New Britain herald., 1916-12-13
negotiations. The Austro Hungarian
 Turkish and Bulgarian governm ents

negotiations. The Austro Hungarian Turkish and Bulgarian governments also have sent similar notes.
 The reasons which prompted Ger many and her allies to take this step are manifest. For two years and half a terrible war has been devastat ing the European continent. Unllm tied treasures of civilization have been destroyed. Extensive areas have been soaked with blood. Millions of brave soldiers have fallen in battle and mil lions have returned home as tnvalids. Grief and sorrow fill almost every house.
 Not only upon, the belligerent na- tions but also upon neutrals the de- structive consequences of the gigantic struggle weigh heavily. Trade and commerce, carefully built up in years of peace, have been depressed. The best forces of the nation have been withdrawn from the production of useful objects. Europe, which for nerly was devoted to the propaga- ton of religion and civilization, which was trying to find solutions for social problems and was the home of science and art and all peaceful, now resem- bles an immense war camp, in which
  decades are doomed to annihilation.
 "Germany is carrying on a war of defense against her enemies, which aim at her destruction. She fights to assure the integrity of her frontiers and the liberty of the German nation, for the right which she claims to de- velop freely her intellectual and economic energies in peaceful com- petition and on an equal footing with other nations. All the efforts of their enemies are unable to shatter the he- roic armies of the (Teutonic) allies, which protect the frontiers of their countries, strengthened by the cer- tainty that the enemy shall pierce the iron wall
 "Those fighting on the front know they are supported by the whole na- ton. which is inspired by love for it's country and is ready for the greatest sacrifices and determined to defend to the last extremity the inherited treasure of intellectual and economic work and the social organization and sacred soil of tT1e country.
 "Certain of our own strength, but realizing Europe's sad future if the war continues; seized with pity in the face of the unspeakable misery of humanity the German Elm p1re, in accord with her allies, solemnly re-
 beats what the chancellor already has
 declared, a year ago, that Germany
 is ready to give peace to the world bv setting before the whole world the question whether or not it is possi- ble to find basis for an understand ing.
 Since the first day of the Pontifcal reign his Holiness the Pope has un- swervingly demonstrated, in the most generous fashion, his solicitude for the l innumerable victims of this war. He | has alleviated the sufferings and ameliorated the fate of thousands of l men injured by this catastrophe. In l spired by the exalted ideas of his l ministry, his Holiness has seized every l opportunity in the interests of hu- | manity to end so sanguinary war. 1 'The Imperial Government is firmly l confident that the initiative of the 1 four powers will find friendly welcome 1 on the part of his Holiness and that
 the work of peace can count upon the l precious support of the Holy See.'