Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-09

position in the Balkans by threats
against Greece. He said the very ma
lions which had raised a cry against
"Prussian militarism' now threaten the
Greek government with the power OF
the British navy. Having adopted this
attitude, they could not consistently
continue to pretend that Germany had
acted improperly in invading Belgium
why did not the Westminster Ga
zette tell this August OF 1917? the
chancellor asked. Then the whole
world would have heard the truth at
the beginning of the war"
Military Situation.
Discussing the military situation. the
chancellor stated that German forces
held strong advanced positions in Rus
STA, and that French and British at
tempts to break through the western
front had failed. notwithstanding the
numerical superiority of Germany's OPP
ponents there. On the Austro-Italian
front, he said, the Austrian and Hun
garian forces were holding fast, and
the only successes of the Italians had
consisted in wanton destruction of
towns which they had meant to cap
ture.
The chancellor then took up the ad-
ministration of the conquered terri
tories. He said the economic life of
Belgium was reviving slowly. The
coal mines were almost as busy as
in times of peace, having produced
100000 tons in the last three months
Belgium, he continued, was suffering
on account of the fact that England
was preventing 1t from exporting goods
overseas.
German Task in Russia.
Germany's task in the conquered
portions. of Russia, he said, had been
particularly hard, on account of con-
ditions which had prevailed there I'M
der Russian administration.
The cities were without sewage IA
been in the hands of the Russian bu-
reaucracy. The Germans had estab-
lished self-government in Poland,
where the new form Of administration
was being put into effect with zeal
and intelligence. Germany had con-
tabout $500 miles) of roads. The
schools had been reopened and now
were being taught not in Russian. but
in the mother tongue of the pupil.
meal high school had been reopened.
The chancellor said that as late as
February of this year the Russian gov
eminent had declined to introduce the
Polish language into the university.
Situation in Belgium.
In Belgium, he continued. attendance
at school had been made compulsory.
The Flemish language. formerly sup
pressed. was now being used.
Newspapers of the entente nations.
DR.. Won Bethmann- Hollweg continued.
were full of sensational untruths about
Germany. announcing in headlines:
Germany defeated. Germany at her
end. Germany begs for peace" Many
other nonsensical reports have been
published, such as the assertion that
Emperor william was preparing for
solemn entry into Constantinople in
order to dictate terms of peace.
Assertions concerning Germany's de-
preston and Germanys arrogance al
ternate in these reports. which are en-
tirely untrue"
This campaign, he continued, began
at the moment when the diplomatic eff
forts of the entente in the Balkans
broke down.
After these failures" he said, the
entente powers needed something in
order to divert public attention from
their own miserable conditions"
The chancellor urged the people Of
Germany TO consider only the facts
the real situation in this country and
on the fighting front.
Confidence Not Shaken.
Against the convincing power Of
these facts our enemies are helpless"
he said. There is nothing in our sit
uation which could shake our conf
dence.
IF our enemies now refuse to recog-
nize the facts they will have to do so
later.
When the chancellor ended his speech
the whole chamber Joined in an out
burst OF applause.
Says Germany Could Act.
| DR. Scheidemann's address was re-
ceived with degree of interest second
only to that aroused by the chancel-
| lor's speech. He reminded the house
! that at the beginning of the war the
socialists had approved the attitude of
the German government. glance at
| the map. he continued, would show that
/ Germany. conscious of her strength
4