New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-01
Tells ReichStag Ger
many Is Ready for
Honorable Terms
NATION RELIES
ON MAN POWER
Cut Off by Blockade, Must
Feed and Arm
Itself

London, Dec. THE Rotterdam
correspondent of The Times
says:
Certain German personalities
with international connections have
arrived in Holland for the purpose
Of getting in touch with pacifist
propsgsndists.'
THE Daily Mails" Rotterdam
correspondent describes these prop
agandists as politicians of various
countries.
Berlin, Nov. 80 (by wireless to
Sayville) ).-Germany is ready for
peace, but that peace must insure
her existence and future, Chancel-
lor Won Bethmann-Hollweg told the
Reichstag yesterday in introducing
the man-power bill. He added:
"Our enemies do not yet desire
peace"
In presenting the measure which
provides for compulsory service Of
civilians for war purposes, the Chan
cellor spoke of the military situa-
ton. 1t was his sixtieth birthday,
and his desk was decorated with
chrusanthemums.
"The war continues, with its de-
structive forces" the Chancellor
said. Accordingly, our enemies de-
sire it. They celebrated the last
summer as a period of victory. But
did they obtain what they wanted?
"0ur lines are unbroken and Ru-
mania, through which great change
of events was expected, is now atom
ing for what she did. God has
helped us up to the present. He will
help us further.
"The almost superhuman heroism OF
our troops, which cannot be expressed
in words Of thanks, and our clear con-
science. since we, the first and only
ones. were ready and are ready to end
the war by a peace guaranteeing our
existence and our future-they give us
moral right to such confidence.
idle Hands Assist Enemy"
"But, gentlemen, this right ought
not to make US forget duty Our ene-
mics do not yet desire peace. They
have superior numbers at their com
mand, and almost the whole world de-
livers war material to them"
The Chancellor urged the necessity
to do everything in Germanys power
to manufacture the necessary war ma
terial, saying:
Hands that are idle assist the
enemy"
"On behalf OF the confederate gov
ernments," the Chancellor continued
al ask you to assist in the work which
will bring us new strength and guide
US toward victory and peace"
The War Minister, Lieutenant General
Won Stein, pointed out the paramount
role Of war material during the present
conflict. He said the heroism Of the
J
German at home the necessity of pro-
viding the requisite materials, and
added: -.
"The enemy has suffered appalling
losses from our artillery. For a long
time a very energetic French general
stood opposite my sector We found
on prisoners and on the dead docu-
ments which mostly were incompre-
hensible TO us. From them We learned
how many death sentences were passed
by the general on his own soldiers
Must Advance or Die
"At the time of our victorious at
tack on the much -talked-of wire hedge
AT Thiepval. behind which machine
guns were placed, the order was given
"Whoever retreats will be shot" AT the
time of the attack on the heights south
of Avricourt soldiers captured there
stated they had received the order:
Every one who retreats will be shot
"To us such an order is lncompre,
hensible. The heroism and sense oil
duty of our soldiers justify our con-
fdence that they will never be found
wanting. even when fighting agains!
numerically superior forces"
DR.. Helfferich, Minister of the In
/ terror. said:
"The home army and field army in
this war Join hands for an .ndissolubie
union. Underneath the German soil are
rich treasures, but they must be lifted
to the daylight
This is as true to-day as II was =
century ago, as il always will be" said
the minister "This is war carried or
not only with arms, but IL is an eco
nomic war Of nations. England, whlch
always speaks of protecting neutrais
has by her interference with mails, spy
ing system and blacklists. cut on nee
essary imports from them and has
caused them more damage than ever an
enemy could do.
"In this economic war. We, together
with our allies. stand in all essential
things alone. Our enemies can con-
tinue 70 import from across the seas.
England. as her Chancellor Of the tx
eheouer has stated, has thus bought
every week to the amount OF fl.0OO,-
GOO. which is l.200, 100000 marks a
wear. France during ten months paid
FOR the same purpose l'2OO'oOo'oOV
francs.
"Half the world at our enemies
disnosal We have no transatlantic
imports. We must rely upon our own
work and must produce what we need
by our own work. The earth yields
what we need for food. But we must
work. and once more have peace. Ihi'
Continued on page 3, column ,