Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-13
Chancellor Sounds Note of
Victory and Tells of
Proposals Made for
Ending Conflict.
iny Associate.i rr.ss. |

-Chanccllor Won Bcthmann- -Hollweg's
speech is reported by the Overseas
News .Agenc. al follows:
Chancellor Won Bethmann- -Hollweg
to-day announced to the Reichstag
that Germany, together with her al
lies. conscious Of their responsibility
before God, before their own nations
before humanity" had proposed ;his
morning to the hostile powers to enter
on peace negotiations.
Practically all the members OF Par
lament answered the unexpected sum-
mons. The crowded house md
thronged galleries listened n/atten-
tive silence when the Chancellor rose
for his speech.
MAY DE TURNING POINT
IN EUROPEAN WAR
The Chancellor first outlined the ex-
,raord!nnry political situation. and
then. insisting upon the achievements
Cf the central powers, made an an
rnuncement which possibly may he the
turning point in the war The Chan
cellor said
The Reichstag had not been ad-
Journed for n long period. but fortu-
nntely 1t was left to the discretion OF
the president to tho day OF the
next meeting. This decision was
caused by. the hope tina; soon happy
events in the field would ne recorded
hope fulfilled quicker almost than
expected. / shall be brief for actions
speak for themselves"
The Chancellor said Roumania had
entered the war in order to roll up the
German positions in the east and those
os Germany's allies. At the same time
the grand offensive on the Somme had
as it's object to pierce the German
western front and the renewed Italian
attacks were intended TO paralyze Aus
tria- Hungary
The situation was serious" the
Chancellor continued. But with Gods
help our troops shaped conditions so
as TO give us security which not only
is complete. hut still more so than
ever before. The western front stands
No, only does IL stand. hut In spite
OF the Roumanian campaign II is fitted
out with larger reserves of men and
material than II had heen formerly
The most effective precautions have
been taken against all Italian diver
s:ons. And while on the Somme and
on the Carso the drum fire rcsounded
while tho Russians launched troops
against the eastern frontier OF Tran
sNlvanta. Field Marshal Won Hinden-
hurg captured the whole OF Western
WaIlachia and the hostile capital OF
bukharest, leading with unparalleled
genius the troops that in competition
with all the allies made possible what
hitherto was considered impossible.
FIRM FOUNDATIONS
For ECONOMIC NEEDS
And lIindenburg does not rest Mil
itary operations progress. Ry strokes
OF the sword ut the same time firm
foundations for our economic needs
have been laid. Great stocks OF grain,
Victuals oils and other goods fell
into our hands in Roumanla Their
transport has begun. In spite OF scar
city. we could have lived on our own
supplies, but now our safety is beyond
question"
ITO these great events on land" the
Chancellor continued. heroic deeds of
equal Importance are added by our
submarines. The specter of famine.
which our enemies Intended to appear
before us now pursues them without
mercy When after the termination of
the first year Of the war the Enperor
addressed the nation in Il public an
peal. lie said:
Having witnessed such great
events. my heart was filled with awe
and determinations
Neither our Emperor nor our ma
tion ever changed their minds In this
respect Neither have they now The
genius and heroic acts of our leaders
have fashioned these facts as firm as
iron II the enemy counted upon the
WEAKNESS of his enemy. then he was
deceived
THE RcichstaG. by means Of the
national auxiliary war service law
helped to build new offensive and
defensive bulwark In the midst OF the
great struggle" the Chancellor con-
tlnued. 'Behind the lighting army
stands the nation at work-thc gigan-
tic force of the nation. at work for
the common aim.
THE empire is not a bcsieged for
tress as our adverSaries imagined. hut
ono gigantic and firmly disciplined
camp with inexhaustible resources
That is the German empire, which Is
firmly and faithfully united with its
brothers I'm arms. who have been tested
In battles under Austro- Hungarian,
Turkish and Bulgarian flags. Not con-
fused by asscverations. we progressed
with firm decision. and we thus con-
tlnuc our. progress. always ready to
defend ourselves and fight for our ma
tons existence. for Its free future,
and always ready to stretch out our
hand for peace.
"Our strength has not made our
carS deaf 10 our responsibility before
Continued on second Pagc)