Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-06
WAR APPROACHES
| ITS DENOUEMENT"
French Premier Says Germany
Sees Defeat Since U. S.
II Entered Conflict.
TEUTONS. STEADILY YIELD

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 5.-Alexandre Ribot. the
French premier. in addressing today
representative of the British, French
and Italian rarliaments attending an
international congress here. referred
10 the signific ance of the gathering of
delegates from countries representing
liberal ideas and expressed the hope
that the United States. Russia and
other entente allies would soon join in
the manifesto ions of allied solidarity.
Referring to the status of the war to-
day. he said:
while the war is unfinished, it is
approaching dts denouement The
enemy is struggling desperately. but
we can feel his gradual exhaustion
and DISBURSEMENT. A calm examl-
nation of the military situation shows
what a great change to our advantage
has been wrought within a year
Then we were meeting the German Of
fensiye by the yalor of our forces at
Serdun. ....
Forcing Enemy to Recoil.
Now it is 10 longer they but we
who are attaching. We are forcing
the enemy to i:ecoil. They boast of a
strategic retres., but if they were not
forced to reco!.. why did they aban-
don their former entertainments? This
famous Hindep.,urg line has it not
already been btpken. at one point. COM
Polling hasty formation of new lines
of defense?
I'VE press them at the same time IS
do our valiant British allies. They
are forced to bring up all their re-
serves against rs and all their heavy
artillery. but despite their efforts. they
are forced to ' ED steadily before US.
other Fronts See Activity.
More than $4,000 prisoners and 500
cannon taken n the last few weeks
attest the mag nitude of our success
and the extent of the enemy's defeat.
We shall soon see the same unity of
action on othe2 fronts and the same
success, owing to the tenacity and
valor of the unt.ed allies along all the
fronts.
The entrance of the United States
into the war cGnfirms our certainty of
Anal victory tiermany feels it, and
that is why she multiplies her maneu-
vers to obtain immediate peace
Certainly We wish peace as much as
any one. but do not want a peace
which leaves US the same problems that
brought on this var and which this war
should forever settle. We have accept
children may not have to begin the same
struggle again tomorrow. II so many
of our children have fallen, it is for
the deliverance OF the world.
No Thought Of Oppression.
Certainly we have no thought of op-
pressing any people or a nationality,
even that of our enemies of today. But
can We be blamed for wishing to destroy
that oppression which has weighed so
long upon the world and for wishing
also guarantees with restitution and
compensation, and chaStisement for the
authors of crimes against humanity
which are the shames of this war? After
victory we will call to our aid not Ven
geance. but justice alone.
Doubtless it is necessary still to
struggle and suffer the sacrifices the
governments of the countries engaged in
the war are obliged to ask and also
in neutral countries they will become
greater and harder the war ap-
proaches its climax. We are sure these
sacrihces will lie accepted in good
heart.
tranquility Among Allies.
While our enemies have troubles
frontiers, tranquility prevails among us
and among our allies. Never has labor's
Nay day passed more TRANQUILITY, be-
cause in the conscience of our working
people there is one dominating purpose
affecting also all others-to establish
the right to live in free country be-
yond the shadow of any tyranny"
Premier Ribot closed with an eloquent
tribute to the United States on behalf
of the united parliamentarians. saying:
Il am sure l interpret your feelings in
Addressing our cordial homage to the
latest one who has come among us and
whose disintereste1 concourse at this
moment is so precious-to the republic