The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-05-31
SUMTER, s. @, WEDNESDAY, MAY 81 1915
GERMANY TALKS or PEACE.
WOULD WELCOME col. HOUSE
AS PEACE REPRESENTATIVE
OF UNITED STATES.
Thinks TeutOns' Position Is So Good
They Can Afford to Stop War
American Mediation Would Not be
Resented Now.

Resented Now.
Berlin, Tuesday. May 23 (via Lon
don. May 26.)---Anothcr visit by Col
e. M. House to Europe would come as
no surprise to initiated quarters here.
The American rumors to this effect
are regarded as having certain basis
in facty although the opinion prevails
that the trip would naturally be post
poned until after the national con-
vcntions. 1t is hoped here that
should Col. House pay such a visit, he
will come this time as q harbinger Of
peace, or at any rate. to prepare if
possibie the foundations for a peace
proposal. difficult as this task is
recognized to be.
During his last previous visit to
Europe. Col. House made no effort
and conducted no investigation in the
direction of peace. In Berlin at any
event. having perhaps found abso-
lutely adverse conditions in capitals Of
nations hostile to Germany. Pre-
sumably. also he had previous infor-
nation that American mediation
would not be accepted as long as the
United States continued to- supply Ger
many's foes with cannon, shot, shell,
cartridges, powder and thousand
aud one other war requisites. More
over. no intimation had been given at
the time OF this visit that irascibility
In high quarters here on the muni-
tons questions was in any way abatei
The situation. 1t may be said. now
has changed. Apparently there is no
harm. from either q political or n
strategical standpoint, in saying that
Germany would welcome peace. Ae
Arthur Won Gwinr,r. the managing
director Of the De-, no bank In Ber
lin. stated to the Associated Press cor
respondent recently. Germany is in
the position OF a poker player who
has gathered In all the money on tho
table and naturally Is willing to broais
ion An III; night session ana retire with
= - & a1Bg - stNDfss psr1sss
tn contiRusng in HOPE of recouping
some OF their losses. The cards, how
ever, TO continue the smile are run
ming strongly In the Germans favor,
,,it II pointed out, as shown In the re-
newed postponement of. the long
heralded Anglo-Frcnch offensive in
the West. the steady though slow
progress of the crown prince at ver-
dun the victories OF the Turks and
finally the crushing results Of the Aus
trian offensive In the Trentino.
Whether these events are enough
to induce the entente allies to retire
from what is looked upon here as a
losing game and whether the changed
tone Of the utterances OF Premier
Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, and
what is considered disavowal Of
iheir intention to crush Germany as q
nation and a commercial rival or dis
member the empire. are indicative Of
receptivity toward reasonable peace
proposals is an uncertain factor In
the reckoning.
"The best posted neutral observers
here are inclined to give an evasive
answer to these questions and to hold
that something else must take place
to convince the entente allies that
the expulsion Of the German armies
from occupied territory and the COM
pletion Of the ION to Berlin" campaign
are impossibilities. And one possible
means Of bringing about this receptive
attitude in entente capitals. one of
these neutral diplomats. who Is not
suspected of partiality for either side.
recently suggested the presentation of
evidence gathered by neutral, impair
tial agencies Of Germany's ability to
continue the struggle indefinitely.
Should the results Of such neutral
investigation OF the number of men
and the amounts of German munitions
and provisions be brought informally
to the attention Of opposing govern
merts. and should this showing con-
vince OF the imprObaility Of breaking
through the German line in a future
appreciably near, long step would
have been taken, In the opinion of
this advocate Of peace. toward OPEN
ing peace negotiations.
The plan In question may seem i'm
practical and fanatic and it is men,
toned only owing to the prominencs