The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-01-20
NO GERMAN PEACE PARTY,
VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED DY EN-
CHANGE OF NOTES.
Despite Fact That Whole Nation Sup.
ports Government, Further Action
Is Discussed Towards Peace.

Berlin. Jan. II (Tuesday), fvia
London).-Time enough having elaps.
cd since publication of the entente's
reply to President Wilson to permit
German opinion to crystalize, the er-
fects of the announcement of terms
which the entente allies regard as q
necessary resu;. of the war are clearly
evident.
The pronunciamento of the allies
together with earlier interchanges OF
opinion on the peace proposals, may
be regarded as having virtually elimi.
mated the peace party in Germany ex.
cept for small minority of dissident
Socialists, some of whose newspaper
organizations still see the possibility
OF continuing the discussions.
The large and influential section, in
Guiding a majority Of the Socialists
and powerful influence among non
Socialists which up to last month was
bringing the heaviest pressure to bear
on the government to take steps for
the opening Of peace negotiations
based on an understanding, is now
convinced such organizations are i'm
possible. Virtually the entire nation
Is lined up behind the government for
energetic prosecution of the war.
Regarding the possibility that Ger
many would state terms. the an
nouncement Of Dr. Alfred thinner
mann. the foreign secretary. to the
Associated Press indicates that this is
now out Of the question. and the gov
ernment apparently had adopted this
as a different decision. ....s.
For some reason, however, there is
an impression which will not down
that the government may perhaps re-
consider and make some announce
mcnt Of It's peace programme, particu-
larry In regard to Belgium and the
remainder of the Western front as it
has done already in regard to Poland.
Whether the government will thus
change its policy may perhaps depend
on the degree Of enthusiasm shown
by the Poles in defending thir coun-
try. N.4
Announcement of terms for restora-
tion of Belgium and return of the
occupied provinces Of France would,
II issued. be made for purposes Of con-
,fraat fraatrastAbAsvpsaasrauanae-of-the rastA -of- the en-
tente which, SO far as Germany is
concerned. Is interpreted as meaning
annexation or Alsace and Lorraine, the
west bank Of the Rhine and the
ancient Polish provinces Of Prussia.
Should the terms be announced it
would not be in the expectation that
they would lead for the present to
negotiations with the entente.
The possible Inauguration Of ruth
less submarine warfare with a. view
to bringing England to terms is much
discussed. The interests and organ
izations which during the last two
internal crises on the submarine ques-
tion were SO much in evidence are
again active.
At present inauguration Of a So
called big submarine war-in other
words indiscriminate destruction
without warning of hostile merchant
men and Of neutrals within the for
hidden zone-apparently is not con-
templated. but there are indications
that naval warfare may he sharpened
in other ways not affected by the
German-American agreement.
Among possible new measures is an
increase In the rigor of the prize
rules. with definite adhesion to the
principle which was slackened in the
case of the Bloomersdijk that neutral
ships touching an enemy port on the
way to their destination with contra
band are considered fair prizes. This
would be based on the British prac-
tice Of taking cargo from neutral
steamers putting in at British ports
for compulsory examination and send
ing 1t to the prize court. or purchasing
for the government account neutral
transatlantic shipping which Great
Britain compels to call at Kirkwall,
Falmouth or other ports for eXami-
nation and which Germany would re-
gard as carrying contraband to the
enemy.
Sa1acfaA n1o pt;no cn<t1r cool D;u