The sun., 1916-12-13
AUSTRIA.HUNGARY
READY TO FIGHT ON
Declares Allies Can Never Con-
quer by Blockade or Star
walton Methods.
FOES A N ALTER FATE
Further Warfare Would BE
Aimless Destruction Of Life
and Property.

LoNpoN. Dec. iS.-An oniciai Aus
TRAN statement. referring to the peace
offer. says:
when In the summer Of 1914 the pa
thence Of Austria-H Hungary was cx-
hausted BY . series Of systematically
continued and sver increasing provoca-
lions and menaces, and the monarchy
after almost Atty years Of unbroken
peace. found itself compelled to draw
the sword, this weishty decision was an
mated neither by aggressive purposes
nor by designs d conquest. but solely
by the bitter necessity Of seif-defence to
defend It's existence and safeguard It.
self for the future against similar
t~reacherous plots Of hostile %neighbors.
That was the task and aim Of the
monarchy In the present war. In com-
bination with Its allies, we'll tried in
loyal comradeship In arms, the Austro-
Hungarian army and feet. fighting,
bleeding. but also assailing and on
querins. gained such success that they
frustrated the intentions Of the enemy.
The Quadruple alliance not only has
won an immense series Of victories, but
sASO viz ~ is pOWcT eAtCTSiNc HOstilc
territories. Unbroken II II strength. as
u latest t%reacherous enemy has Just
experienced.
Further DloeAsAed IL Useless.
"Can our enemies hope to conquer or
shatter this alliance Of Powers? They
will never succeed In breaking II by
blockade and starvation measures Their
war aims. TO the attainment Of which
they ave come nc nearer In the third
year OF the war. will In the future be
proved to have been completely I'M
attainable. Useless and u~navailing.
therefore. IL the prosecution Of the night
Ing on the part Of the enemy.
The Powers Of the Quadruple Al
lance. on the other hand. have effec-
lively pursued their aims. namely, de-
fence against attacks on their existence
concert long since. n the achievement
Of real guarantees. and they will never
allow themselves to be deprived Of the
basis Of their existence. which they have
secured by advantages won.
THE continuation Of the murderous
war. In which the enemy can destroy
much. but cannot-as the Quadrupie Al
lance Ii firmly conhdent-alter fate. Is
even more seen to be an aimiess destruc-
ton Of human lives and property, an act
Of inhumanity Justified by no necessity
and a crime against civilization.
This conviction. and the hope that
similar views may also be begun to be
entertained in the enemy camp. ma.
caused the idea to ripen in the Vienna
Cabinet-in full agreement with the
governments Of the Teutonic Powers
Of making q candid and loyal endeavor
to come to n discussion with their ene-
mics for the purpose Of paving a way
for peace.
THE governments Of AustriaIHun-
gary. Germany. Turkey and Bulgaria
have addressed to-day Identical notes to
the diplomatic representatives In the
capitals concerned who are entrusted
with the protection OF enemy nationals
expressing an inclination to enter into
peace negotiations and requesting them
to transmit this overture to enemy
States.
Special Note to Holy See.
This step was simultaneously brought
to the knowledge of the representatives
Of the Holy See In a special note. and
the active interest Of the Pope for this
OFFER Of peace was solicited. Likewise
the accredited representatives Of the re-
naming neutral States in the four capt.
tails were acquainted with this proceed
Ing for the purpose Of informing their
governments.
Austria and her allies by this step
have given new n decisive proof of
their Low OF peace. It Is now for their
enemies to make known their views be-
fore the world. Whatever the result of
its proposal may be. no responsibility
can fall on the Quadruple Alliance, ever
before the Judgment seat of its w peo-
pies, II 1t IL eventually obliged to con-
AInaia iha uraru