South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-12
WILL AUSTRIA
DARE To DEFY
HER MASTER?
Wilson's Address Puts Action
Squarely Up to Dual Mon
arChy-RuSSian Action
Has Little Bearing.
ILiernatlonaI News service

International News Service:
WASHINGTON. Feb. 12-Amer-
ica's interest was centered on Wen
ma today. Upon the reception 10y the
Austrian people of Pres't Wilson's
latest explanation of Americas
peace attitude. much depends
There is no question that Austria
Hungary is war weary. She has fire.
Guenuy indicated during the last
few weeks that she is willing TO
make material concession to bring
about an immediate peace. Count
Czernin her delegated spokesman,
has declared that he believed there
was possibilities for peace i'm the
original suggestions of Pres't VIII
son. The president mas accepted this
statement in good faith and made it
plain that the United States was
ready TO go farther if Austria so de-
sired. The next move, therefore.
must be made by the dual empire
No Compromise.
Austria must decide whether the
demand and desire for peace At
home is great enough To defy the
German military control 1t is ac-
cepted here that there can be no
compromise at least under present
conditions between the United
states and the present imperial
government The kaiser's belliger-
ent address to the Burgomaster If
Hamburg. cabled last night i'm
which he says. He who will not
accept peace must be forced TO ac-
cept peace" is accepted as a proper
definition of the present German
position. And. everyone who has an
alyzed the presidents address IF
yesterday taken in connection with
his war aims speech of a month ago,
realizes that the United States will
never be a party to any conferences
which have for their object a made
in Germany peace.
Austria Must Decide.
Therefore officials pointed out to-
day Austria must decide whether
she will attempt negotiations TO end
the war independently and in de-
hance of the German attitude. or
continue as vassal state with Ger
many dictatilg both her domestic
and foreign policies. officials here
don't care TO venture a guess as to
the result. They are awaiting the
word from Vienna and also 10 see
whether the address of the presi-
dent would be allowed free circula-
tion i'm the central countries.
The action OF the bulsheviki ia
declaring the war at an end and or
dering its armies home and the
I-krainiau treaty of peace are not
expected 10 have any very great
weight on the present situation. As
il affects Roumania there is'graEe
concern here. Indeed. officials don't
believe that Roumania can do any
thing but surrender unconditionally
should the Austro- German forces
initiate an offensive against that ma
tiOu.
Drive Now Expected.
However. with the eastern situa-
tion settled To- her satisfaction Ger
many is in position 20 launch her
expected spring drive IL the an
nounced intentions of her military
leaders are 10 be carried through.
The latest advices from the western
front show that the weather is
springlike and that the deep seas
of mud which have inte~fered with
troop movements are rapidly dry
iuE up With "a preponderance If
men and guns the allies wait ready
for anything that may come. and
according 90 the latest reports
reaching here Supremely confident
that they can cheek any German att
taCkiug wave
II is considered entirely likely
here that Austria viii try 90 initiate
diplomatic exchanges during the
next few weeks while simultaneous
ly. the German war machine VIII
carry through its announced jnteu-