The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1916-12-13
Germany Willing to
Eni War.
WANT LASTING PEACE
Tsuton5 Would Quit Belgium
and France.
ASKS HEUTRALS To ACT

Turkey, took the first decisive steI
to bring to an end the greatest anc
b,oodiest war in the history of the
world.
T..is was announced in the reich
stag by Chancellor Won Bethmann
Hoilweg who declared that the EN-
peror and his allies, had made the
dec,ara ion conscious of their re-
sponsibility before Col, their cwn ma
tons and before humanity"
The chancellor, in explaining the
proposal, said that he had sent foI
the representatives of the United
States, Of Spain and of Switzerland
the states which are protecting Ger
man interests in hostile foreign coun
tries, and gave to each of them note
with the request that they transmit
it to the hostile governments.
A similar note was also sent to the
Vatican and action similar to that in
Berlin was also taken in Vienna, Con.
stantinople and Sofa, the seats of
government of the other allied (cen.
traD powers.
The notes Of the four powers pro-
pose to enter on peace negotiations
forthwith.
The propositions which they bring
for such negotiations are accord 'ng
to the firm belief, appropriate for the
establishment IF lasting peace.
The chancellor first outlined the ex.
tracrdinary political situation, and
then. insisting upon the achievements
of the central powers, made an an.
nouncement which possibly may be
the turning point in the war, which
for more than two years has held the
world under it's spell. The chancel
Tor said:
"The reichstag had not been I'D.
journed for long period, but fortu-
nately it was left to the discretion of
the president as to the day Of the next
meeting. This decision was cauve1 by
the hope that soon happy events in
the field would be recorded, hope
fulfilled quicker, almost, than expect
ed. l shall be brief, for elections
speak for themselves"
The chancellor said Rumania' had
the German positions in the eaS and
those of Germany's allies. the
same time the grand offensive d the
Somme had as its object to lsar0 the
German western front, and q
ed Italian attacks were intended to
paralyze Austria-Hungary.
"The situation was er'eus," the
chancellor continued. "Bu. with G DIS
help our troops shaped coadi ions s.
as to give US security which not on'y
is complete, but still mora so It a.
ever before. The western front stands
of the Rumanian campaign, it Il fitted
out with larger reserves of men AM
material than it had been form. rly
The most effective prec0 uions h We
been taken against all Italian diver
sions.
the Carso the drumf1re res u dedl while
the Russians launched troops aga n
the eastern frontier of Tran yVaria
Field Marshal Won Hindanbnrg captuT
ed the whole Of western Wa'lac Ia ard
the hostile capital Of Bucharest, led
ing with unparalleled genius tie tr?op
made possible what hitherto was cen
sidered impossible.
"And Hindenburg does not rest. MI
of the sword at the same time fin
foundations for our economic lneads
have been laid. Great stocks of grain
victuals, oil and other goods fill into
our hands in Rumania: Their tr ms
port has begun. In spite of search
we could have lived on our own sup
plies, but now our safety is beyond
question"
the chancellor continued, "hero'e
deeds of equal importance are added
by our submarines. The spectre Of
famine, which our enemies intended
without mercy. When after the ter
mination of the first year of the wal
the emperor addressed the nation ir
a public appeal, he said, Having wit
messed such great events, my hear
was filed with awe and determination.
Neither our emperor nor our natioT
ever changed their minds in this re
spect. Neither have they now. The
genius and heroic acts of our leaders
have fashioned these facts as fl m as
iron. If the enemy coun. Ell upcn the
deceived"
"The Reichstag, by means of the
national auxiliary war service law.
helped to build a new offensive ani
defensive bulwark in the midst of the
great struggle" the chancellor con
tinued.
"Behind the fighting army stands the
nation at work-the gigantic force O,
the nation working for the common
aim.
"The empire is not a besiege1 fort
ress, as our adversaries imagined, blu
one gigantic and firmly. disciplined
camp, with inexhaustible resources
That is the German empire, which !.
firmly and faithfully united with it
brothers in arms, who have been test
ed in battle under the Austro-Hungari
an, Turkish and bulgarian flags. Gu
conquer the whole world, and the:
desnerata cries of anguish for peace