Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-06
GERMANY'S STAND
IS INCONSISTENT
BIames Austria for Making
Peace Offer and President
for Curt Answer.
MAKE USE OF REFUSAL
BY RENE FEIBELMAN.
Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.

Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
AMSTERDAM, Holland, September
24.-Despite the fact that the Ger
mans loudly advised the world that
they expected no practical results
from the Austrian peace parley sug-
gestion, the newspapers are piling in
suit and abuse upon Austria for TAX
ing such step. From one end of
Germany to the other they express
deep chagrin at the answer which the
Burian communication received at the
hands of Wilson, Balfour and Clenen-
ceau.
President Wilson's reply is that
which angers the Germans the most,
for Mr.. Balfour went so far as to dis
cuss some of Baron Burian's sugges-
tons, while the Presidents note was
crushing in its brevity. More than
one paper says: Our peace offers have
been rejected by our enemies, but
never in such a manner as by Presi-
slderation for manners, treats the
matter in a truly shirt-sleeve fash
ion
presidents Cynicism' Disturbs.
The Krupp newspaper organ. the
Rheinische Westphaelische Zeitung,
SAYS:
spoken language and his simple
Nothing doing to any diplomatic
phrases he might have used" Never
theless. the paper seems to be per-
turbed at the presidents cynicism."
The editor of the Hamburger Frem-
denblatt comments in this fashion:
Americas answer is nothing but hys-
terical stammerlng without reflection
like the utterance of lunatic. Mr..
Wilson knows of nothing better to do
than to scream out to the world an al
most mechanical cry of Might to the
find way out of this fearful slaughter.
All appeals to human nifty and reason are
hopeless in the face of this mental atti-
tude.
',Even Mr.. Balfours more sedate
speech cannot mean anything different
from Mr.. Wilson's short and spiteful re-
ply. Balfour wants us to pay damages
to Belgium and above all to Serbia-that
very Serbia which forced Austria into
this unfortunate war. This means, if it
is accepted, unconditional surrender and
capitulation by Austria
The Fremdenblatt ends by saying that
Germany now knows who wants war
and who wishes peace and therefore the
Germans must pick up their courage
and end the war in the best way pos
sible.
"Win or Go Under"
1--WE must win the war or go UNDER
exclaims Count Won Reventlow in the
Deutsche Tageszeitung. 'If We lose
we shall become a third-rate power.
Therefore we shall spill the last drop
of blood to avert defeat and win
The Cologne Volkszeitung replies to
Mr.. Balfours demand for the indemnifica-
ton of Belgium with these words: HE
can wait long time before any respon-
Slble German promises that. Why, Mr..
Ralfour seems to believe that the Eng
lish troops are nearing Berlin. This
shows the illusions which the allies are
teaching. He has still much to learn
which he is bound to be taught soon by
our steadfastness and by our armies. -
Only the Vorwaerts clings to the hope
that the ''entente reply will be drafted
into a more reasonable and joint docu-
ment in place Of the present hysterical
answers"
Gives Ground for Plea.
Judging from all the newspaper ut
teranceS Baron Stephan Burian's
peace note and the welcome it got
from the allies seem to be accom-
plishing one of the German-Austrian
aims. namely, the Strengthening of
the hands of the government at the
time the reichstag committee and the
reichstag itself are about to resume
their sittings. Last week Germany's
war WEAKNESS was so great that the
government was uneasy at coming
face to face with the reichstag again
and it was even said that Chancellor
Won Hertling preferred to resign be-
fore the assembling of the lawmakers.
Now the entente's reply has shown
that there will be nothing doing in
the peace line until Germany is de-
feated and it will be comparatively
easy for Won Hertling to turn to the
reichstag with the words:
You see that we wanted peace.
but they will not listen to it until we
are defeated. They are responsible,
not we. We can do nothing but go
on with the war. Those who will not
follow us are traitors TO their imperiled
fatherland."