Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-17
Tho Latest Whine for Peace

WITH superabundant verbal camouhage,
w the ehemy powers have come out into
the open and definitely launched their drive
for peace by understanding with a degree
OF earnestness sharply indicative Of the des-
peration to which they have been driven by
the sledge-hammer blows delivered by Mar
shall Foch during the past two months. The
proposal is made by the Hungarian
government to all Of the belligerents, but the
scheme is known to have been worked out by
the chancelories Of both governments, Aus
tria-Hungary being selected to act as Berlins
catspaw because of the belief Chat coming
from the former the proposal would meet
with more favorable reception. Indeed the
note specifically states that all the enemy
powers share the views it develops.
The proposal implies nothing less than
recognition by the enemy powers that they
have entered the initial stages Of complete
military collapse, and that the hour is swift
~ approaching when they will be forced to
accept peace upon the victor's terms, unless
by diplomatic ingenuity they can bring con-
fusion into the counsels of the allies and
rest the inevitable trend of military events
for advantages which they hope to gain at
the peace table.
In assuming basis upon which to make
the proposals, the Austro- hungarian govern
ment lays predicate that is absolutely false
with respect to the attitude of the allies war
aims haying undergone recent change.
Neither in the temper of the allied popula-
lions nor in the utterances of any RESPONSE
BILE authority connected with any of their
governments can there be found any justifca-
ton whatever for the statement contained in
the note that in both camps there is un-
doubtedy observable in wide classes of the
population a growth of the will to peace and
understa nding." On the contrary, at no time
since the outbreak of hostilites have the gov
ernments and peoples of the allied countries
been more firmly determined than they are
now to wage the war to victorious conclu-
sion and to listen to no plea for peace from
the other side until its military power has
been SO completely overthrown that it has
no other recourse left to it but to get down
on its knees and beg for terms.
The enemy having APPEALED to force Presi-
dent Wilson. as spokesman for all the allies,
promptly accepted the challenge, and in I'M
alterable purpose gave the answer: Force it
shall be from now on; force without stint or
limit; there can be no compromise; no half
way decision would be tolerable; halfway
decision is conceivable. In pursuance Of this
unalterabe purpose, we have launched forth
upon series Of victories which are growing
in Importance as the campaign progresses
Everywhere the enemy is on the retreat, with
his ranks decimated and his armies disor-
ganized. He will be kept on the run. He
will not be allowed any say as to when and
how he will get out Of devastated France and
Belgium. He will be driven out at the point
OF the bayonet and the mouth of cannon. His
prayers for peace long as he is able to
stand on the sacred soil Of these countries
and show resistance will have no more effect
on allied purpose to crush him utterly and
completely than does the baying of dog
at the moon.