The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-04-12
GERMANY

BERLIN, April 12.-Gernan troops
have advanced at several places in
the fighting In caiIlette wood north
east Of verdun, the war office an
nounced this afternoon.
West Of CaiIIette woods, three
French counter attacks In the Pepper
heights region broke down under Ger
man artillery fire.
On the west bank of tho Meuse,
French attacks northeast of Avocourt,
near the village Of Haucourt, were
checked by the Germans.
German troops raided English posi-
tlons near La BoiseIIe during the night
taking 20 prisoners.
MORE PEACE TALK.
by Carl w. Ackerman, United Press
Staff Correspondent.
BERLIN, April 12.-The end Of the
war has been brought appreclabIy
nearer by significant Developments Of
the last forty-efght hours.
Press reports Of Premier Asquith's
Monday night reply to Chancellor Won
BethmannHollweg's speech reached
Berlin today. They created a mild Gen.
sation. Disreearding certain belIiger-
ent phrases, weIl-informed Germans In
terpreted Asqulth's, speech as frank
hint that the time Is drawing near
when England will be willing to enter
peace discussions.
For tho first time since the begin
ming Of tho war, the English premier,
as Germans Interpret his speech, modI.
fled his demand that Prussian mIlltar-
ism must be crushed. When he substI-
tuted for this the statement that Cor
man "miIitary caste" must not In the
future guide Germany's international.
policies, Germans believe that he ex-
pected a complete backdown. Ger
mans assert that the so-caIIed military
caste was not in the diplomatic sad
die before the war and that the chan
ceiIor's recent victory over the Won
Tirpitz faction Is evidence that the ele-
ment Asquith profosses to fear has
not gained control Of Germany's for
eisn poiIcles. The Hoiiweg's and As
qulth statement, together with recent
official uteerances, indicate peace pros
poets are taking shape along the lines
Indicated In the following sub divis-
Ions.
IndennnitIes-Both Germany and
England apparently have abandoned
the idea Of making the enemy pay for
the war.
BeIgiHm-the allies demand restora-
tion and complete independence Of
Belgium. Germany agrees to this, pro-
vided that Belgium does not discrimi-
nate against Germany after the war.
Poland-Germany insists that con-
quered Polish territory shall not be re-
turned to the czar. Russia pledges
autonomy for the Poles.
In the face 81 German claims, En-
future Of Poland.
Baltic Provinces and other Russian
territory held by the Austro-G Germans
Germany insists that none Of this
territory shall be surrendered to the
car. The allies are silent on this
point.
BaIkans-The central empires insist
that Russia shall never again dominate
Balkan affairs. Bulgaria will demand
Serbian Macedonia. Premier Asquith
has announced that not only must
Serbia be restored, but that she must
receive territorial compensations for
her sufferings.
e-Lorraine-Germany has made
no recent official statement, but i'm
portant suffrage concessions have been
made to the provinces. In France the
clamor for the rstoration of Alsace-
Lorraine complete apparently has sub
sided.
Colonies-Germany counts as GER
tain the restoration of her lost colonies
or an equivalent cession Of colonial
territory and recognition Of tho right
ef expansion in the direction Of Bag
dad. The allies have been silent on
the sub ject Of Germany's colonies.