New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-14
OFFER A TRAP,
FRENCH BELIEF
Press Calls 1t Clumsy
Scheme for Getting
Grip in East
tBy Cable 20 Tho Tribune ]

Paris, Dec. 13.-The German peace
proposals are generally looked upon
here as trap set to catch the Allies
and to turn neutral opinion in favor
of Germany. Germany is believed to
be taking advantage Of time when
she has Serbia and Rumania in her
hands and Bulgaria and Turkey in
her power to try to make peace and
achieve her ends-an open road to the
Near East, which will be absolutely
under her control. with prospects Of
future conquest and suzerainty In the
Far East.
"Le Petit Parisien" says editorially:
whether Won Bethmann-H -Hollweg Is
attempting maneuyre for the bene-
fit of neutrals or Of the German peo-
pie, we should be on guard not to be
deceived by him. He seems to be try
ing to extract value from the capture
of Bucharest, after the period of de-
preston Germany had to undergo last
autumn.
Germans War Weary
at is no secret that Germans are
fatigued by the war, which has been
far longer than they ever expected It
would be. and they have been calling
for peace for months. The speech Of
the Chancellor is expected to open new
prospects for them. But what sort OF
peace do they want?
"The words of the Chancellor are
only one more manPuvre. IL was only
an opportunity to say again to the Ger
man people that Germany wants peace,
but the Allies will not hear of IT. 1t
is evident he only seeks to offer some
sort of verbal satisfaction to the peo-
pie, who suffer more and more every
day" ,u,
nal" "that in Berlin people should be
so naive as to suppose that the Allies
would fall into such an open trap. In
any case, Hindenburg shows in his re-
cent statements that the soldiers are
under no such deception. The German
offers are anything but sincere.
"The German government is trying
to convince the people OF Germany that
It Is not responsible for the hardships
imposed upon them. The German peo-
pie have been reduced TO such point
that they demand moral support, II
they are to be willing to continue the
war.
Allies Want Real Peace
"They are down TO the point now
where, despite their vigor, they will be
weaker in victory than in defeat II the
people are allowed to continue in the
idea that they are suffering only be-
cause of the ambitions of some few
men who are in positions OF power.
"It is because Germany knows she
cannot conquer that she wants 70 stop
now. but the Allies demand real peace,
and neither can nor will be turned
from their course.
But it is not only the German peo-
pie that the Kaiser has TO satisfy, but
also the German army. For several
weeks the German soldiers in the
trenches have been short Of food. That
is more serious than a shortage among
"Germsny is obliged to talk peace,
but she talks of it without any pre-
cision, trying merely TO create dis
sension among the Entente without at
the same time dividing the coalition
Of Central Empires. Also she con-
siders the moment well chosen in the
sight Of neutrals. after her victory
In Rumania.
Forecast In America
at has been evident for some time
that this was coming, for American
writer's have been making for several
weeks poetic illusions TO the bells Of
peace and for several days German
statesmen have been making a grand
chorus on the same theme.
"The trap is only too plain, and the
Allies have already replied. This at
tempt will only cement more strongly
the union OF the Allies, who have
sworn TO conquer for the peace of the
world"
lie Petit Journal" says: "We be-
lieve that Premier BRAND, in the
course Of his speech before the Cham
Der tomorrow, will say, This note
must not be considered as cOmSg as a
Continued an marc a eolumN