davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Belgium Marked
AS Vassal State

And this very government, which
under pressure Of these Junkers ana
Pan-Germanists has unclaimed whole
sale murder. expresses now lts readl-
ress to negotiate for peace. What this
reace is to be may readily be discerned
from the bulky articles on the purpose
of the war Of the Schsrfmachers and
Reventlows. while some seek through
a more or less yelled annexation TO add
the Poles, the Lithuanians, and the
Serbs to the Central Powers, the 9TH
ere have selected at the beer table as
their specially the "linkinS up" in the
west. and for these Belgium is 20 be
n German land, or at least a vassal
state out and out, dependent upon Ger
many. Others again claim Calais and
the north coast OF France lin order to
be able 20 get at England in the next
VAR. The IRON barons are united IN
the demand that the iron mines of
brey shall be annexed; in plain Ian
guage, stolen. Only recently the Mu
Mich "Neuesten Nachrichten"-and
there is good authority 70 ascribe to it.
a connection with the Foreign Office
in the same terms demanded Of the
French that they relinquish their
claims to Briey for the purpose, stated
openly and in cold blood, of getting
new ore from the soil of France for a
new raid of brigandage against France.
For the characteristic feature Of these
peace plans is that already they are all
looking forward TO the next war and
wish 70 make ready for it.
But the Pan-Germanists, tho Pan
Germanists Of the strictest observance,
the people of the Pan-German Union,
who in the "Alldeutsche Blatter" have
hailed the war as "the long desired
holy hour" demand, in addition to the
linking up" in the East, just about
half of France, including the fortresses
of Toul, Nerdun. Epinal and Belfort.
This is the peace, the rotten peace.
TO which the Entente Powers are in
yited.
This peace signifies nothing but an
endless period Of everlasting wars, 6
period Of renewed competition in arm
aments, that will destroy the last rem
nant Of the spiritual and moral force OF
Europe.
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

When the matter Ia artfully put upon
tho stage the instigators OF war can
hone after this novel and original fasn.
ion TO fan anew the righteous wrath
Of the searving, war-weary German peo-
ple against the enemy, TO exhibit its
inevitable fate Of being bled white.
It is impossible 10 present more
clearly and more appreciatively than IN
the foregoing words the object OF the
whole farce.
Thus this means of arriving at
reace is-assuming that the proposal
was meant to be in earnest-a trlaI
with useless means.
For il does not depend upon the fact
that a country is in principle cesirous
Of peace (all fighting men wish peacel
but upon the conditions under whicn
they will conclude peace.
The peace which the Allies wish has
often enough been explained by their
leading statesmen. IL is exactly the
reace of the dreams OF the German
people. that German people bleeding,
starving, not in the least committed
to murder and annexation.
II Is a peace wherein questions OF
territorial nature sink into relative in
signihcance; a peace secured by inter
national stipulations and courts OF ar
hitration. guaranteed by limitations OF
armament; a peace which grants air and
life 10 every people; peace which puts
AN end 70 the madness of the race TO
be the most highly armed; peace
which reconciles discordant peoples and
brings the thoughts of humanity TO
victorious accomplishment-a peace
which abolishes the concept Of hegem-
onv and tho prominence of single
people and lifts the great principles OF
freedom Of 1889 out Of the sphere or
state rights up into the sphere Of the
rights of the people. That IS the peace
which must proceed out OF the great
crapple of the nations.
Can such a peace be with the gov
ernment which rules Germany to-day
Never.
LET us assume-and we know that ac
nresent Il Is quite mpossible-let US
assume that the governments or me
Entente should be willing to treat wltn
tho German government upon the peace
suggestion. They must first ask or
Themselves from whom the suggestion
actually proceeds. That is 20 say, they
must first propose the question:;
Who at the present time rules IN
Germany?
This is the answer. In Germany
there rule the Junker. Big Business,
the Pan-Germanists, the Annexation
ists-short and sweet. the War Party.
It rules a little short of absolutism;
not free Of opposition. but it rules.
Honor to Haase, TO Dittmann, to Vog-
therr that they have many time made
war upon this War Party; but as, 70
( the consequences Of this utterly tams
opposition no doubt can exist. ..r
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
People at End
OF Their Strength

Stop and think! The German peo-
pie, the great mass OF the German pro-
letariat, with the exception Of the Off
GERS and gentlemen, of the war con-
tractors and the war profteers, the
German people starve and famish.
Day by day the necessities OF life cost
more; day by day they become scan
tier; privation is harder TO bear day
by day. The endurance which the we'll
fed fat bellies preach at us is day by
day more intolerable. "They are all at
the end Of their strength" in speaking
of the soldiers wives, said Deputy
Braun in the Landtag at the session
of December 6. "We must go no fur
ther," the Deputy continued, "if we do
not wish TO drive against catastrophe
from which there can be no rescue"
Up to the present they have inspired
hopes of victory and peace in the
hearts of the people with always fresh
tales of victories won, the color5 thick
ly laid on. The rapine of Serbia, the
capture of Warsaw, the lies about the
capitulation of Montenegro. the push
into Russian brief, the whole collec-
ton of events was laid before the Ger
man people as the final steps to imme-
diate peace.
According to the official press reports
the wretched battles before Verdur
were the absolutely final tests OF
strength which were to bring peace
Again and again always the people
credulous, silly as sheep, grasped after
new courage and new hope-and hun
gered on and starved on.
The programme of the farce may nov
be sketched with light touch.
Act |. The Central Powers make
peace proposals based upon and unac
ceptable by reason of territorial en-
largement, annexation, both open anC
disguised, colossal strengthening o.
Germany as a military power.
Act II. The Allies, who will fight L
secure a true and lasting peace base,
! on mutual understanding and putin,
an end 10 military states, reject thes,
peace proposals-exactly as the Ger
man government foresees.
Act III and curtain. The German
people is informed through the bel
ligerent (ield-gray) press that tn,
wicked enemy will have absolutel,
nothing to do with peace, that they in
sist upon the complete humiliation o
the German people; that therefor,
naught is left but TO endure through
everything, 10 starve TO the very end
to shed their blood to the last drop
until Junker and Captain Of Industr,
have attained the object of their war
which is the robbery of other peoples
the enlargement of their power botl
abroad and at home.
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Roll of Honor Memorial
Supplied bySecurityL

As fitting memorial of the mem
bers Of particular business houses,
clubs and other organizations who
have entered the army, the National
Security League has prepared and
is circulating an elaborately litho-
graphed "roll Of honor" for use as a
record of the names Of the men. The
above photograph shows the manner in
which the inscribing can be done, with
the use Of the names Of some Of the
members of the Security League who
have gone to the front, headed by Cen
eral Pershing and Robert Bacon, for
mer Ambassador to France, who re-
signed from the presidency of the
league to become major on the for
mer's staff.
The "roll Of honor" was drawn by
Raymond Perry, of the art division of
the Vigilantes. The original is 28 by
10 inches and is done in red, white and
blue in subdued tone. The Security
League has already circulated hundreds
of the "rolls" and is prepared to sup
ply an unlimited number.
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Autocracy in Russia
Is Forever Dead

Sussis never can become a mon
Vny again; but, categorically, she
,.As no political mother-not France,
w tne United States Of America, not
sl"erland. She will follow or adapt
c,..a u own traditions. Already she has
n,o.a ,ssa many procedures which will
p.ye paS,.ee 70 be good for her and which are
as.esl Innovations.
es,..ne ne greatest nation economically,
ipaS.niy America will have a greater
litissInSee than any other; but her po-
Foy innuenee is not likely TO be great.
mad !ssfs we have studied what we
AIM, siready We have certain political
on NV, We shall work our problems out
gsps,su e Russian Republic, speaking
prns;aay, you may be sure, will aim
|eatior at the highest possible edu-
{usl Ssso sno the highest possible spirit
Ina, Sseiopment of the mass, rather
*tlon,, The achievement of interna-
3pree;., power. ] have noted with ap-
|bnnsSon the fact that nearly every
been or american writer who has
ths r.. "a Russia since the deposition of
I'M va, uaar has directed the attention of
nsers TO the fact that we are, in
ount sense, a nation Of ideal
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

lists. Always our political parties have
tried TO raise the educational as well
as the economic level of the mass.
an this probably a mistake was
made, for a semi-educated populace
resulted and became too exalted in its
political ideals and not exalted enough
in other things; but this error will be
corrected. We were not sufficiently
educated in political processes 10 form
successfully at first revolutionary
army capable of obtaining real liberty;
this, in the moment Of danger, resulted
in confusion; but that will adjust it.
self"
! asked if there was any chance OF
a dictatorship. .
81 regard 1t as an impossibility," was
the reply. at is as impossible IN
Russia as it is in any cultivated coun-
try of Europe to-day. Russia, now
that she has tasted even an unorgan-
lied and apparently inefficient free
dom, never will tolerate an autocracy,
even if thereby she might gain a great
result We must have powerful gov
ernment in Russia; a powerful ruler,
if you will; but never shall We have
opo4hor autOcpat
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Many New War
Taxes Must Be
Paid This Week

Commodity and stamp 1oor tfdrees
under the netU Wdr tdG Ldw 6egn
this atee7.' y 81
On Wednesday the provisions Of
the laU affecting the folloDing items
1CiH 40 into operation:
Amusements where admission fees
are paid are taxed at the rate OF one
cent for each 10 cents of the price OF
the ticket, except where the price or
admission is less than five cents.
Proprietors of cabarets must pay TO
the government 10 per cent OF the Gus
toners bill. =.
Ten per cent is assessed against
club dues in excess Of sl2 year.
Freight bills are taxed per cent.
Passengers fares are taxed per
cent Except commuters).
telegraph and telephone messages
when the latter cost more than 10
cents) must pay cents on each mes
sage.
Seats and berths in parlor and sleep
ing cars are taxed 10 per cent or the
amount.
On Friday these clauses 90 into
operation:
cigars VI AHt NbNokNA
about 33 per cent added to the existing
tax, while the dearer grades are taxed
from 100 to 200 per cent.
Cigarettes have so cents thousand
added to the old tax of SIPS.
Letter postage will be three cents
instead of two.
Postcards must bear a two-cent
stamp.
Second class mail matter also bears
an additional tax.
A After Friday all business papers
must carry the 1car stamp.
Those stipulated are bills Of sale,
bonds. certificates of indebtedness:
stock issues. checks. conveyances OF
real estate. deeds. drafts. merchandise
entries at the Custom House, water pas
sage tickets. snotes. produce sales on
exchange. proxies and transfers. All
these are taxable in varying amounts
from two cents 10 dollar. certain
water passage tickets exceeding a dol
lar.
Insurance papers also come under
this head; these. both fire and life. are
taxed in most cases eight cents slOO
of the face of the policy.
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Farce Cannot
Impress Allies

Now, what is the purpose Of all this
project? Will it have any effect upon
the enemy? Surely, even the German
diplomats do not believe that.
We know that German diplomacy has
so far relied incredibly upon innocence
and ignorance Of psychology OF their
enemy. But these old feudal lords can
not estimate themselves so cheap that
we can believe them capable of hoping
that this farce can produce any impress
sion upon the Allies.
The responsible statesmen of Russia,
England and France have so often and
so solemnly declared that there can be
no discussion of peace so long as Ger
man armies have their feet on enemy
soil, so long as the ruling classes IN
Germany are in accord with the gov
ernment in speaking Of the most extern
siye annexations, that even German
diplomats must have discovered the
uselessness Of such a maneuvre.
Did they intend this step to produce
any impression upon the neutrals
That may scarcely be. By the invasion
! of Belgium. by the reckless drowning
of thousands of the women and chill
dren Of neutral peoples in the sinking
Of the Lusitania, Germany has torn out
by the roots the sympathy Of every
thinking neutral; that sympathy can
not be recovered by any such pathetic
peace suggestion as this.
And then, does any one in the upper
circles in Germany imagine that the
neutrals, especially in Switzerland and
the Netherlands, are unaware Of the
true economic situation, or rather let
us say the economic distress, of Ger
many, that they do not know, despite
all its victories least and west" that
Germany has not the slightest chance
of imposing upon the world a Ger
man" peace such as is the dream OF
the chimney pot and cabbage lords OF
Prussia?
What is the object aimed at in this
whole thrashing out of peace phrases
! IL is not intended to produce any I'M
preston either upon the enemy OF
upon the neutrals--no, for the eter-so
manyeth time it is intended 70 humbug
the German people.
That this is its only purpose appears
! in this fact that German proposals OF
peace before they were communicated
to the Allied powers, before they were
communicated to the neutral powers
were first submitted TO the German
army, to the German navy-that is "a
say, to the German people. Then first
! they. came to the instigators OF the
whole proiect
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Must First Build
Fundamental Law

81 do not see the immediate prospect
of the strong government which we
need. because we have no fundamental
law no constitution. That must be
built first. In the meantime we can
have Kerensky in the guise of Lloyd
George, but never in the guise of a
Napoleon.
I'm general, the military situation
for all the Allies is on the Western
front, for there is gathered the greatest
Teuton army. There the result must
be decided, for it is impossible TO speak
sensibly of the Eastern front, where
we we'll know that Russia cannot win a
victory, although It may be accepted as
a certainty that Pet:ograd is absolutely
safe for this year. Germany herself
never has doubted that. / will stake
my reputation as a military critic that
Petrograd is fully out of danger.
"The morale Of the Russian army as
a whole was fine n: one time, and it is
being restored gradually. The army,
| speaking generally, never has been so
well equipped The problem now is to
restore tho disOrganized army, organize
the new army and present new of
fensive next spring and summer, which
will exhaust the Germans"
| asked how America could help
Russia
"Only with technical support at first,
and afterward with money" was the
answer. "The best technical support
would consist not so much in the send
ing of material as the planning and
building Of railways ard factories.
Merely sending TO Russia the materials
will not do. We can be helped really
only by the actual establishment of in
dustries in Russia, and thus helping US
not only to the capital for but to the
A. q
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Looks for Victory
On Eastern Front

81 cannot but admit the temporary
disorganization Of the Russian army
will delay the ending of the war, but
! am absolutely certain Of the ultimate
victory Of the Allies. am not less
equally certain that in this victory the
new Russia will play an important,
even an imposing, part. | will go fur
ther and say tnat | believe the war
will be won in Russia, where am sure
the German army will be smashed:
Those with the most men will win. and
Russia has unlimited men.
"On the Western front I believe it
to be impossible to reach a final de-
cision. There are unlimited money and
munitions, but not unlimited numbers
of men; on the Eastern front. where
we lack money and munitions. we have
unlimited numbers of men. Without
the men money and munitions cannot
force a final decision"
Copyright. 1917. b. Edward MsrshsI)
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
Should Have Received
Machines and Experts

"The Germans followed a very intel
ligent plan with Turkey. They didn't
try TO supply her with ammunition;
they built factory at ConstantinOple
and trained the Turkish workers there
to make ammunition for their own peo-
pie. If at the beginning the Allies had
sent machines and experts TO Russia
they would have been welcomed.
Eve shall welcome very heartily
industrial genius from the United
States. Railway reorganization will be
immensely important to us. OF all the
world America can do most for and
with us. We do not want the American
promoter in Russia; there is no place
for him there; but there is a welcome
waiting for the real American organ
iZer."
"How about the dependability Of
Russian contracts?" | inquired.
There is plenty of responsibility be-
hind any contracts which the govern
ment may make" was the reply. "No
difficulty will be found on that head
Russia does not need American money
SO much as it needs American brains
We want industrial rather than finan-
cial help.
"There will be no industrial or fnan-
cial crisis in Russia"
IL was valuable to have at hand for
comment upon the statements OF
Colonel Shumsky. another military
Russian, who has seen much active SER
vice in this war, in the person of NJ
Schnaouhr, Of the Russian Flying
Corps. He is man Of military i'm
portance, having been previously the
editor of "The Military Voice" the first
military newspaper published IN Rus
sia under private ownership.
When I asked him what sort OF
republic Russia is likely TO create out
Of herself he answered.:
"There are great differences between
the circumstances in which Russia Is
making herself a republic and those
which resulted in the creation OF the
American republic more than century
and a half ago. When one state started
in America all the others Joined in, and
the result was movement toward the
centre. In Russia we find an opposite
situation. The momentum OF the revo-
luton is from the centre outward. AS
the motto in America was In Union
There Is Strength so the battle cry IN
Russia is a demand for separatism.
"The movement toward separation,
which is much more important than
most outsiders seem to realize, unques-
tionably 10 led by Poland. which nas
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

arise, similar cars could be assembled
in any car shop within few hours.
The Erie is prepared to furnish the
specifications to all railroads, so that
any emergency which may arise can be
met almost instantly.
Fortunately, no such necessity mas
as vet arisen" said DR.. Edison, "but IL Is
well to be prepared in this as in all
other matters pertaining to war. In
the early days Of the war many SOL
diers, sick and wounded, have been lost
for want of adequate facilities Of trans
portation. And even with things as
they are statistics show that certain
percentage Of men in cantonments will
90 down under the impact OF accident
or disease"
The new car Is Pullman hospital,
into which twenty-eight cots are fitted,
In double tiers, replacing the berths. 1t
has wide side doors that permit the
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

whole apartment 20 be flooded with sun
light. and permitting also easy trans
terrence Of sick or wounded men into
and out of the car. End doors open
into a storeroom, which is separated
from the ward proper by heavy rubber
hangings. Stretchers and sickroom fur
niture are kept in this storeroom,
where are also two freless cookers, on
which liquid food may be kept at the
desired temperature during the journey
from the cantonment TO the hospital.
These cookers make II unnecessary for
the hospital car to be attached TO a
dining car.
The body of the car, the ward, has
been designed with an eye to the great
est comfort Of its temporary occupants.
Nor have the aesthetics been forgotten
in the scheme Of furnishings. The
walls and ceiling are painted dull
gray. which has the further merit Of
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

not being so trying on the eyes as the
customary glare CT white enamel.
The cots are a special invention,
which may be bent and raised or fat
tened in O variety Of ways, as the COM
fort of the patients require or as the
nature of their wounds demand. When
the spring is doubled up in the middle
the occupant may rest the muscles Of
his legs; when the head springs are
raised he may read or smoke. The cots
are fitted into grooves, that they may
be removed and replaced almost noise
lessly and without jarring.
In the nurses room, at the opposite
end from the storeroom, there are linen
closets filed with face and bed linen
and bandages. Hospital requirements,
In glass and metal, are fitted into their
appointed grooves and inches. The
nurses room Is painted gray. II re-
tains its Pullman berth.
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28

TOR the National Army now train
~ ing in sixteen great environments
and many lesser camps all over
the United States adequate hospitals
have been provided, but until now
there has been no hospital car for
transporting men TO them. One has
just been designed and standardized
by the Erie Railroad.
It Is the first of its kind TO be built
In the United States. 1t terminated
from an idea of DR.. David Orr Edson.
and was completed within a week after
DR.. Edison made his suggestion to Fred
erick D. Underwood, president of the
Erie. This hospital car is not merely
an individual venture, but is SO con
structed that all its parts can be readily
standardized. and should the necessity
New-York tribune., 1917-10-28
~sRMANY is making overtures fol-

~cRMANY is making overtures for
peace. Or, rather, it is taking
the precaution to make care
fully framed overtures. With the
wholly theatrical setting Of the scene,
which in the Hohenzollern empire IS
now a matter of established custom, the
world to its astonishment Is informed
that the Central Powers, despite their
"victory" and despite their "invinci-
bility," are not averse to treating event
ually with their enemies for peace.
And it is accompanied with the simul-
tanoous threat: II now the wicked en-
emy, who are universally known to have
fallen iniquitously upon innocent Ger
many, do not conclude peace immedl-
ately, then are they wholly responsible
for the further shedding Of blood-and
thereupon end the already sufficiently
familiar threats with the more bitter"
prosecution of the war.
All this in accordance with the well
known guiding principle of German
diplomacy:
"And if thou1t not my brother be
Then III crack thy skull for thee