Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-12-13
Germany DepIores Destruction
of Treasures of Civilization
Blood Soaked Acres and
Loss of Commerce,
DECLARES TEUT0NIC
ARMIES UNSHATTERED
Entente Leaders Are Sure of
Their Strength, but Have
Become Stricken With Pity
for the Rest of Europe,
tnr noanna lounnAL s..elAL LEAsGp wIr.l

/
by Dr. Won Muhlberg, German min
lister to the vatican, to Cardinal Gas
parri, papal secretary of state follows,
According to Instructions received
I have the honor to send to your emf
nence a copy of the declaration which
the imperial government today, by the
good offices of the powers entrusted
with the protection of German inter-
ests in the countries with which the
German empire is in state of war,
transmits to these states and in which
the imperial government declares it.
self ready to enter into peace nego-
tiations
All Central Powers Send Notes.
THE Austro- Hungarian, Turkish
and Bulgarian governments also have
sent similar notes. The reasons which
prompted Germany and her allies to
take this step are manifest. For two
years and a half a terrible war has
been devastating the continent. un-
limited treasures of civilization have
been destroyed. Extensive acres have
been soaked with blood. Millions Of
brave soldiers have fallen in battle
and millions have returned home as
invalids. Grief and sorrow fill almost
every house.
works of Decades' 'Annihilated.
mot only upon the belligerent ma
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 nations have been
withdrawn from the production of
useful objects. Europe, which for
merly was devoted to the propagation
of religion and civilization, which was
trying to find solutions for social
problems and was the home of science
and art and all peaceful labor, now
resemb bles an immense war camp, in
which the achievements and works of
many decades are doomed to an
Inhalation.
TeutOnic Armies Unshattered..
Germany is carrying on a war OF
defense against her enemies which aim
at her destruction She fights to as
sure the integrity of her frontiers and
the liberty of the German nation, for.
the right which she claims to develop
freely her intellectual and economic
energies in peaceful competition and
on equal footing with other nations,
All the efforts of their enemies are
unable to shatter the heroic armies
Of the Teutonic allies which protect
the frontiers of their countries
strengthened by the certainty that the
enemy shall never pierce the iron wall.
"Those fighting on the front know
that they are supported by the whole
nation, which is inspired by love for
It's country and Is ready for the great
est sacrifices and determined to de-
fend to the last extremity the inher-
tied treasure of Intellectual and eco. !
nomic work and the social organiza-
ton and sacred soil of the country.
Germany Ready for Peace.
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 hu- |
nanity, the German empire, in accord
with her allies, solemnly repeats what
The chancellor already has declared a |
year ago, that Germany is ready tod
give peace to the world by setting be
fore the whole world the question
or not it is possible to find
!. basis for an understanding.
Count on POpc's support.
Since the first day of the pontifical
reign, his holiness, the pope, has un-
,wervingly demonstrated in the most
generous fashion his solicitude for the
victims Of this war He
has alleviated the sufferngs and
ameliorated the fate of thousands Of
men injured by this catastrophe. In
,pired by the exalted idea of his min
stry, his holiness has seized every op-
oortunity in the interest Of humanity
10 end so sanguinary war.
"The imperial government is firmly
confident that the initiative Of the
four powers will find friendly welcome
on the part, of his holiness and that
he work of peace can count upon
the precious support Of the holy see.