The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-31
GERMANY CLAIMS
HONORS OF SERIES
Holds Peace Terms But Hesitates
to Make Move that Might
Be Heralded as Sign
Of Weakening
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.
U. P. staff correspondent.


BERLIN, Dec. 31.-As the 1916
twelyemonth draws to a close the Ger
man campaign spreads to more for
eign lands: To Turkey and Egypt
Many enormous battles and campaigns
in 1915 have decided the war in GER
tain war theaters.
In the Russian campaign the kussia
army was pushed into Russia. Serbia
has been entirely submerged. Bel.
gium is occupied. Eight of Frances
richest provinces. with nearly three
million people, are under German con-
troll.
Germany has lost most Of her colo
MES and her overseas commerce. But
between the Central Powers and the
Allies there has been no decisive
battle, no deciding campaign.
Both sides await with equal conf
dence and determination this contest
Whether it will be fought or avoided,
no one knows Events will decide
The fate OF Belgium depends upon the
outcome. If the war is draw. Bel
GUMS future viii depend upon the
peace terms.
Peace today depends upon the solu-
ton of the Belgian question. Until
England and Germany come TO an un-
derstanding on Belgiums future the
war will continue. These statements
have been made so often that the
United Press asked he censor to pass
this article to tell the outside world
what everyone here talks about.
During the last few weeks two
things became evident England de-
clared that she will not make peace
until Belgium is evacuated. Ger
many is determined that Belgium wit
not be given up until Germany is as
sured that it win not be a political
or military ally Of Great Britain's.
For several weeks, / have asked
high officials what Germany is going
to do with Belgium. The answer has
been that not even the Kaiser knows.
This undoubtedly is true Much seems
to depend upon the future progress OF
the war.
In Germany there are two parties
with regard to Belgium. One wishes
10 keep Belgium. The other wants to
give II up. The line is not distinctly
drawn. Many think Germany should
keen Antwerp and the forts of Namnr
and Liege, or that Germany should
have the right to garrison those for
tresses. Others believe Germany
should keep. Antwerp as an outlet TO
The channel for Germany. Others
wish Germany to keep all of Belgium
but this is considered a minority.
There ia a general feeling that Bel
pium should never be permitted to re-
turn to the position she held before
the war. It is felt that Belgium was
not neutral because of the documents
iOun0 III DTuSStts SiiON Ah5 iAAo' '''e'
discussions of conventions between
Belgium and England about landing
British troops in Belgium in case OF
violation of its neutrality by Germany
which Germany considers, in effect.
treaties. The universal opinion seems
TO be that Germany will not give up
Belgium while there is probability
OF a renewal of these conventions
The fear exists that England may In
the future use Belgium to defeat Ger
many.
Germany considers that she holds
within her hands the terms of peace
and that she has won the war. so TAR
as the war and 1915 is concerned. II
is asserted, however, that through
English control Of news channels
what are considered victories here
reach the world as defeats. Or, II not
az defeats, as indications that Ger
many is weakening. This breeds con-
cern in Germany that when 1t comes
peace making time the allies VIII
cause any peace terms to be inter
preted as German defeats, especially