be at least eight months before Russia can do anything in a military way. Russia wants peace and nee

abinet meant a stronger war policy by Great Britain, but they thought the peace proposals might shake the British confi

that Germany was so exalted over the Roumanian victory and the possibilities of that campaign solving the food problem that she was not only ready to defy the Allies but the neutral world unless the world was ready to bow to a German victory. There were some people in Germany who realised that the sooner she made peace the be

y making a peace which would satisfy the political parties as well as the people. If the Allies refused, the German Government calculated that the refu

ive war because the Allies demanded annexation, compensation and guarantees, all of which meant a change in the map of Europe from what it was at the beginning of the war. The interests which had been dema

ll possibilities of peace had disappeared. The Government and the public realised that the war would go on an

oseph O. Grew, the American Charge d'Affaires, had received the German note and transmitted it to his Government, public indignation was so great that the Government had to inform all of the German newspapers to explain that Germany had not asked the United States to make peace; that Germany had in fact not asked any