Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-04
'HERTL|NG SAYS
.GE RMANY SEEKS.
WORLD PEACE
Chancellor Says Kaiser Is
Fighting Defensive
War.
BLAMES ITALIANS
FOR LONG CONFLICT

'BLAMES ITALIANS
FOR LONG CONFLICT
Berlin, Nov. 29.-(via London, Nov
40)-The war situation was reviewed
before the reichstag today by Count
George F. Won Hertling, the new imper
ial German chancellor. He declared
that Germany is ready to enter into
peace negotiations as soon as the Rus
sian government sends representatives
having full powers to Berlin. The chan.
cellor said he hoped and wished that
the present efforts would take definite
shape and. bring us peace"
German arms, the chancellor said
have been uniformly successful and
the submarine warfare will reach the
aim intended for 1t. He said that the
tonnage of ships sunk will exceed that
of those newly constructed. He prais-
ed the army and navy and eulogized
the home population for its patience
and endurance under great prfvation.
Political reforms will be carried out,
ne said, but the fundamental principles
Of the imperial constitution cannot and
shall mot be changed.
ASKS FOR COOPERATION.
The reichstag was packed when the
chancellor began his speech. The new
state secretaries, the new Prussian
minister, the new Bavarian premier,
the members of the reigning German
houses, the Austrian, Turkish and Bull
garian ambassadors and all the neu-
trail ministers were present.
The imperial chancellor opened his
speech with personal reference to his
assumption of office by asking the
loyal cooperation of the reichstag. He
continued,
1--WE are approaching the end of the
year that has been full of far-reaching
and decisive events in many theatres
of the war. am proud and thankful
to say that the arms of Germany and
her allies have been successful on al
most every occasion and everywhere. !"
SAYS HAlG HAS FAILED.
He recalled that the Flanders battle
had continued almost without interrupt
ton since July and that the British
army was superior in number and that
several French divisions had taken
part in the fight Notwithstanding the
loss of some villages and farms the
German front there remains mistaken,
he said, and the enemy is as far as
ever from his object of reaching the
Flemish coast to destroy the U-boat
bases. He added.
Recognizing the failure Of their at
tacks In Flanders. the British are now
seeking decisive result near Cam
brai. The hope which Great Britain
placed upon the Wholesale use of
tanks has not been fulfilled. They
lie on the battlefield destroyed by sue
cessful German counter measures.
The initial British success was par
ried by the entrance of our reserves.
SUPPLIES FROM ITALY.
1.-THE French also have had local
successes northeast of scissors and
before Verdun but every strategical
exploitation of these has been pre-
vented by the German army COM
mander. Every one remembers the
events in the east which led to the
conquest of Riga and Jacobstadt.
"The glorious advance OF the
armies of the central powers in Italy
holds the world in suspension even
today. Overwhelmingly difficult tasks
have been accomplished there by the
fighting strength of the German and
Austro- Hungarian troops in their sur
prisingly rapid attack and penetration
of rough mountain territory Italy's
army has lost a considerable part of
Its forces and half OF its total war
material. 1t also has lost stretches
of land which provided it with rich
supplies.
Further, the success Of our victor
les from the Isonzo to the Piave, is
TN effective relief to our western
front. In the same way this victory
also makes itself felt in Macedonia as
the enemy now appears to be giving
the slight success which
he obtained west of Lake Ochrida.
From the Sinai peninsula the British
are operating against the Turkish
troops in Palestine and have been able
TO achieve certain initial steps there.
This will have no general effect on
the war from a military view.
FLEET AIDS U-6OATS.
sThe high seas feet whose constant
activity often has been yelled from
the public view, deserves the thanks
of the country. AS a support and re-
serve it stands behind our submarine
boats; it protects their places of sup
port and opens out way for them in.
to the open sea-
The chancellor then reviewed the
submarine campaign, which he said is
the only effective way of battling the
power of Germany's enemy and 1.-The
economic war forced on her" He was
hopeful of its success and said that
the allies are unable to make progress
against it by their communicating
neutral ships or building new ones.
Count Won Hertling expressed the
wish that the territories formerly I'M
der Russian sway-Poland, Lthunia
and Courland-could have the right
CT choosing their own governments
and could obtain that political form
which correspondent to their condi-
lions annd cultures.
ACCUSES ENEMY NATIONS.
He referred to Germany and her al
lies as having placed themselves on
the foundation of the papal peace
rote of last August and said that
every ground had been removed for