Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-25
ONLY MEANS
new AT ACk
BAKER SAYS
Christmas Message, Herald
ed as Promising End of
War, Is Regarded in
Washington Merely as
German Propaganda.

German Propaganda.
| AMERICANS WARNED
AGAINST FOES WILES
Rome. Dec 23.-(Delayed)-The re-
port that new German peace move
is at hand is supported BY apparently
reliable information which has
reached high quarters here. It is said
that on Christmas day Emperor VIII
liam will issue declaration contain-
ing peace proposals, but whether ex-
plicit conditions of peace may be ex-
pected or merely another maneuver
intended to throw on the allies respon1
sibility for continuance of the war can
not be ascertained
1t is reported that the proposal will
offer Alsace-Lorraine to France in ex-
change for French colony.
BAKER DISCOUNTS OFFER.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 24.-Ger.
many's newest propaganda, viewed as
a forerunner to an offensive in the
west unless a German-made peace Is
accepted by the allies and the United
States, should not for a moment in.
duce us to slacken our preparations
for war, says Secretary Baker in his
weekly review of the military situa.
ton,
"The Germans realize" continues
the statement, "that within short
time our armies will form the princi-
pal body of freshtstrategic reserves re-
naming available on the battlefields
of Europe. !.
"our arT5sss constitute the reserves
OF victory.
HAS FAITH IN ITALY.
The review points out that the fight.
ing morale of Italy may be relied up
on no matter how intensive the Ger
man peace campaign becomes and
says:
"The Italian theater again is the
scene Of important military activity.
"The enemy, impatient of the de-
lays which have occurred in bringing
about the successful penetration of
the Italian plain and the overthrow
of the Italian armies, has dispatched
further forces to the Italian front,
with a view to achieving decisive
result.
THE GERMAN AIM.
ut would appear that they are
anxious to conclude their Italian ad-
venture In a manner similar to the
previous campaigns in Russia, Serbia
and Rumania, where as a result OF the
strategic developments gained at rela-
lively small cost, vast tracts of terri
tory were conquered.
Enemy pressure continues intense
along the entire front
Before proceeding with any opera
ions in the west the Germans hope
to drive the Italians back to the Adigo,
anticipating that such reverse would
have very disintegrating influence
throughout Italy.
"PEAcE BEFORE VICTORY"
mo matter how intensive this new
subversive propaganda may be, never
theless, we can confidently rely on the
fighting morale of the Italian people,
Along the western front the enemy
has continued his harassing raids
with view to keeping the allied
forces on the alert. However. none
of the engagements recorded In the
west was of more than local import
ance.
"It would appear that as a fore
runner to the German offensive her
aided to be launched in the west. an
intensive peace propaganda is to be
initiated.
Careful examination of the situa-
ton reveals that the enemy is again
preparing for peace before victory
NO TIME TO STOP.
Information from various sources
confirms the reports that the Germans
would have the world believe that the
military situation is such that they
are able to dictate terms Of peace
They therefore threaten that unless
this dictated peace is accepted by the
allied powers and ourselves the Ger
man forces now being concentrated
on the western front will break
through the allied line into the west
1.-The various reports of immediate
peace proposals by the Germans on
seemingly favorable terms should not
for a moment induce us to slacken
our preparation for war.
1.-The Germans realize that within a
short time our armies will form the
principal body of fresh strategic
reserves remaining available for
action on the battlefields of Europe.
Thus, no matter what superiority in
men and guns the enemy may for the
time being be able to bring to bear on
the west, and even admitting an even
tual modification of the allied line in
his favor, nevertheless he knows that
insofar as it is humanity possible to
foresee, his effort will inevitably end
in merely a local success which can