Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-12-14
News review OF
The PAST Week
Presidents Message Declaring
America in War to Finish,
Hailed With Joy.
ADDS AUSTRIA TO OUR FOES
Progress of Russia's Efforts for Ar.
nistice-Germans Sacrifice Men
Recklessly in Furious Attacks
in France and Italy
American Troops to
Be Rushed Across.
BY EDWARD w. PICKARp.

The United States is in the war to
the finish--and that finish must be the
overthrow of the Prussian military
despotism, the liberation and restora-
tiOn of the peoples it has enslaved
and reparation for the material dam
age its armies have done. When this
is assured, the United States will in
sist on peace that is based on gen
erOsity and justice to all alike, eX-
Guiding all selfish claims to advantage
even on the part of the victOrs. Mean
while Austria-Hungary must be form
ally declared our foe in the war, and
"our present and immediate task" is
to win that war.
Such in a few words is the message
of President Wilson to congress, to
America, and especially to the world.
He leaves no doubt of the govern
ment's and the nations humanitarian
aims, and he makes equally plain the
determination never to make peace
with the present rulers of Germany
who have done such "deep and abom-
Unable wrong" The president eX-
pressly disavows any intention to i'm
pair or rearrange the Austro-Hunga-
rian empire, but says that to the
Austro-Hungarlans should be restored
independent control of their own af-
fairs, and AYERS that the Balkan states
and Turkey should be secured against
foreign oppression or injustice. Mr..
Wilson's polished diction does not con-
ceal his contempt for the pacifists, the
traitors and others who seek to ham,
per the nation in the prosecution of
the war. When everyone else within
sound of his voice arose and cheered
the presidents impassioned statements,
Senator La Toilette, Representative
Mason and one or two more sulked 81
lent in their seats. They are easily
classified.
Message Warmly Approved.
Instant approval of the message was
general throughout the United States,
and it received the hearty endorse
ment of the British and South Ameri-
can press, though some of the London
papers, notably the Times, are skep-
tical about the distinction the presi-
dent still makes between the German
rulers and the German people. 1t must
be confessed a great many Americans
also feel the German people are not
so guiltless as Mr.. Wilson represents
/ them.
Congress lost little time in starting
! proceedings for formal declaration OF
war against Austro- Hungary, and gov
eminent agents throughout the coun.
| try at once began preparing to handle
the million and half enemy aliens
which it adds to the list. AS tens OF
thousands of Austro-Hungarians have
been employed in the mines Of Amer
lea, there is danger of a serious short
age of mine labor. 1t is likely a goot
deal of discrimination will be used il
dealing with such subjects Of the dua
monarchy, as the Bohemians and vari
Gus Slavic races, who have no sym
pathy with the autocracy of theil
rulers.
BoIsheViki Peace Efforts.
The efforts of the Russian boIshe
Wiki to bring about general cessation
of fighting was not markedly success
full last week. Large numbers of Rus
sian troops were withdrawn from tn
front lines, and Austro-H Hungary for
mally approved of the armistice plan
but when the representatives o
the Russians began discussion of de
tails with the Germans they met wifi
quick check. Their first two stipu
latiOns were that the enemy shoul;
not undertake to send forces from
the Russian front to the front of Rus
sia's allies, and that the German de
tachments should be withdrawn from