Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-12-25
GERMAN PEACE TALK
BELIEVED A PRELUDE
TO GREAT OFFENSIVE
Secretary Baker Says United
States Must Speed Up
Armies to Constitute RE
serves of Victory"

WASHINGTON Dec. 2s--Germany's
InsidSous peace propaganda should not
for moment induce Us TO slacken our
preparations for war
Secretary OF War Bakers veeNly war
summary voiced this warning today,
pointing out clearly that Germany now
is trying TO knock Italy out OF the night.
while at the same time she is testing
out the west front preliminary to what
has ben heralded as a big offensive.
He warned. too. that Americas por-
ton OF the struggle is vast. and that
..our armies constitute the reserves OF
victory"
On the subject Of Teuton peace feel
ers and Americas task. the secretary
said: 1T would appear that as a fore
runner TO the German offensive herald
ed to be launched in the west. an in
tensive peace propaganda is under way"
officials here sc in the RCssO-Ger-
man gathering at Brest LitOvsk an eff
fort by Germany to effect separate
peace with Russia during the holidays
for the psychological effect or other ma
tons
Careful examiua ton of the situation
reveaIs that the enemy is preparing 20
sue for peace before victory Baker
said
Information from various sources
confirms the reports that the Germans
would have the world believe that tine
military situation is such that they are
able 10 dictate the terms OF peace. They
therefore threatened that unles this die
L I'd h. he all E.zss
powers and ourselves, the German forces
now being concentrated on the western
front will break through the allied line
in the west
1T is only necessary for US TO recall
that during the Christmas season OF last
year the Germans put forth very SINH
lar peace rumOrs-
in considering the general military
situation in its. true light, it must be
understood that the Germans realize
that within short time our armies will
form The principaT body of fresh Stra-
tegic reserves remaining available for
action 'on the battlefields OF Europe.
Thus no matter what superiority in men
and guns the enemy may fog the time
being. be able to bring to bear in the
west and even admitting an eventual
modification Of the allied line in his
favor nevertheless he knows that in
so far as IL is humanity possible to fore
see mis- effort will inevitably result in
merely a local success which can have
no determining influence on the final
outcome Of the war"
Reserves of Victory.
Pointing out that France and Eng
land have done a mighty task, Baker
2 added:
1T is our duty in looking 10 the fu-
lure 10 realize that If we are 10 fulfill
the pledge we made on entering the war,
II we are TO fight this var to a success
fuI conclusion. we must assume the
EuII responsibility that rests upon us.
We are the freshest in the struggle;
We have the reserve man power and the
reserve mechanical power. Our armies
constitute the reserves of victory
Noting the addition of fresh Teuton
forces in italy. the secretary said the
Hun is trying to get Italy out of the
war and is seeking TO accomplish an
cnvelOpiug movement to effect the de-
struction Of Italian and allied forces
while at The same time carrying on a
.-subversive propaganda" within Italy.
We can confidently rely on the fight
ing morale of the Italian people" Baker
said.
IN considering the general military
situation in its true light. it must be
understood that the Germans realize
that within a short time our armies will
form the principal body of fresh strae
tegfc reserves remaining available for
action on the batlefields Of Europe.
1t is our duty. therefore. in looking
70 the future. to realize that if We are
10 fulfill the pledge we made on enter
ing the war. If we are to fight this war
to a successful conclusion. we must as
sumo the full responsibility which rests
upon US We are the freshest in the
IS preparing a statement on the case
Tor publication
Colonel Kolpashnikof-s fat. the door
OF which bears a plate with the words
American Mission of Red Cross for
Russia" was raided at o'clock in the
morning by soldiers. sailors. red guards
and others. The rooms were ransa cked.
struggle; We have the reserve man pow
er and the reserve mechanical power.
"Our armies constitute the reserves
OF victory
I'm Russia, the armistice negotiations
having been concluded. peace negotIs
tiorS are about to be entered upon BY
the representatives of the de facto RVS
sian government and the German ne
.gotiators.
Reports OF the dissatisfaction of a
large element Of the Russian pOpula-
tion- especially in southern and central
Russia. with the terms of this armis-
tice. has led to the formation oftan ac-
tive oppNLition. which II is believe l viii
endeavor 10 resist all attempts 10 enforce
the PROPOSALS agreed TO by the Lenine
government"
For the first time in a government
communication Mr. Baker referred to
the Bolsheviki regime in Russia AZ the
ode facto government" This designa-
ton was applied TO the Mexican govern
ment for long time prior to formal
recognition of IL as a full government
The state department stated il had eN-
tended no recognition to me BcisheviEi
regime as the de factO government II
was expected that none Of the govern
ments had thus IA rconsidered the Boil
sheviki power as sufficiently stable 10
constitute even de factO government,
which is the lowest order in govern
nent-
alter Baker made it clear that by
mentioning the Russian "de facto gov
eminent he had no thought of convey
ing the impression that this embodied
recognition Of the BolshevikL