The evening world., 1917-01-24
BERLIN FOR PEACE
ON WILSON'S PLAN:
HIS SPEECH UPHELD
Copies of 1t Telegraphed Kaiser
and Hindenburg at Head
quarters.
BY Carl ". Ackerman.

pbNibN, Jan St-frosldont VIII
sons Senate speech was telegraphet
60 tho Kaiser and Field Marshal yor
Hindenburs at tho front to-day. Am.
bassador Gerard conferred for forty
minutes with Foreign Secretary Zlm.
mormann last night. and later cabled
the state Department at Washington
n confidential outline of the German
Foreign oflce impression of the state
Inent.
Tho Presidents sentiments are fliIIy
echoed publicly and officially in Ger
many. They are Viewed with interest
and favor. Whether Germany can
take official cognizance OF the dcclara-
tion ig not yet clear.
II IN pointed out by mon IN re =
sponsiblo official positions that the
American Presidents declarations are
a step toward the peace for which The
people OF tho world long. Informal
discussion by Foreign office officials
developed tho belief that Germany
cannot take official cognlzance OF
the address. This belief is based on
the following premises:
First-Beeause the Allies reply
TO President Wilson has mover
been officially received by Ger.
many.
Seeond-Becsuso IL is believed
that Germany cannot make fur.
ther movestoward peace after tho
insulting reply 20 her own peace
suggestions made by the Allies.
Third-5eosuso officials desire
to await Senate debate on tho
Presidents address, feeling that
statement from Germsny-even
one discussing peace terms-wouid
be an interference in American
affairs.
Fourth-Germsny does not con.
sidor tho time opportune to state
her tsrns, though being willing to
discuss the speech itself.
Except for n small conservative
group among the Socialists, all OF
President Wilson's ideas found ready
support to-day. II was believed Am
bassador Gerard found tho Foreign
Omce's impression likewise favor
able.
But II Germany views the Presl-
dents speech az distinct step toward
peace, she Is not stopping gigantic
nrepa m tiana for war T,ha ayi1an,.
grows daily that tho nation Is strain
ing every ounce OF economic and
physical energy for tho expected
final engagements between England
and Germany. which will decide and
end tho conflict.
As an evidence of how the Govern
ment and the people arc forging to-
getber on every front to make the
final battle count in Germany's IA
var Is the successful voluntary en-
listment of old and young men and
women for home war service" The
same spirit Is exhibited I'm to-day's
press notice that hereafter no un-
necessary freight will be moved by
the railroads. that shippers must first
obtain permission from an officer OF
the war service department.
Thp magnitude OF the preparations
being made for the greatest engage
ment since the beginning Of the war"
are evidenced also by unofficial re-
ports from tho front as well as by
rumors which spread from lip TO lin
In Borlin's homes. On all fronts tho
battles nave reached another "tension
stage" Both sides arc jockcying FOR
position: both desire the other side 10
move first.
. But whatever happens. Chief OF
STAFF Iltndcnburg is prepared.
LONDON, Jan. 2A.-fhc Cologne
Gazette, commenting on PRECEDENT
Wilson's speech In the Senate. is
quoted by the Amsterdam correspond
cnt OF the Central News Agency as
saying:
Tho Presidents statements In
themselves surely are worthy OF dis
CUSHION, but how peace can be pro-
NOTED by this means is not clear at
first sight. unless the United states
Government endeavors to realize the
Presidents theories by some practical
policy"
STOCKHOLM. Jan. 24.-Swedish
newspapers of both parties interpret
President Wilson's speech as that
OF Germanophilc antagonistic to
the Entente nations.