The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-04
CAN GERMANY HOLD Her FORCES
TOGETHER OR WILL They CRUMbLE
NOW THAT RUSSIA CRIES liberty
Article From Pen of Prince Alexander Zu Hohenlohe Son
Of Third Chancellor of German Empire, Shows That
Germans Were Taken to War on Slogan defend US
From Russian Hordes."


reader, because 1T indicates the direc-
ton in which German public opinion
Is rapidly moving. One German no
bleman does not make peace, but the
fact that the representative of once
ruling sovereign German house
should threaten the Prussian rulers
with a popular revolution is certain
" a sign of the times. 1t is true that
Prince Zu> Hohenloe is one of the
few magnates who has always main
tanned an Independent attitude in
German politics. Several years ago
he incurred the displeasure of the
Kaiser by publishing the posthumous
memories of his father the third
chancellor of the German Empire.
Some readers may remember the SEN
sation which those memories caused
on their appearance. The following
article, will no douot, cause hardly
less sensation and dismay in official
German circles.)
= What, from the most recent utter
ances of the German Press, we had
reason to fear has now actually oc-
Cured. The Imperial Chancellor,
Won .Bethmann, gave negative an
swer to the Interpretations both of
the Right and of sthe Social Demo-
, Gratis regarding the German war
aims. 1t, was bitter disappointment
for all who hoped for an early peace.
Herr Won BethInann could not but
{ be aware that the urgent desire to
know the German war-aims was NOT
confined to the Right and the Social
Democrats, but that wide circles of
the German people also rightfully
desired at last to know with what
ultimate end in view the contest was
to be continued. Yet he has not been
able to- decide to break his silence.
After three years of such war,
after its. unspeakable sacrifices and
suf6eriRgsa beth at ,hone saRd in the
field borne with @unexampled pa
tience. and a spirit which we cannot
sufficiently admire, the German peo-
pie surely had the right to expect
an answer to the question, whether
II was to continue to give its children
to this terrible slaughter exclusively
for the defense of the Fatherland or
for the satisfaction of certain imper-
ialistic desires of conquest
1t had the greater right because
the groups which see in this war the
opportunity of conquests and annexa-
tions, and which conduct an agitation
for this policy which stands in no re-
small minority of the German peo-
pie we can understand that the Ger
man people should gradually begin to
ask how long this is still to continue
and what trials are still to be endur-
ed, above all. whether the govern
ment cannot by declaration of it's
war-aims, secure the ending of the
war and an early peace.
Two circumstances have especially
contributed to- intensity this popular
desire for a declaration Of German
war-ainis: the Russian revolution and
the Austro-Hungarian governments
declaration of April IA, 1917, and the
utterances of Count Czernin.
When Germany declared war on
Russia in August, 1914, the watch
word given as the German armies
went to war in the East was Fight
against the conquest-seeking auto
cracy, protect the German soil
against the hordes Of the Tsar"
It was these watchwords that in
duced the Social Democrats in the
Reichstag, with very few exceptions
to vote for the war credits. Now the
autocracy is destroyed, the Tsar has
had to give up his throne, and has
net been able to retain 1t for his SON
the entire imperial system has been
broken down. The new provisional
government has had to give way to
the pressure of the workers" and
Soldiers Council" which is more and
more gaining in power. and, renoun-
cling tts former policy. has had to de-
clare that it had no intention ''te
take from -uther people their nationa.
inheritance or to take forcible posses
sion OF foreign territory, but will
rir For a Iov
the right of the peoples to determine
their own destiny"
The Austro-H Hungarian govern
n1ent, rightly perceiying that the mo
ment has now come when an advances
may have beneficial results, has no
hesitated. on April IA. to make de
claration in which it agrees that the
aim which the new Russian govern
nent seeks to attain harmonies will
what the SAustro- Hungarian Foreign
Minister. Count Czernin, on March
al anpounced as the war-aim of tn,
monarchy; an honorable peace, {
peace which secures the existence
honor, and opportunity Of develop
n1ent OF the warning states. The de
claration further expressed the con
viction that the rights and established
claims of the Allies could unquestion
ably be reconciled with those of tn,
other nations. 1t ended by insisting
thatthe sAnstro- Efunearfan monarch.
desired for the future to live in peac,
and friendship with hte Russian PEG
pie.
As this encouraging message be
came known in Germany, everybod,
naturally said :. that now a simila,
g declaration of the German govern
ment will Immediately follow, and
Herewith the prelude to genera
peace discussions" With the excep
ton of some confirmed Utopians, M
one any longer counted on a separat,
peace; but 1t was felt that If the Rus
Sian people intimated so clearly it
readiness for peace, the other mem
berB of the Entente could not an,
longer compel the continuance of tn
war, since with their poples also tn
longing for peace must break out.
But, instead of a declaration SINH
lar to the Hungarian, Their
appeared on April Ia an article in tn
Chancellor's paper the Norddeut
sEisen Allgemeinen Zeitung, >7ssiesa In
deed contained statements similar t.
the Vienna declaration, but the ton
- which was essentially more re
served. Moreover, it was therein
matnta4ned that only the Allies o
Russia would bear the Responsible,
If. through their refusal of the peac
offer, the Russian people had still t.
blaad and a11f9ar and that R1rsri,