Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-02
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GERMANY REPUDIATES PLEDGES
GERMANY TOSTAKE
EVERYTHINGITHAS
CHANCELLOR SAYS CHALLENGE
OF THE TRIPLE ENTENTE is
TO BE ACCEPTED.
Chancellor Won
addressing the
II. /

London, FEB. l. -CndACeHol wa
Bethmann- -Hollweg, addressing the
reichstag committee, declared that
Germany was ready to stake every
thing and fight to the end, according to
Berlin dispatch to Reuters by way
of Amsterdam. The dispatch quotes tne
chancellor as saying:
"On December r. explained to the
reichstag the reasons which led to our
peace offer. The reply OF our oppon-
ents clearly and precisely said that
they declined peace negotiations with
us and want to hear only OF peace
which they dictate. BY this the whole
question of guilt for the continuation
of the war is decided. The guilt fails
alone on our opponents. Just as den
mite is our task. The conditions OF the
enemy we cannot discuss. They couid
only be accepted by totally defeated
people. 1t therefore means that we
must fight.
president Wilson's message to con-
gress shows a sincere wish to restore
peace to the world. Many of his max
inns agree with our aims, namely: free
dom of seas. adjustment Of the sys'
tenn OF balance of power which always
is bound to lead to new dlmcui,les'
equal rights Of all nations and an open
door. But what are the peace condi
tons OF the entente?
Germany's defensive force is to DC
destroyed, we to lose Alsace-Lorralne
and our eastern provinces, the Danube
monarchy to be dissolved. Bulgaria
again to be cheated of her national
unity and Turkey to be pushed out OF
Europe and smashed in Asia. The
destructive designs of our opponents
cannot be expressed more strongly
We have been challenged to fight tc
the end. We accept the challenge. We
stake everything and shall be victors
GUS"
IN his address Chancellor Won Beth
mann -Hoilweg explained why In March
and Nav of last year he had opposed
unrestricted submarine war and why
again in September according to the
unanimous Judgment of the political
and military authorities the question
was not considered ripe for decision.
In this connection the chancellor re
peated his previous utterance that as
soon as he. in agreement with the
supreme army command. reached tht
conviction that ruthless submarine wa,
would bring Germany nearer victor'
Gus peace, then the U-boat war would
be started
"This moment has now arrived nc
continues. Last autumn the time was
not vet ripe, but today the moment has
come when, with the greatest prospec,
of success, we can undertake the enter
prise. We must therefore not wait any
longer.
Where has there been any change
in the situation?" the chancellor ask
ed. "In the first place. the most i'm
portant fact Of all Is that the number
of our submarines has been very con
siderably increased as compared witf
last spring, and thereby firm basis
for success has been established. The
second co-decisive reason Is the bac
cereal harvest OF the world. This fac
already confronts ENGLAND. France ant
Italy with serious difficulties which b,
means OF unrestricted U-boat war viii
be brought to a point of unbearable
ness. The coal question too. is vita
question in war. Already it is critica
as YOU know. in italy and France. Oul
| submarines will make it still more
critical"