The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-17
germany DEH0uAcEs ALLIES.
BLAMES THEM FOR PROVOKING
THE GREAT WAR.
Peace Proposals Made by Germany
Were Sincere and Opened Way for
Ncgotiations--Rcfusal OF Allies to
Entertain Proposal Renders Them
Responsible for Continuation of
Bl0odshed and Suffering.

Responsible for Continuation of
Bloodshed and Suffering.
Berlin, Jan. IL (via Sayville) -
Germany today handed neutral gov
ornmsnts note concerning the reply
Of the entente to/the German peace
proposals.. the Overseas News Agency
announces.
II is first stated. says the news
agency announcement. that the Ger
man government has received the re-
ply Of the entente to the note Of De-
cember IL containing q proposition to
enter at once into peace negotiations.
The note then continues:
Our adversaries declined this prop.
osition. giving as the reason that it is
q proposition without sincerity and
without importance. The form In
which they cloths their communica-
tion excludes an answer to them but
the imperial government considers 1t
important to, point out to the govern
ments Of neutral powers It's opinion
REGARDING the situation. The GEN.
tral powers have no reason to
enter into any discussion regard
ing the origin of the world war.
History Will Judge upon whom the
immense guilt Of the war shall fall.
history's verdict will as little pas.
over the enclrcling policy Of England,
the revengeful policy Of France and
the endeavor of Russia to gain Con-
s'susinople as over the instigation of
the Ssrvian assassination Of Sarajevo
and the complete mobilization of Rus
STA. which meant war against Ger
many.
Germany and her allies, who had
to take UP arms for defense Of their
liberty and their existence. consider
thia their aim of the war. as obtained.
"On the other hand. the hostile
pewers always went further away
lPsgfths realisation Of their plans
Which, according 70 the dsclarations1
- NV alnlp6 1t ~ 1890
0thSrs directed toward thga
eotdtsk OF lAisace-Lorraine and sew
erAl Prussian provinces. the humilia-
tion and dinlinution of the Austro-
Hungarian monarchy. the partition OF
Turkey and the mutilation of Bull
srriA.
In the face of such war aims, the
demand for restitution, reparation
and guarantees In the mouth Of our
adversaries produces a surprising ef-
feet.
Our adv 'ries call the proposal
or the four allied (Teutonic) powers
q war manocuvre. Germany and her
allies must protesI in the most ener-
getic fashion against such a charac-
terization OF their motives which were
frankly explained. They were per-
suaded that peace which was just
and acceptable to all the belligerents
was possible. that 1t could be brought
about by N Immediate spoken ex-
change OF views and that, therefore.
the responsibility for further blood
shed could not be taken.
Their readiness was affirmed with
out reservation to make known their
peace conditions when negotiations
were entered into. which refutes every
doubt as to their sincerity.
"Our adversaries. who had 1t In their
hands to examine the proposition as
to Its contents. neither attempted an
examination nor made counterpro-
posals. Instead. they declared that
peace was impossible so long as the
re-esta blishment Of violated rights and
liberties, the recognition OF the prin-
ciple OF nationalities and the free ex-
istence OF small states were not guar
anteed.
THE sincerity which our adver-
saries deny to the proposal of the
four allied powers (Teutonic) will not
DO conceded by the world to these de-
mands IL the world holds before it's
eyes the fate OF the Irish people, the
destruction Of the liberty and inde-
pendence of the Boer republic, the
subjugation OF nortern Africa by
England. France and Italy, the sup
preston of Russian alterations and
also the violation OF Greece. which is
without precedent in history.
Against the pretended violations
OF the laws OF nations by the four al
lies (Teutonic) these powers are not
entitled to complain. which from the
beginning or the war tramplcd on
Justice and tore to pieces the treaties |
upon which IL Is built. England al |
ready during the first weeks of tho