Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-21

formed, he said, but there have been
military successes in Palestine whlch
will have permanent effect on the
history Of the world. Jerusalem, ne
declared, never will be restored to tho
Turks.
SACRIFICES NECESSARY.
After referring to the Italian re-
verses, the premier said it would pc
necessary for Great Britain to make
greater sacrifices to strengthen It's
armies in the coming year. The need
would arise to increase the nations
man power by taking some men now
exempted.
Owing to the food difficulties in
Germany, the premier went on, the
physical deterioration of workmen
there has been so marked that the
output per man had been decreased
50 per cent.
GERMAN LOSSES HEAVY.
As for the British casualties, Mr.
Lloyd George said they had not
amounted to more than one-fourth or
one-fifth of the Germans. Opposed
to Germany, Austria and their allies,
he asserted, were man power ana re-
serves more than double those pos
sessed by the Teutonic allies.
The advent of America into the war,
the premier declares, was an event
which would loom large in the future.
AS for the disposition of the Ger
man colonies, the premier said, that
must, be settled by the peace con-
gress.
The premier said the sinking OF
submarines is increasing. Although
the merchant tonnage is cut by 70 per
cent he added, the loss has been only
per cent Of imports over that OF last
year.
He said the losses in shipping had
been lighter by 100000 tons than he
had anticipated in his August esti-
mate.
British shipping losses for the past
week total seventeen, decrease OF
! -four, compared with the previous
week.
i TO OFFER WORLD PEACE.
Petrugrad, Dec. "a (Delayed)-
According to press reports, RUSSIA
| has been informed by the central
powers that they intend to make
peace proposals to the allies.
This report is published in the
Evening Post, which says the repre-
sentzfives Of the central powers at
the first preliminary peace confer
'ence with the Russians held yester-
day, announced that their govern
Ment intended on principle to put the
question of peace before all the pow
ers and they had asked their allies to
do likewise. Russia was requested
TO take similar. steps. 1t is stated
the Russians are endeavor1ng py all
means to sound the allies.
TERMS NOT ACCEPTED.
The Evening Post says the Germans
have ofiicially informed the bolshevi-
HI headquarters that the central pow
ers are ready to consider the arrange
ment Of peace on the basis OF no an
nexations and no indemnities, but
pointed out that self definition of ma
tons Is impracticable.
The representative of the central
powers Informed the Russians they
were ready to discuss peace preiim.
inaries but desired to know the result
of Rus4ja's efioEt to induce the allies
q Join ln the negotiations before FRO.
eeeding. They said this point OF
view might be changed, however, and
that they might be willing to discuss
peace with Russia alone. The Ger
mans were Of the opinion that the
Russia armistice might influence the
other fronts.
The first conference was devoted
merely to a discussion of who would
participate in the negotiations.
rEUToNs RUSH NEGOTIATIONS.
London, Dec. 18.-(Delayed)-Peace
negotiations between Russia and the
central powers, an armistice having
been reached, are assuming an aspect
o. importance. DR.. Won Kuehlmann,
the German foreign secretary, and
Count Czernin, the Austro- Hungarian
foreign minister, are both said to be
On their way to Brest-itovsk, being
by advisory suits from
various government departments.
Il Is also indicated from Berlin that
fhe main committee Of the reichstag
VIM be summoned to meet in special
|session in connection with these ne
,xottations, and some German news
ipapers interpret this as showing that
tho win of the peoples representa-
|ttvae Is about to assert itself.
Another result of the arm1stice Is
chat Ensign Kreylenko, the bolsheviki
lcumnandeaAin-chief, has been able to
move divisions from the northern
front against General Kaledines, who
= reported to be gaining new success.
rho bolshevi6 administration Is
)adoptmg drastic methods against its
pppouents, including the reanstate-
nent Of the death penalty.
A dispatch from Tammerfors, Fin
laand, says that the Russian troops are
to evacuate Finland, trans
(Dort1tsn already having been ar
Ix11ged
FAMINE Stalks