The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
SITUATION IS
GRAVE,' SAYS
CHANCELLOR
"But We Have No Cause to
Be Faint Hearted" He
Adds in Speech.
Discomfort REPROVED
1t Is Unjustified by Military
Status, Reichstag Commit
tee Is Informed.
Discomfort REPROVED

LONDON, Sept 24.-Count Won Hert-
| ling. the German Imperial Chancellor,
addressing the Main Committee Of the
to a despatch from Berlin, that the
public discomfort in Germany was not
justified by the military situation on
the western front.
The Chancellor opened with the
promise 10 meet the desire OF the
Reichstag for information as far as
possible. lie proceeded to allude to the
deep discomfort which has seized wide
circles OF the population" and said
that the principal reason was the pres
sure OF the terrible four years OF war.
with all the deprivations and suffer
ings brought in its wake and the sac
rifices imposed on all classes. all fami-
lies, and, more or less. on every indi-
vidual.
Calls Discontent Unjustif:ed.
81 have no intention OF trying to d.
minish this pressure by words" he con-
tinued. but. gentlemen. II this discon-
tent is Influenced by our present mill
tary situation. by the events on the
western front. I must, without desiring
/ 10 anticipate d statement which We may
expect from a representative OF the War
Ministry. declare most emphatically that
It far exceeds tustinsbls limits"
Count Won Hertling admitted that the
last German offensive was unsuccessful
and that It had been necessary 10 with
draw to the Siegfried line.
The situation Is grave" he added,
but We have no cause TO be faint
hearted. We have already had TO pass
through harder times"
The Chancellor +nstanced the failure
of the Nerdun offensive, TIE Somme bat
ties and Brussilof's assaults, bringing
in their train the well remembered un-
, favorable reaction on the Austro-ltalian
front. Then came Rumania's entry into
the war.
| 1--WE Never Lost Courage"
I'VE never lost courage" he said. but
showed our enemies what a resoHte
will to victory could do.
How do things stand now? We have
! peace with Russia and Rumaua. and
|
not yet clear and the future appears un-
certain nevertheless tho former menace
from two sides has disappeared and
considerable part OF our men OF the
eastern army can be empolyed in the
west.
The Austro- Hungarian army holds
large tracts OF italian territory and
bravely maintains Its position. In
France our troops repel attacks by the
! French. English and Americans, who
are supported by every kind OF modern
instrument OF war
The events OF the last few days have
proved the old spirit Is alive in our
troops. The fatherlands true sons are
intrepidly preventing the enemys per-
tinacious sttempts<o get through.
| Shall We then lose courage and for
get what previously happened? Shall
We refuse the Old absolute confidence in
the men WAC hitherto have led us 10
victory because OF viciss!tudes incident
TO all war? No. gentlemen. that would
be unmanly timdity and base ingrati-
! tude."
The sitting OF the main committee Of
the Reichstag was attended by the I'm
perial Chancellor. Admiral Won Hintze.
| the Foreign Secretary and other secre-
tares OF state.
Friedrich Ebert, president of the COM
mittee. announced that the meeting had
been called at an earlier date than ex-
pected owing TO Austria's peace proposal.
Hertiing Opens Discussion.
Count Won Hertllng opened the dis
cusslon with a statement OF the political
situation. internal reforms. Prussian suf-
fraEe and the prevention of wars in the
future. 80
The allied successes in France, Mace
donia and Palestine have led the Cologne
| Continued OIL necond Pane