Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-13
HERTLING'S PITIFUL PLEA FOR MERCY

Yesterday Chancellor Herthng OF the German en-
pre made an address to the reichStag in which he ex-
pressed the desire of the lords for peacea German
peace however The BrestLtovsk treaty with the Rus
sian bolshevik held up as sample OF the KIND OF
peace the German rulers DESIRE but the chancellor with
great emotion proceeded to say that the allies would not
accept German-made peace and had determined to
defeat them in test of arms. He considered this an
outrageous decision which could only have the effect of
prolonging the war with its slaughter and suffering
The chancellors speech mournfu wail--the wall
Of whipped and trembling criminal facing certain DOOM
The power of the Central empires is failing and the lead
ers Of the military clique realize this fact certainly
than anybody else Hindenburg made his supreme et-
fort with all the at his command to break the
allied front and won some ground on account OF the IN
competency Of the British military command and It's
unpreparedness for blow long expected That damage
has been repaired and now Hndenburg delays further
move while the kasers diplomats make frantic efforts to
secure hearing from the allies to discuss conclusion OF
peace which will allow the nkers to escape thoroughly
deserved whipping While Hertling whines and pleads
for mercy Austria Bulgaria and Turkey crumbling
away before the assaults of the allied armesand Ger
many the nstgator of their run poweress to go to
their assistance.
story came out recently by way of the Danish
frontier to the effect that the real war leader in Germany
Ludenorff has stated the will probably end with the
end of the year. He admits Germanys defeat while con-
centrang his efforts toward continuing the war; With
the usual German msconcepon OF things ne gives the
allies credit for some things which properly belong
to Germany but which the German trait of seeing but one
side of question fails to recognize. Speaking to Ger
man diplomatic leader Ludendorff is credited with say
ing Despite the fact that your eXceency belongs to al
guild must say that in diplomacy and in politics the
coalition has beaten They put the world In arms
against us with skill we neither understood nor know
how to initiate. 1t has been brilliant We must there
fore speak in the only way they left usby object les
sons" Concluding his statement he said: "ChimneysI
may continue to smoke indefinitely but in general
way will end with the end of this year"
1t was remarkable interview, and coming from the
leading German miarst is that much the more so. Att
The same time the failure of the German mind to visualize
situation is exempfied by it. Ludendorff is apparently
oblvios of the fact that it not allied diplomacy not
superior political wisdom not the making of language
do all it can do that arraved the world against Germany
That was done by the Germans themselves by their
arrogance their ruthesSness their violation Of all the
rules of civilized warfare the sinking of ships beongng
to neutral nations the topedong of hospital ships and
the horrors perpetrated in Belgium and Serbia These
were the things that arrayed the world against Germany
and her system These things have been given publicity
by the allies that is ALL and to this extent they have
made language do all it can" AS to his statements that
the end of the will perhaps with the end of the
year, this indicates that whenever the allied armies in
shape to invade Germany that the kaiser will lose his
bold front and for peace Hertlng pleading for
it in his speech Germany will never stand for moment
the treatment she has inflicted Others and when the
danger of having to do this becomes imminent she begs
for mercy The German soldier is trained for victory
only and with defeat his portion he will prove sorry
loser 1t is hoped General LudendOrf's ideas may bel
maeralzed and that the will end he SUCCESSES but
this may well be doubted for the reason the German
tarsts still have an idea that any real offer of peace