Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-30
No prospects
FOR EARLYPEAcE.

Evidently tn German government
wishes to encourage the belief that
it is willing I'D ready to consider
terms of peace This may mean one
of several THINKS 1t may be a bid
for the sympathy of the neutral
world, kind Of laundering attempt
to throw the re- onsibility for con-
tinuance of the var on the allies. 1t
may be a real ovtture.
The London Tines discussing. re-
cent reports that President Wilson
was preparing the Jay for American
mediation in the wy, declares that
mediation of this q aracter cannot
be entertained becauf, it is impos-
sible and the war, a matter of
principle, must be foutht until Ger.
many is beaten.
President Poincare SINE two or
three weeks ago and Sir Edward
Grey only the other dayA announced
that the war would continue, until
Germany is driven to ask Nor peace
and they are in position to &ctate its
terms. So long as either side en-
tertains rational expectation of
carrying the struggle to decisive
finish, there is nothing 10 encourage
the belief that termination of hos
tilities will be arranged on the basis
Of deadlock.
So long as Germany offers no 9TH
er terms save the perEetuation Of
the status quo in respect to the pres
ent map of Europe this fearful clash
is likely to continue. Recently high
German official compared present
conditions in Europe to an elongated
game Of poker in which the winners
after an all-night sitting, desired to
quit, while the losers were clamor-
ing for continuance in the hope of
recuperation.
Germany's stand, however, might
be compared to a freebooter who, at
ter an incursion into some peaceful
community, retires with his ill-gotten
gains and announces to the posse
which pursues him that he is ready
for peace provided he be allowed to
retain all he has carried off.
Germany desires peace. There is
no doubt Of that, but so long as that
country will listen to overtures only
upon the condition that she be allow
ed to hold Belgium, Northern France:
Poland and other places, the allies
will fight on and shed their last drop
of blood and spend the last farthing.
While it may be and probably is
true that scarcity of food in Ger
many has not reached such serious
phase as the recent appointment OF
a "Food Dictator" is taken in some
quarters to indicate, Ehe editorial
utterances of some of the newspapers
published in the Fatherland, together
with news items which are now and
then permitted to pass the officla
leave hardly any doubt that
the Teutons are hard put to it prop.
erly to feed the vast armies in the
field and to keep the wolf from the
door of the civilian population. More
than that, evidences are not lack
ing to show that Germany is begin
ming to run short on a great many
commodities which are absolutely es-
sential to vigorous and efficient con-
tinuance of military operations on
the gigantic scale now obtaining.
For some time rumors have been
persistent of steady dwlndhng OF
copper, rubber and gasolene supplies
which threatens, if long continued,
to bring about a greater or less par
alysis of war enterprise.
A German workman who has es-
capped to Italy is quoted as saying
that the munition factories of the
Central Powers are running short
of materials, that some arc being
shut down and that others are work
ing only on part time.
1t is logical to assume that re;
cognition of this fact, though the fact
itself is persistently denied, has
something to do with the admitted
disposition of the Teutons to consider
nrooosa1s of neace