The sun., 1917-09-19
CENSOR TAKES OFF LID
TeutOn Newspapers Per-
mitted to Spread Re-
ports of Decisions.
INTEREST OVER BELGIUM
Reports That She Will Be
Given Up Are Denied
Quickly.

LONDON. Sept 1S.-The flood Of So
called peace rumors which the German
censor IL permitting to sprout In leading
German newspapers convinces the Lon
don press and public that Berlin is pre-
pairing home opinion for another adroit
peace manRuvre. which probably will
take definite shape before the snow
fi!es.
First came the alleged British peace
offer, which. despite official denial, is
still being commented upon excitedly In
Germany. Now much fuel has been
added to the agitation by the report
that the German Government has
abandoned claims Of supremacy and
control over the territory and population
OF Belgium. In addition there arc all
sorts Of rumors regarding the German
answer to the Pope.
strange thing about the whole AFFAIR
is that the German censor appears to be
permitting the newspapers to discuss
the matter freely, but 80 far as Ia
known none OF the discussions Ia
founded on more substantial authority
than the indefinite I'VE understand' or
I'VE have received information" The
fact remains, however. that the Ger
man Government, as represented by the
censor, does not object to these state
menCs.
Case of Belgium.
The Westminster Gazette quotes the
Berlin correspondent of the KOelntschs
FolMsee'tun1 as saying that from an
ofricial source there is no truth in tho
report that Germany intends to declare
an abandonment Of her claims on Bel
sium." The Gazette points out that the
message is not necessarily an offlcial
h1f >, q I-A
renounce all claims on Belgium
The Erening STANDARD says: THE
German censor Ia permitting German
papers 10 publish reports that Germany
Is TO climb down and renounce any
claim to supremacy over Belgium" The
PdH Mall gazette adds Another
step forward has been taken in the
carefully engineered peace campaign in
Germany"
The Star says It is significant rlat the
German censor is permitting such pub
lications. adding:
1T would certainly be an important
step in the direction Of peace but does
not in itself insure the success of the
negotiations, and as the press is silent
about similar 'rumors about the future
of Alsacc-Iorraine the Trentino and
Serbia II would be folly to build any
high hores--there Is no sign that the
rulers of Germany and Austria arc In a
more chastened mood than they were a
year ago.
british "Peace Offer"
A despatch to the Central News from
Amsterdam says:
"a careful reading of German papers
leads to the belief that reports Of a Brit
ish peace offer were circulated simply
with the object OF making II easy for the
German Government to rally TO the atti-
tude OF the Re'chstag majority" and the
whole thing is an adroit mannuvre en-
glneered by Or. Won Kuhlmann, the Ger
man Foreign Secretary.
Tho general consensus in official and
diplomatic quarters for some time has
been that Germany would make another
peace move before cold weather comes.
II would not surprise London IL Ger
many first directed efforts or feelers to
the United States. In fact some ouartArs
expect this move. They are satisfied
however, that the United States. being
determined to get on with the war, wifi
not he mis'ed by any German move
which either will be designed TO bring
about German peace or to SO cloud the
atmosphere as to enable the German
Government to say to the German
people;
We are willing to make peace, but
the Allies will have none OF it."
Won sandt's Resignation.
German newspapers point out saws
the correspondent 1t Amsterdam Of the
Exchange Telegraph Company, that
after the resignation Of Dr. Won Sandt,
the civil Governor of Belgium, hi. as
sistant Herr Won Litz, also resigned
No successors Yet have been appointed
The designations are said by the
| German newspapers to be in con njunctlon
with Germary's plans regarding the
| future Of Belgium.
| The same correspondent announced
on September II that pr Won Sandt
had been dismissed and added:
! His dismissal IL incomprehensihle, a.
the German Government had trusted
| him to write the history Of the oocupa
tion OF Belgium He was the only Ger
man official in Belgium who ever gave
any evidence Of humanity In tho treat
! ment OF the people"