Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-03-16

Germany or her cohorts, To permit
Germany to seize the best provinces of
Russia would mean simply preparing
the German people for a repetition of
their attack on the worlds freedom IN
the future.
The speech of Count Won Hertling.
German imperial chancellor, before the
reichstag, in reply to President VIII
sons most recent address before CON
gress regarding the war aims of the
United States, is not regarded by lead
ers in the United States or England
as increasing the chance for peace
Count Won Hertling professed accept
ance of the four principles Of demo
cratic peace enunciated by President
Wilson and disclaimed any Intention
of conquest but these protestations
have not convinced President Wilson
and his advisers, 1t is said, that Ger
many Is ready to forgo ambitions OF
conquest Other parts Of the chancel'
lor's speech are regarded as conclusive
proof that Germany intends retaining
control, in ono form or another, of
nearly all the foreign territory that
she now occupies
Count Won Hertling's reference to
Belgium is far from satisfactory.
While limiting that Germany does not
contemplate annexing Belgium. the
chancellor proposes to impose condl-
lions which would restrict the freedom
of action of the kingdom and place 1t at
the mercy of the Teutonlc empire.
The entente point of view was ex-
pressed by one distinguished diplomat
who declared that Won Hertling's
speech has effectuaIly closed the door
to further peace talk. Belgium is a
question of honor" he declared. ut
cannot be discussed. SO long as the
enemy refuses to do justice to Belgium
they cannot be expected to perform
Justice in any other instances"
While the long-dstance debate be
! tween the statesmen of the belligerent
countries has been looked upon with
approval by leaders of thought IN this
country on the theory that no chance
Of effecting a peace on terms accept
able TO the allies should be overlooked,
| at the same time there has been feel
ing that the continued peace talk may
! have a harmful effect upon the public
morale in the allied countries There
has been a determination In Washing.
! ton not to permit any peace discus.
sions to delay war preparations for
one minute and the only harmful eff.
feet, it is declared, would be upon the
spirit Of the people.
While there are still conflicting opin.
| ions as to whether Germany will un.
/ dertake a real offensive on the west
! front this spring, reports coming in
1 directly from Germany indicate that
the German public Is being prepared
for the tremendous losses that must
result II such an offensive Is attempt
| ed Dispatches from Stockholm de-
clare that Ine German high command
has given the executive committee OF
I the reichsyag the confidential lnforna-
ton that the contemplatedofenslvewill
cost Germany a million men. For this
staggering price, ii Is declared, Cen
I eral Won IIindenburg and General Won
Ludendori have absolutely guaranteed
success. Leaders Of the majority in
the relchsyag are said to be rcconciled
/ TO the offensive ms the only thing left
for Germany to do, but there Is wide
spread feeling Of pity and horror that
a million lives should be sacrificed
when victory however great it may be.
will not force peace The Germans, il
is declared, at the most, expect that
a big military victory win convince
America ald England that Germany is
unbeatable and to make the western
world amendable 10 suggestions for a
peace con 'erence.
While the allied commanders realize
that the expected German offensive win
be staggering blow to withstand they
are confident that the western line win
hold. and that the Hun plans viii re.
suit IN defeat for the central powefs