The Washington herald., 1915-11-28
Short of Men and Facing Famine Pussan War Lords Dare
Not Tell Their Own People Truth and Seek to Turn
Wrath from Self to Foes.
In Effort Get Neutral Country Call Conference Which Entente Wou
Refuse Teuon Insuers Fool Wilson Cabinet Member Into
Thinking Allies Are Putting Out Feelen-Renuneiations
Will Astonish World, Says Kaiser.

real terms the supreme war lord is
willing to accept made known, a
mighty cry of wrath would 60 up.
The people expect rewards common
surate with the sacrifices undergone.
The government dares not tell them
that with the failure to smash Rus
STA to her knees the chances of fore
ing the entente to sue for peace went
| glimmering. The government must
bring to the knowledge OF the people
at one and the same time the fact
that il is willing to call the war to
draw and that the entente has re-
fused II this can be done, the an
ger of the people will be directed
against the enemy rather than against
! the government. The bitter truth
that Germany is now fighting, not to
crush her neighbors, but to keep her
self from being ruined. will be
brought home without immediate dan
ger TO the governing caste.
And on the resulting blaze Of pat
riotic fury the Kaiser counts. The
world knows what heroism at home
and in the field has made possible
the astounding fcats OF German
arms hitherto witnessed; famine and
dwindling armies may be counterfeit
ed next spring and summer by will
/ ingness to bear greater privations
than any yet dreamed of in what will
be truly war Of defense"
Showing How a Nation Can Die.
Serbia is showing how a nation can
die; il is no improbable thing that
Germany, animated by the same
spirit, may deal such terrible blows
to her enemies that they will "crack"
first. And if one great power, say
| France or Russia, should blow up,"
as might we'll happen after another
year Of war, Germany, herself at the
last gasp, could seize victory from
her rivals, superior in men and re-
sources, but inferior in morale, which
now simply means capacity for en-
during suffering; victory won from
enemies now so confident OF winning
that they will not consider a draw.
1t will readily be seen that Ger
many cannot simply make the open
announcement that she is ready to
quit That would be an admission OF
defeat, and would discourage and in
furiate the German people, as we'll as
put renewed heart into the enemy. II
is necessary for the government to
let the real situation be known with
out seeming to take the initiative it
self, without asking for peace.
Some Neutral to Call Conference.
Some important neutral who is not
runder suspicion Of favoring the Ger
man cause, as are Sweden and Greece,
will be persuaded to call conference
OF neutral nations, if the Potsdam
plan succeeds. Such conference, OF
course, would ask both sides to sub
NIT terms OF peace, simultaneously.
Thus neither alliance would be put
in the position OF asking its rival for
peace. Germany would then offer to
give up nearly everything she has
won, and the entente probably would
not only refuse to consider such an
offer, but would refuse even to tell
the conference on what terms Ger
many could obtain peace. Such an
outcome would unquestionably have
the desired effect OF rousing the Ger
man people to unheard-of efforts to
save themselves from destruction, and
it would helD Germany's cause in neu-
trail minds without in anyway ad-
vcrsely affecting Germany's dignity or
impairing the morale OF her armies
Yet the situation as outlined would be
inevitable, because the entente pow
ers could not get together in advance
of victory and name terms which will
depend on the military situation at
the end of the war. They cannot
even make known the maximum pen
alties they will inflict on Germany if
they can, because they will have a
desperate time even if Germany is
completely beaten to reconcile their
own conflicting claims, and they will
take no chances on rupturing their
alliance too early by starting their
inevitable squabblc, which may we'll
lead to new wars, before the present
foe is brought TO his knees.
German Intrigue Busy.
German intrigue is busy in all the
neutral countries preparing a way for
this conference, or, if the conference
scheme should fail, for an offer of
mediation by one country which |
would result in the same situation be-
ing created. As a general feints at
many points along a battle line, to |
deceive his enemy as to where the
real blow will fall, so peace rumors
are cmanating from Washington,
Madrid, The Hague, and elsewhere, |
and it is probable that the entente !
does not yet know from whom the |
peace proposals will emanate.
Somewhere in Whithalr" there is
small room, with fine oak panels.
That room is the center of the spy |
system of the British government, al |
though the word spy" unless in con-
nection with a German, is never used !
within its portals. All information |
about German activities that is gath
cred over the world is sifted and filed |
away in the many cabinets that line |
the walls.
Here are three stories that come |
from that room. The few men who !
have access to those cabinets are not |
supposed to talk, but there is such a
thing in diplomacy as a Calculated |
indiscretion" |
Cabinet Member Deceived.
A member, of President Wilson's
Cabinet has recently told all his
friends in Washington, and several /
newspaper correspondents that the |
war is as good as over, that peace
negotiations will shortly begin. He
has directly inspired several peace"
stories that have appeared in Ameri-
can newspapers. That man is a sym-
pathizer with the allies. He believed |
what he said, because information