The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-17

attitude of the central powers and |
their allies had been a continual de-
fiance Of humanity and civilization.
Is 1T necessary to recall the horrors
which accompanied the invasion of
Belgium and OF Servia, the attrocious
regime imposed upon the invaded
countries, the massacre of hundreds
of thousands of inoffensive Arme..-
ians. the barbarities perpetrated
against the populations of Syria, the
raids of Zeppelins on open towns, the
destruction by submarines of passen-
ger steamers and of merchantmen
even under neutral flags, the cruel
treatment inflicted upon prisoners OF
war, the judicial murders of Miss Ca
vel. of Capt Fryatt. the deportation
and the reduction to slavery of civil
populations, ct cetera? The exeru-
ton of such series of crimes per.
petrated without any regard for uni
versal reprobation fully explains to
President Wilson the protest of tho
allies.
"They consider that the note which
they sent to the United States in re-
ply to the German note will be a re-
sponse to the questions put by the
American government, and, according
to the exact words of the latter, con-
stitute a public declaration as to the
conditions upon which the war could
be terminated
President Wilson desires more. He
desires that the belligerent powers
openly affirm the objects which they
seek by continuing the war; the al
lies experience difficulty in replying
to this request. Their objects in the
war are we'll known; they have been
formulated on many occasions by the
chiefs of their divers governments.
Their objects in the war will not be
made known in detail with all the
equitable compensations and indem-
mites for damages suffered until the
hour Of negotiations. But the civil
lized world knows that they imply in
all necessity and in the first instance
the restoration of Belgium, of Servia
and of Montenegro, and the indemni-
ties which are due them; the evacua-
tiop Of the invaded territories OF
France, of Russia and of 1Roumania
with just reparation; the reorganiza-
tion of Europe guaranteed by sta
bic regime and founded as much upon
respect of nationalities and full Sc
curity and liberty Of economic devel-
opment, which all nations, great or
small. possess. as upon territorial
conventions and international agree
ments suitable to guarantee teritor-
ial and maritime frontiers against
unjqstified attacks: the restitution OF |
provinces or territories wrested in the !
past from the allies by force Or
against the will Of their populations;
the liberation Of Italians, Of Slavs, |
Of Roumapians and Of Tcheco Slo-
vaques from foreign Nominations; the |
enfranchisement of populations sub
ject to the bloody tyranny of the |,
Turks; the expulsion from Europe OF !
the Ottoman empire, which has prov
ed itself so radically alien to Western
civilization. The intentions Of his
majesty. the emperor of Russia, re-
guarding Poland have been clearly in
dicated in the proclamation which
he had just addressed to his armies.
1t goes without saying that if the al
lies wish to liberate Europe from the
brutal covetousness of Prussian mill
tarism, 1t never has been the'~ de-
sign. as has been alleged, to encom-
pass the determination Of the Gcr-
man peoples and their political di9-
appearance. That which they desire
above all is to insure a peace upon
the principles OF liberty and justice
upon the inviolab bic fidelity to inter
national obligation with which the
government of the United States haa|
never ceased to be inspired
United in the pursuit OF this SUI
preme object. the allies are deter
mined. individually and collectively
to act with all their power and 10
consent to all sacrifices to bring to a
victorious close q conflict upon which
they are convinced not only their
own safety and prosperity depends
but also the future Of civilization IL
SELF"