Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-02-01
PEACE DOVE TAKES FLIGHT

Twenty-four hours ago there was
q small break in the dark war clo1d.
The hope was cherished Enat Eostlil-
ties might be brought to close IN
the near future. "Peace without
victory" was the slogan, and the
people of the civilized world sought
their touches last night to indulge
in peace dreams. Diplomats, however
did not sleep so serenity. The south
wind had blown softly, but the eu-
roclydon was following in It's wake.
The beautiful verse in scripture
which so often comes to us in our
fluctuating existence-"Weeping may
endure for night, but JOY cometh
in the morn:ng"-was reversed. The
hopes of the night were crushed
this morning by Gernany's avowal
to resume her war of frightfulness
that IS to continue the course she
inaugurated in the spring of 1915,
when the Lusitania was destroyed
and over thousand men, women
and children, non-combattants, and
including over one hundred Amer
cans, persisted off the coast of Ire
land.
The Teutonic nation gives notice
to the civilized world that any YES
sci, no matter of what nationality,
which may enter what she terms
war zones which she has mapped out
will do so at its peril.
The query, What are we gong to
do about it? is pertinent.
The United States has suffered
long and patiently during this fright
full war. 1t has at tines been on
the verge of breaking off diplomatic
relations with the naughty German
nation, and taking the consequent
ces, but upon what appeared to be
honest declarations of the central
powers America has preserved its
neutrality.
Some far-seeing people arc in
clined to believe that Germany
latest move is intended as bluff and
to silence home clamor, and that
she has no serious intention of car
ryng out such q program Of brutal
lty. Others liken the Kaiser to
whale which has been sorely wound
ed, and makes u fierce plunge at its
tormentofS in It's death throes. We
must wait and see what it all means.
Not only will the Teutons add the
United States to its enemies. but
Spain, Denmark, and Swenden, and
Holland
One of our Washington cotempo-
raries this: morning says:
The big question is: Will the new
form of "frightfulness" succeed?
That it will succeed in blockading
England seems impossible That it
may succeed in cutting down Brit
lsh shipping to a perilously low mar
gin and cause dangerous food
shortage in the United Kingdom is
possible. The new German undersea
fleet of 800 subs is going to give the.
entente many an anxious day before
long. no matter how successful and
brilliant defense against Them &c
established.
That it will throw the United
States into the lap of the allies is =
factor in the situation which Ger
many has discounted. The loss of
American lives, of American export
trade, the arrangement of the nor
NAL processes of shipping, are all
elements which will bring this ma
ton nearer the nlaelstrom. Should
the new sea warfare be carried to
American shores, as was done last
summer, it will merely intensity the
situation.
Yet the new ruthlessness may be
a move in the direction of peace. If
the powers of this nation is thrown
to the enemies of Germany, it is
clear that in the end the central pow
ers will be ovecmasched. They cannot
fight the world, and they know it..
They may, we'll decide 70 abandon al
struggle which means certain catas-
trophe to them. They might trust to-
the United States to intercede with
those powers which have their grip onI
her neck and ask her to gain as light
and mild terms of peace as possible.
Such q coarse Of action has been out
lined by publicfsts more than once as
we'll within the scope of TeutonicI
diplomacy. - |
trYs:Ss Il
ANOTHER HAEECENTtJRy ECHO 4