The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-07-19
HUN PEACE OFFER
OLD CANOUFLAGE
MILITARISTS WILL NOT BE Al
LOWED TO BARGAIN OVER RE-
STORATioN OF BELGIUM.
KUEHLMANN'S RETIREMENT
Mason Says That Two aiken Toeeth-
err Show Deceit of Germans-Hin-
denburg's Reputation Dead Even
If He Is. Not.

New Tork.-Germany has begun !
new campaign for peace with the old
gang of militarists still in control Of
the Hohenzollern empire.
Chancellor Won Hertling has beer
pushed forward to assure the western
world while German diplomacy is pill
fering all it can in Eastern Europe.
The patter of the kaiser's spokesman
has ever been made to include re-
pudiation OF any intention by Gee
many to hold Belgium after the war
Instead, however, of Offering Iu
give up the western loot unreserved-
ly, as an evidence of contrition, Won
Herltnig demands that the allies must
bargain over the restoration of Bel
gums independence.
Bargaining necessitates the recog-
milton of the right of the German
militarists to participation in deiibe-
ratiOns over conditions to govern Bel
gums future. If any conditions are
allowed the militarists will not nave
been defeated. Militarism's defeat
implies its first essential the uncon-
ditional and unbeatable evacuation
of Belgian territory by the German
army. Won Hertling is trying to
evade this issue, and in the true Mill
taristic spirit insolenetly intimales
that Belgium is being held as host
.ge for the western democracies to
ransom. The kaiser cannot succeed
with that kind of camoufiage. Amer
lea is in the war to prevent it.
Won Kuehlmann's enforced retire
ment from the foreign secretarysnip
because of his public disavowal of
Germany's ability to win peace IN
the battlefield shows the spirit which
is back of Won Hertling's peace drive.
The same childish attempts at deceit
still characterize German diplomacy
Reputation of Won Kuehlmann by
the militarists is accompanied by pro-
testations that the lords of Germany's
destiny have no imperialistic amDi-
tons. With such clumsy tactics as
these revealing the truth, it is :m-
possible for the worlds democracies |
to be led into a peace trap of Ger
making.
Reports of the illness and death OF |
Won Hindenburg recently probably |
have originated in the continued in |
activity of the German armies. Wheth-
er or not Won Hindenburg is dead |
his reputation as the con-
queror of Western Europe is rapidly
nearing destruction. His name mas
disappeared from COM
ment in Germany. The shadow be-
gan to make its appearance simultan-
eously with the announcement of -1e
arrival of Americans in
France by the hundreds of thousands.
Every week Won Hindenburg has
delayed his fifth offensive has meant
the reinforcement of the allies by
from $4,000 to 100000 fresh Ameri-
cans. No wonder establishment is
to arise concerning the ef-
of Won Hindenburg's
strategy of slaughter If Won Hind
enburg is not dead there are enough
AO dkC " LhC ICoSOh |
nome.
The most dangerous policy the Ger
man war lords can accept would be
another offensive gamble. Victory Is
made wholly impossible for them by
he presence in France of Americas
armies. Yet if new drive is not
the former ones of this
.ateful year are proved vain and COLI
Tenn Won Hindenburg as Germany's
evil genius. Perhaps, seeming Won
waning popularity, the
German leaders are inspiring reports
If his death to abserve the reaction
lpon German public opinion. If the
public shows, no regret there may be
10 more German offensiyes. whether
1on Hindenburg is dead or alive.