Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-12

rights and human rights have been thrown 10 the
winds '.I-- ..: -
Before Rumania's entry into the war the Allies
were making slow, costly. bloody progress. Ger
MANY was far into Entente territory that the
problem Of getting her out became a problem OF
throwing men against guns bayonets mines, poison
gas hand grenades liquid fire and aerial bombs. for
month after month and possibly year after year.
At this moment Rumania entered the war.
For the Allies il struck the bell of fresh. revivfy
ing hope. Rumania had army in excess of 50O,-
GOO, and military critics said this army could carry
a winning fight to the enemy. Rumania had pre-
lsumably large store of munitions, and was known
TO have large store of food supplies RuInana
was rich, productive country. and with this
try. after two years of military preparation. strk
ing at the back of Bulgaria and AT tie flank of Aus
tria Hungary, the Allies were justified in expecting
an early change of the tide in their favor.
Rumania not only proved unable to strike real of
fensive blow at the enemy, but unable 10 defend her
own borders.
Thrustng first into Pennsylvania. she alarmed
Austria Hungary Berlin recognized the need for
action. organized new army under Won Falken-
hayn. and the Austro-Germans in some two weeks
had stopped and turned the Transylranan cam
pagn, thrown back the Rumanians from the Da-
nube. entered the Dobrudja with a splendid army
under Won Mackensen, and put the Rumanians on
the defensive \ month thereafter Bucharest was
doomed and week thereafter Bucharest had fallen.
The causes for the total collapse of Rumanias
famed military organization will some day be
known 1t has been variously laid to lack of big
guns to lack of support by the soldiers of their off
GERS and to an overconfdence which turned into ter
when the actual grip of battle seized the untred
armies
Whatever the cause, Rumana was quickly changed
from an asset to liability for the Entente Powers
The high hopes which were entertained at the be
ginning of the Rumanian move soon became fears
Germanys move thus comes at moment of dis
enlargement for the Entente Allies. 1t also comes
at moment when the Central Powers are keyed
high with confidence that they can continue the war
successfully.
1t does not mean that the Entente Powers are any
less determined to win the war, any less confident
that ultimately they can win it. But it means that
Germany has seized strategic time for her peace
proposals.
Twice previously the German chancellor in pub,
lie speeches has cautiously spoken of peace Each
time he has approached the subject by way of stat
ing in general terms what the Central Powers must
guarantee and be guaranteed before peace can come
And later on. after each speech, German statesmen
have said that the Central Powers have shown them
selves willing to negotiate for peace but that the En-
tente Allies declined to heed the opportunity.
To each such statement, representatives of the !
Entente Powers have declared that there can be no
talk of peace until Germany has withdrawn from or
is ready to yield back Belgium until Serbia is res
tored until other demands of the Allies have been
fulfilled France stands out for the restoration of
Alsace Lorraine Russia for the restoration of Po-
land Italy for the restoration of that portion of
Austria Hungary claimed by the Italians and term
ell the "irredenta" (unredeemedl.
The present move of the German chancellor is,
however. by far the most important word of peace
that has from any statesman, any capital, any
nation
1t is the first direct proposal for peace since the
war began.
It's the first time any proposal for peace has been
made openly to the neutras.
II is the first appeal TO the public opinion of the
world to stop the slaughter.