The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-12-14
WHAT ARE cERMANYs WAR
AIMS7


President Wilson's war address Is
new challenge to the German gov
eminent to define its war aims. The
challenge is emphasized by his de-
mand upon congress for declaration
Of war against Austria-Hlngary
No statement or Germany's aims
and objects in this war has ever been
issued. When President Wilson a
year ago requested such statement
from all the belligerents. the central
powers alone refused to answer. Off.
cially the Geramn government pre-
tends to be fighting defensive war
to save the empire from destruction,
but never has it laid down the terms
OF peace which in its opinion would
guarantee the security of the empire
from enemies without.
At the same time, German propa-
ganda has bee Inactive for q year in
demanding more definite statements
of the war aims of the allies. Under
The influence of German agents this
became one Of the favorite grievances
of the Russian Bolsheviki. Ignoring
the fact that no terms of any kind had
ever been offered by Germany, the
Petrograd radicals insisted that the
failure of the allies to restate their
war aims justified the BoIshevih gov.
eminent in entering upon independ-
ent peace negotiations with the Ger
man government.
But the Bolsheviki were not alone
In this insistent policy of forcing the
hand of the allies automatically. The
pacifist elements in the United States
and Great Britain took up the cry,
and finally the most perfect living ex-
ample Of reactionary Toryism, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, added his
voice to the demand.
So far as the United States is con-
cerned, President Wilson has answer
ed all of them. He has stated the
war aims and the war objects of this
country clearly and unequivocally.
There can be no doubt in Berlin and
Vienna as to what kind of peace thel
United States is fighting for or what
must happen in Germany and Austria
Hungary before formal negotiations
can begin.
What answer, then, has the German
government to make? What has the
Austro- Hungarian government to offer
70 its people when they begin to ask
embarrassing questions to why the
United States has been added to the
enemies of the dual monarchy? Some
sort of reply will eventually have to
be made. 1t is inconceivable that 120..
100000 people will fight forever in the
dark, or that they will be forever sat.
isfied with vague and shifty generali |
nations from chancellors and foreignj
ministers.
The problem would be immeasura-I
bly, simplified IL the full text of theI
presidents address could be published
throughout Geramny and Austria-Hun-
gary; IL the people of the central pow.
ors knew that this address was mes
sage to them as well as to the con-
gress and the American people. We
cannot hope for that, but the fact that
such message was delivered by the
president is certain to make its way
throughout Germany, however much
the actual test of the address may be
mutilated before publication.
The president has greatly strength.
ened the position of the United States
and the allies by simplifying the es-
sential issues of the war. In doing
this he has inevitably weakened the
position of the German government in
holding that no concrete terms or
peace can be discussed except in Sc.
cret conference. The very contrast
between the attitude of the allies and
the central powers is military ac-
c0mplishment OF the utmost value
The German government can contin.
ne to lie to its people by telling them
that the allies are bent upon the de-
struction of the empire and their po-
litical enslavement, but official men.
dacity has its new hazards in the
light of President Wilson's address.
The results may not be Immediately
apparent but the ultimate effect is GER
fain.-World.
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Colonel Nat. r. Walker, the original