Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-18

command OF MarShoi Foch, the un-
yancing and victorious legions directed
by Haig, by Petain. ana by Pershins'
have brought about this complete
change In the minds and In the atti-
tude toward the war OF Vienna and OF
potaaa,t,. The refiuent current that be-
gan to bear the Germans back from
the Marne on July is and has never
ceased its irresistible sweep. eNtin-
guished their last hopes OF victory; 81.
Mihiel comes as an admonition OF i'm
handing and irretrevable disaster. But
what fills their souls with deepest dis
auietude Is the failure OF their man
power and their morale just AZ tho mo-
ment when American soldiers literally
In millions are moving forward TO their
places in the vast, unconquerable
armies that confront them. The Wen
ma invitation TO conference Is not Of
the kind that victors send forth.
Upon that we need not dwell. AL
the beiligerents desire the end OF the
war. The stricken world longs for
peace. While no armistice precedes
the proposed conference. we are justi-
fled in entertaining the hope, the be-
lief even. that fighting will cease this
year as the fruit OF this "nonbinding'
discussion Of terms. II would be the
worst of blunders for us or for any Of
the entente allies to abate war prepare
tions now. But reason and humanity
demand that the Austrian invitation be
accepted. The case for conference Is
presented with extraordinary eloquence
and force, a convincing argument is
made for an exchange of views that
may remove old and recent misunder-
standings. II is pointed out that Mr..
Wilson's four principles of peace have
encountered no contradiction in the
countries of the quadrurlc alliance;
and there Is much nthe note To- in
diCates q change of heart and OF pur-
there.
We can not imagine that the invita-
ton will be declined. While represent
atives of the belligerents meet at the
council table and proceed to their con-
fidential exchange OF views, TO their re-
spective statement of terms, there is
much antecedent probability that after
no considerable interval the formal
meeting of peace commissioners will
follow. The preliminaries Of peace have
usually led to the conclusion of peace.
There are historic exceptions 10 the
rule. but when we consider the deluge
Of blood tina: has been poured out in
this war, the incalculable waste Of
treasure, the ruin il has wrought, the
grief that wrings millions of hearts be-
cause of il. we must conclude that only
the madness or the soulless depravity
of some one o: the doelligerent powers
could obstruct and defeat the pur~ose
OF the conference.
Turning TO the results Of the confer
ence and the final peace terms the
Times Is insstent tina. this agony
must not be gone thru again" Presi-
dent Wilson's affirmation Of that i'm
perative point must be the foundation
of peace negotiations. Germany must
be so confined and restricted that the
peace of the world shall be securely
safeguarded Thus:
4 peace that left Germany master
of the east would be a crime against
ourselves and our postertty. Over the
lands Of the near east and the whole
of the old empire of the czars she can
Control fthe vast regions where she
could renew her now diminished might
she must once and 70 rail- time re-
nounce. The restorations and repara-
tons to be decreed in the west are
equally Indispensable, but reiteration
has made them familiar. 1t is in the
east that the new danger will arise,
there with iron resolution il must oe
destroyed. Entering a conference with
definite instructions to yield no point
that would leave Germany in a posi-
ton to call to her armies and their
support the men and the resources Of
the boundless eastern lands she now
holds in thrau, the delegates Of the
United States, Great Britain. France
Italy and their cO-belligerents may
meet the Representatives Of the central
powers without aroUsing among anx-
ious peoples at home the fear that they
are about to barter away the soul of
the allied cause.