The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-12-21
FEARING PEACE PROSPECTS RE.
MOTE, PREPARE TO CONTINUE
CONFLICT ON GREAT SCALE.
ROUMAN|ANSMAKECA|N
REPORT THAT REVOLUTIONARY
OUTBREAKS IN PORTUGAL
HAVE BEEN QUELLED.--

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Berlin, Dec ia military Official
who is frankly and keenly hopeful
that some way may be found to enu
lie war, though he is none too optl-
mistic at present, called together rep
resentatives of the neutral press to in
uuire as to the probable effect of the
German peace note in neutral coun-
tries. He laid great stress on this
point and particularly whether there
would be any tendency to construe the
German note as sign of weakness
Discussing the possibility that all
peace propositions may be rejected at
present this officer declared Germany
was aware the the French and British
would make another herculean effort
in the west next spring effort for
which Germany would be fully pre-
pared. He expressed the opinion that
It could not have any result other than
continued slaughter. and that 1t would
have no more prospects of success
than the Somme offensive.
In the meantime, this officer con-
tinued, Germany would not give Rus
sia time to recuperate, as happened
year ago. He said Germany was in
position today to force Russia to make
peace and that she surely would do so
if the peace overtures were rejected.
He asserted Russia was known
to Germany to be exhausted in
military and economical sense,
having neither trade. troops nor
ammunition. On the word of Hinden.
burg that there would be no winter
quarters this year. he said, Germany
did not intend to give Russia the
chance to build up new armies or
make up for deficiencies in ammuni-
ton.
Infantry fighting was resumed Sat
urday on the east bank of the Meuse'
in the Verdun sector. During the pre-
vious night the German troops had un-
dertaken no counter attack to regain
the ground they lost as the result OF
the stroke inflicted by the French on
Friday. Details concerning the French
drive indicated the capture OF 5000
Germans and about eighty guns. Four
French divisions participated in the
attack and the French war office in,
Inmates that they were opposed by
five German divisions.
The Teutonic armies in Rumania
continue to gain. A statement by the
German war office that the Buzeu riv-
er sector has been forced may mean
that the Teutons actually have crossed
that river, along which it had been ex-
pected the Rumanians would make
their next stand.
In the vicinity of Ypres and Wyts-
chaete, German troops delivered an as
sault southeast of Zillebeke. penetrat-
ing the second British line.
A further advance of the British
army on the Tigris front in Mesopo-
tamia within three-quarters of a mile
of that river, opposite kut-elAmara, Is
recorded
Revolutionary outbreaks in Portugal
accompanied by mutiny of some troops
have been quelled.
London, Dec. 16.-Germany's pro-
posal to enter into peace negotia-
tions was scoffed at by the officers
anu SOlultIS VI thC Ioi itiSh O. 49,
France. Most of the officers ex-
pressed belief that the proposal was
merely diplomatic diversion. follow
ing Germany's successes in Rumania
and intended to magnify those sue
cesses into a vital phase OF the war.
Buzeu, an important railroad center
northeast of Bucharest. has been cap
tured by the ustro-Germans. The re-
treating Russians and Rumanians are
reported to be burning villages behind
them.
British troops have taken. the Of
fensive near Kut-ElAmara, in Meso-
potamia.
The Greek government has accepted
the demands of the ententee allies
contained in an ultimatum presented
to the Athens government Thursday.
1t is reported unofficially.
London.-The Austrian government
has resigned. This is announced in
Reuter- dispatch from Amsterdam.
SchIuthess SwitzerIand's President.
Paris.-The Swiss confederation, by
vote of 176 out of 1S9 votes in the
Swiss National Assembly, elected Ed
mund Schuthess of Aargau president.