The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-03
Will Soon "COme Across" With
Surprising Sacrifice, o. S. View.
Germany Sparring Now 70 Gre
ate "Peace Atmosphere"
GIVE UP ALL But MAIN POINT
Kaiser VIII Hang On to Auto
cratic Power to Bitter End.
Suspect Present Peace CruX
Only a Lenine Trick.
BY CARL d. GROAT.

Washington, Jan. 3.-Entente and
neutral diplomats here believe Ger
many is paving the way for real defl-
mite peace proposals in the next TWO
months-so much more hoeral imam
any to date that they must be serious
" considered by the allies.
At present. the German propa-
ganda is designed to create a peace
atmosphere" they say. SO that wnen
the real offer comes the world may
be in a more recipient mood than be-
fore. But the diplomats join with
American leaders now in saying en-
phaticalIy that from all indications the
offer will not be broad enough to
meet the prime requiSite-el1mlna1o
of Germany's kaiser controlled militar-
ism.
A canvass of leading entente and
neutral statesmen reveals feeling
that Germany is willing to make I'M
believable sacrifices rather than face
another year of war. Internal condl-
lions plague her and time is no loreer
her ally. Despite a still tremendous
offensive power, Germany is going
down hill and the longer the struggle
continues, just so much more certain
is her defeat.
Germany Realizes She Is Beaten.
With Russia apparently swaying
away from the separate peace Ger
many's peace plans threaten to go as
kew and it is possible the Russian
problem will react to her distinct adj
vantage
Germany realizes, as never before.
that she is beaten" a high entente
diplomat said today Even the Rus
sian peace she sought is proving an il
fusion. Teutonic arms have not at
tanned g. single significant victory in
the past year. Russie's elimination
cannot be credited to German arms
and the Italian offensive has proved
an empty victory.
with such a year back of them and
overwhelming odds before them, the
Central powers can look forward to
the coming year with nothing but ap-
prehension. They cannot win, and the
longer the fight is waged the greater
will be the price the loser lust pay"
The greatest danger the allies face,
according to statesmen, is that with an
unconditional surrender" by Ger
many within their grasp, determine
ton to eliminate HohenzoIlernism may
waver
ID. Suspect Lenine Trick.
Russia's reported rejection of the
German peace terms at The Brest-
Litovsk conference aroused suspicion
in entente circles and led this govern
silence while waiting definite and
official news. 1t has served to tenn
porarily hold up official expression
here in the planned counter prop
uganda drive against the German pro-
posals
Russian embassy officials and en-
tente leaders scent d possible trick,
knowing Lenine at least to be a Ger
man agent. Secretary Lansing re-
fuses to confirm or deny possession of
proof of Lenines duplicity. In the
circumstances, all feel that the best
policy to pursue is to await the out
come of German-RuSSian negotiations.
Russians Won't FIGHT
Russian officials secuted reports
that the Lenine-Trotzky regime might
resume fighting against Germany and
were amused at reports that the Rus
sian Red guards woul- be s,nt against
the Germans. These troops, Russian
officials here. pointed out, are the ones
who broke and ran away just before
RuSSia'S great collapse.