The daily Alaskan., 1918-03-11
MAR MIST NOT BE CALLED DRAW
 - sermanyI Cannot Be Given ChanGe to Repeat Crime
 Against World.
DANGEROUS MOMENT AHEAD
Americans Must Guard Against Day When Teutons, Beaten, Offer Peace. on Basis of Status
 Quo Ante.
By J, FRANK DAVIS.

Perhaps the most dangerous moment for America in all this war will be the moment when Germany, admitting she cannot win. offers to make peace on the basis of the status quo ante-tO go back to where things were before she set forth so blitheiy upon her great ad- venture.
 Already her newspapers talk of such peace. The relchStag mo annexa- tions and no indemnlties" resolution Is "feeler" for it. The war lords allow this talk to be made, although they have not officially sanctioned the prop osition.
 The day will come when they will. however, and that will be dangerous day for America.
 From what we see quoted from Ger man newspapers 1t Is quite clear that the people of Germany think they have only to offer to go back to where they were before the war to gnin peace. When they say mo anneXatiOns and no indemnities" they mean no annexationS by Germany and no lndemnItles 10 be collected by Germany, because 1t has not even entered the head of one man In ten In all Germany that they may be forced 10 make reparation.
 Germans stlIl Deceived.
 Also Germany does not understand that any mere promise on her part not to attack her neIghbors will not be taken. The Germans as a whole still are deceived Into thinking their rulers did not start the war. They do not Ip- preclate that their promise not to of fend again would be worthless prom ise. They do not know that their na- ton Is morally bankrupt; that the word of Its OverlOrdS Is no longer of the slightest value in the councils of civilization.
 When they get ready to admit that they cannot win and to offer to return to the status quo they will expect their enemies to accept those terms-in ef- feet a peace made in Germany. And we must be prepared for a considerable movement In the United States advO- eating the acceptance of such an offer.
 The hyphenates and the pacifists and the towards and all the other cop perheads will be for 1t. What more Is there that we should fight for?" they will shout. "Why should we take sides in any European quarrel over terri tory or IndemnItles2 Let the Germans return Belgium and northern France, and let the British and the Italians give back the former German colonies and the territory taken from Austria. And let us all get together-Germany to do her share, of cOurSe-and rebuild the towns in France and Belgium that have been destroyed. Let us be generous"
 May oRIn Following.
 If only the traitors and the paclfsts were for such plan we should have no more to worry about than we now have to trouble us In the activities of l. w. ". and peace councils and disloyal pro- German newspapers, But they may gain an additional following among Iack-brslned folk who now are not with them.
 We Americans are sentimental peo- pie. We like to think about punlshIng criminals, but we seldom like to punish them. We will not repeal our laws against capital punishment, but We hate to convict under them.
 The cry that will go up from all the German propaGandistS when the offer of a status quo peace Is made will be a loud one, and thousands of Americans who are loyal enough at heart, but loose-thinking, may be attracted by It. Germany. in that hour, may be depend ed upon to use every tool at her com mand in this country to throw up dust, to obscure the issue, to influence Amer leans toward peace that shall leave the world as much in peril as 1t was prior to August, 1914.
 Would Be German Victory.
 If they can get 0 great number of people in the United States to agree that Germany ought not to be put where she cannot repeat her crime against civilization, the war will have been In vain. If the Germans are able to cease fighting, unpunished, and go back home to prepare for the next war, with Mittel-Europa in their hands, 1t will have been a German victory, even though not such victory as Ger l many expected when she began the i conflict.
 Nobody expects to annihllate Ger | many. Nobody wants to see her anni- hIlated. Nobody wants to crush her. except as a military menace. But she | must keen the peace hereafter, and to l make sure that she does so her power | to repeat her offenSe must be de- | I