The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-11-01
TELLS REICHSTAG
LIES CAUSED WAR

LONDON, Nov. I.-DeolaTinE that
tho obstacles to peace. whether they
are on the throne or IN tho apart
ments Of the supreme army command
must be abolished. Herr Cohn, inde-
pendent Socialist, asserted In speech
before the ROichstag that Generals
Won Moltko and Won FRllIenhayl were
already convinced after the battle OF
the Marine in 1914 that the war was
lost for Germany"
In an impassIoned address he said
that Il was necessary to decide At
once who really was responsible Tor
the situation In which the German
people now find themselves.
THE wEr did not arise" he added,
from the fault OF individuals, but
from the whole historical, POLITICAL
and economic connection Of things.
Force and Lies.
Youthful German Imperialism, es-
sentisIIy predatory and DESTROYS of
power, was supported TO this end by
strong and offensive militarism, as
sertinE itself by means OF force and
lies.
"The special edition of the LokRl
Anzeiger announced the mobilization
In the streets before 1t happened at
all in order to send the word into
the world. The declaration Of wal
on France was officially based on
French airman's attack on Surem>
burg. which was a lie.
The civil government conducted ne
gotiations with President Wilson This
did not suit the military authorities,
who thwarted negotiations by declar-
ing an intensive submarine warfare.
How many thousands are today
aware Of the fact that Won Moltke,
former chief Of the general staff, and
General. Won Falkenhayn were already
convinced in 1914, after the first battle
OF the Marine, that the war was lost
for Germany?
BIunder Not Admitted.
at was, however, impossible for
miIitarism to admit that it had COM
mitted a blunder. A preventative war
must be won IL it was to be justified.
Then the military authorities at
tempted to evade responsibility, and
at the end Of September General Lu-
dendorff wrote to Berlin that a gov
eminent capable of negotiating peace
must Immediately be formed, which
would have to address a request for
peace to President Wilson
an October a letter was read in
press conference from Won Hinden-
burg, protesting that he had not said
Germany must send an armistice offer
because of military grounds. This ex-
plains why the armistice offer was
sent, not by the military authorities.
but emanated from the chancellor,
contrary to all custom.
Try To Retain Power.
The military wanted to maintain
their existence and prestige despite
the loss of the war. Confronted with
attempts of the military power which
was not yet rendered powerless, the
realized that all its
policy must come to shipwreck IL
based on resistance of military leaders.
THE military appeal was directed to
the crown, itself declaring that
should the latter allow itself to com
ply with Wilson's suggestions the
army and navy would turn against the
crown.
THE question therefore was,
whether the government should con-
cIude peace with or without the
v-earer OF the crown The strongest
obstacle to peace was those, who for
the maintenance OF their social posi-
ton and of the autocratic system,
were unwilling to deduce consequences
from the situation precipitated by
President Wilson, who wished to uti-
lie Germany's military defeat to-
abolish the Kaiser and his house, root
and branch.
This obstacle to peace must be
abolished whether it is on the throne
or in the apartments OF the supreme