The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-03-20

NO PROBABLE DATE FOR HIS
ADDRESS.
ssenerslly Believed that Woodrow VIII
son VIII Make Address To Joint
seesion Of Congress I'm Giving Views
on War Situation.

VoShfHBtou, Marcn l6.--'F1rst intt-
nations from official soyrces that
President Wilson possibly might soon
make statement bearing on the
Russian debaele came today.
Heretofore statements that the
president was preparing to address
congress on the subject have been
pure guess work. Today brought the
first Official intimations that the pres
ident In his close study of the situation
has gotten to the point where he was
thinking or such a course.
There is no Official indication OF
the medium the president will choose
or when he viii choose IL, but IL is
generally believed that as usual. he
will direct his statement to the world
through an address to a joint session
Of congress.
differences drawn from statements
by Sir Robert Cecil, British minister
OF blockade. Field Marshal Hinden-
burg and General Ludendorfr that
Germany might be proposing a peace
at the expense OF Russia. made peace
talk In general no more popular I'm
washington than IL has been at any
lime since the United States went to
war. officials everywhere. declining
to make statements for tho very rsa-
pon That any sort OF "a statement
would give comfors To a peace move
ment. give unmistakable Indications
Of how unwelcome discussions were
at this time.
This attitude of American officials
FOUND highly interesting reflection
In French Official dispatches giving
accounts OF the interview recently
given by Hindenburs ami Ludendorff
at German headquarters and publish
ed In German newspapers of the stu
alton on the Eastern battle front.
An off,ciai dispatch today from
France says:
Before making their last trip to
Berfin Hindenburg and Ludendorff
made certain statements to the news
paper correspondennts attached to
yreat headquarters
This interview probably had q dou. |
Bile purpose-that or encouraging
public opinion and OF bringing pres.
snre to bear upon the adversary by
the usual Germanic blum. What Is
Outstanding In the declarations OF the
couple OF generals swollen with pride
and childish vanity Is that the Ger
man government is more than ever
before In the hands OF the military
caste. brutal. narrow and insolent.
Discussing the events In the case
Hindenburg said:
The chain which was to bind us
from henceforth is broken. We can
now employ all our force I'm the West
IL is absolutely necessary for us TO
procure security on our frontiers SO
that we shall not see repeated the
hnentable events which marked the
beginning OF the tutumn OF 1914.
"ft In to be noted that German opin-
lon does not realize the exact extent
or the success obtained in the East
occsuse the people are looking today
towards the West" Hindenburg said
ssgarding this:
Things are always the same. poo
pie never appreciate at their just val
ne the results already obtained.
with the insolence OF German
trooper. the commander OF the Ger
man armies. who. since the battle of
the Marne has met with defeat In ev-
cry encounter from the French. said:
France has dug her own grave. She
is entirely under the rule of England
rLudendorff added; We can now
pass TO the Offensive In the West. II
this offensive In made u will be very
severe. IL must be taken into account
That the enemy has at its disposal
strong reserve OF many divisions and
mat " Possesses nne network OF
railways for transporting reserves ut
n point where they are considered
neresaery. We are ruu Of confidence
and we remain persuaded that the
night in which we are To engage win
ems happily for u.s.
~Ludendorfr said Il was or ,nss,i.
mable value TO Germany to possess
such general as Hindenburg. The
marshal interrupted him and observ.
ed What IN essential In the good
morale OF the German soldiers. II IL
To them that we owe our victory. I ain
convinced that this morale In found
Throughout all GERMANY
The digpateh conclules with Tho