Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-25
AS OFFENSIVE AS EVER

The German plan of alternating peace and war Of
fensives is SO familiar as to be recognized at a glance.
Every military effort that Germany makes, no matter
what its objective or it's result, costs the Allies something.
The Germans can be stopped. They have been stopped
on a number of occasions. They can be driven back.
They are being driven back: But men are killed in the
operation, and there is a stupendous expenditure of
have to pay taxes. Germany has shown remarkable
Observation-Disclosures in the estimate which she has placed
on the purposes and motives Of other people, but even
the most stupid of her rulers know that the people of the
entente countries are not carrying on the war just for the
fun of 1t. Our people prefer peace, and the Germans
know it. Accordingly the Germans. through one or other
of their mouthpieces, are In the habit, from time to
time, of proposing what they call peace, dressed up in
such toggery as is believed likely to be most attractive
to those to whom the appeal is made. Sometimes the
proposal is made in the guise of a threat Of what Ger
the proposal follows a blow, with the implication that if
the plan is not accepted worse things will befall us. And
so the process is continued of alternating military move
ments with alleged peace proposals; and the hope is I'M
doubtedly entertained that at some time a responsive
chord may be struck in the Allied consciousness.
This time the announcement comes from the German
Socialist paper, vorwaerts, that Germany is about to
make peace proposals through the neutral government
of Spain. That may be true. If it is It will be the first
Lille III IN val LILO ally iopoSoA oNi Io"diO peoCc
has been made by Germany except in a roundabout way.
If the Spanish government conveys to the governments.
of the Allies Communications which it is authorized to
make on behalf Of Germany, these communications will
be given such consideration as their nature warrants.
There need be no doubt about that. But there is moth
ing in the statement made by the German paper which
warrants the belief that anything will be found in these
now proposals which will merit serious consideration.
According to the announcement, Germany asks no
annexations or indemnities in the west. On that point the
Germans need have no doubt. They will get neither
annexations nor indemnities. On the contrary, they will
be required to relinduish their hold. not only on recently
occupied French territory, but on Alsace-Lorraine, which
they claim. AS to indemnities, the shoe will be on the
other foot, for Germany will have a pretty bill Of costs
to pay.
The peace treaties with Russia and Rumania are not
ITO be questioned. In other words, Germany is to be left
free to exploit Russia and the Balkan countries, and thus
to prepare herself for another war in which she will be
invincible. That is absurd.
The other suggestions are in line with these N their
absurdity. The purpose is, of course, to bring about me-
gotiations of a general character, Germany being admit
ted to these on equal terms with her neighbtrs, in the
hope that she may be able to accomplish there by leger-
demain what she has failed to accomplish by military
force.