Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-15
OVERTURES WOULD
|. RANK AS BETRAYAL,
. SAYS LLOYD GEORGE
Firmly Convinced Allies Are
Making Steady Progress
Toward Desired Goal. /
WORST MOMENT FOLLOWS
RUSSIA STEPPING OUT
But Gap Lett by Slavs Will Be
Filled by Forces of Amer
lean Democracy.
ERITlSH PREMIER OPTIMISTIC
Warns Nation to Watch Man Who
Thinks There Is Halfway Be-
tween Victory and Defeat.
WORST MOMENT FOLLOWS
RUSSIA STEPPING OUT
BRITISH PREMIER OPTIMISTIC
Warns Nation to Watch Man Who
Thinks There Is Hulf-Nny Be-
tween Victory and Defeat.
rRr \ Ass~iated Pressl

LONDON. December ii.-1'hat steady
progress towards the desired goal is
being made by. the allies, despite some
untoward occurrences. it is tho firm
conviction OF Premier Lloyd George,
he declared to-day.
II is because or this fact. the Pre-
micr said. that he would regard peace
ovcrturcs TO Pru@aia at this moment
when her military spirit was drunk
with boastfulness as n betrayal OF the
trust of himself and his colleagues.
The prcmicr'S words were:
al; is because | am firmly convinced
that dcspitc somc untoWard events.
despite GiscouraGing appearances. we
arc making steady progress toward the
goal that | would regard peace over
lures to Prussia at the very moment
the l'vussian military spirit is drunl:
with boaStfulncss as Il betrayal of tho
great trust with which my colleagues
and myself have been charged"
IL Russia persists in hev present
policy, the Premier pointed out, tho
| Withdrawal blythe enemy from the east
ot 4 third Of his troops must release
hundreds OF thousands cf mon and
masses CT material TO attack Great
r:ritain and Italy.
1t wouli he folly" he added. ito
undcrratc the danger. equal folly to
cNasgcratc il. ani the greatest folly
OF all hot TO face 1t.
eli tho Russian democracy has de-
cidcd TO abandon tho struggle against
military autucrac%. the American de-
mccracy is taking it up"
Hun VICTORIES EMBLAIONID;
TROUBLES DO NOr Nrl'EtR
I.Crmany's victories were cmblazcncd
TO the worlG. tho Premier said. hut
her troubles did not appear in bulle.
tins. Someth 'ng Was known of them.
however. Thc deadly grip OF the Brit
iSh navy was having its effect. and
tho raior IF tho troops WIS making an
impression which would tci! in the end
tIc said those who during the past
fortnight were organizing y neryous
breakdown in the nation were the Same
rs those VINO recently were organizing
hys:c':cai shout over the Flanders
victories.
Lloyd George said lie vas slad TO
understand that Lord 1.nnsdownc's re.
cent letter had ocon misunderstood. and
that Lord L.ansdownn WAS in agree
ment with President Wilson.
81 also" The Premier declared "acrce
with president Wilson, am,! do not de-
"Ii" 10 force Il cont!oVc~Sy where none
existed"
Premier Lloyd George said that a
taii must he mndc on the nation for
great sacrifices and more lighting men
were needed until the AGl,r!can forces
arrive to Offset the burden that had
been cast on the allies by the defec-
ti"n OF Russia and The rcvcrscs OF
Italy.
The allies now must defend all fronts
against the enemy. and have a mobile
army for any point OF emergency the
Premier said. and he added that the
allies had superiority in man power
IN Franco on the battle front. and
there were considerable British re.
serves at home
DESPERATE; ETEoi;TS
rO FORCE ISSUE
Premier Lloyd ueorgy. who was
speaking at tic ;:nner OF tho Grcy's
Inn Bcnchers. said:
IF this is the worst moment il Is
because Russia has stopped out and
America is only preparing. to come in
'N'lE roGr tnat passes Will sec the
zap formed tN .he retirement OF tie
s'nSSi.ns Nllcd by the Naitaur sons OF
the great republic. Cicrmauy knows
it, and Austria knows ii; hence ,ha
desperate efforts ha. they are making
TO force tac issue before America is
ready"
Il warn ;hc nation to watch the
n'an who thnks there is n HALFWAY
mouse ""tweon victory aud defeat" the
Premier admonishcd. There are the
men who ihink YOU can end tho war
now 10y some sort Of what they call
Hcac"--hy setting up "a .eaguc OF ma
tons That is the right policy after
victory without victory it would be
farce
No LEAGUE or N.Tiu,.s
Er NEGOTIATED PEACE
Continuing lis discussion OF
ieaSne OF nations. Lloyd George said
II could not be had by negotiated
peace al iltis timc.
1T is idle to talk OF security TO bc
won by such feeble means" he as
serted There is no security in any
land without the certainty of puuish-
ment. There is no protection in a