Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-01
OTTUMwA sEMIWEEKLY COURIER FRIDAY MARCH I, 1918

and such displays of energy will
convince Germany of our determi-
nation to win far more quickly
than any threats, implied or &C
tual. President Wilson's an
nouncement that he believed the
! war would end this year was
also assuring and materially
strengthened peace hopes.
Germany says Mr.. Clews, "is
slowly but inevitably drifting toward
some sort of collapse" but in the
next sentence he says that the only
final argument which counts with q
military power is decisive military
, blow. And he depends on America
to deliver that blow this year, in com.
pany with the allies. 1t is that on
which he bases his hope for an early
peace.
Meanwhile, Germany has become
master of Russia and possessor Of the
stores of food and metals which are to
be found in Ukraine and elsewhere in
the interior of the domain which was
the cars.
Carl Alderman, an American news
paper correspondent and magazine
writer who was among the last aliens
to leave Germany after the war was
declared by the United States, has
been in Switzerland most of the time
since he crossed the frontier. He has
kept as close watch on affairs in Ger
many as was possible and has re-
ceived information in various ways.
In an article which he wrote late in
December but which appeared only
last week a the Saturday Evening
Post, Mr.. Alderman comments inter
estingly Oh t God shortage in Ger
many and pr, IS that it must bring
a collapse of the kaiser's military ef-
fectiveness-unless peace with Rus
STA should be made
A Russian peace, Mr.. Alderman ex.
planned, would mean the opening up OF
Russia's food stocks for the replenish.
ing of Germany's larder. This larder.
by the way, is depleted only on the
side from which the limited supply for
the poor must come, according to Mr..
Alderman The rich agrarians. he
says, who have controlled the food
situation for the government since the
shortage became menacing, have had
all they wanted to eat and. in addition,
have manipulated the food administra-
ton so expertly that they have reaped
great fortunes from profiteering.
Mr.. Alderman expressed the belief
that the conclusion Of peace with Rus
STA would afford Germany sufficient
additional food early this year to re-
lieve much of the suffering of the
Door and quiet much of the unrest,
which, he declares, is traceable direct
ly to the public's great hunger.
In the light of events which have
transpired since Mr.. Ackerman's
article was written, it is apparent
that the utter collapse Of Russia
changes the whole aspect Of the wars
big question-that of morale. 1t acts
as an insurance against a desperate
revolt in Germany and indicates that
in France and England, instead OF in
the Teutonic empires, will be the
greatest food shortage during the COM
ing twelve months and particularly
the next winter.
To return to Mr.. Clews' optimistic
essay, it is interesting to compare it
with the trade letter issued by J. $.
Bache and company of New York.
Frequently the opinions of these two
experts disagree. and the present
occasion is no exception. The Bacbe
letter opens with these paragraphs:
1t is much better to relegate all
peace talk to the rear and to go
about business with the confirmed
conviction that there can be no
peace until Germany is beaten.
That really is the prevailing
conviction of the man in the
street: but the newspapers fill
columns with discussions of peace
possibilities. Every little move
ment is given undue prominence.
1t is Germany that wants peace
because peace now would be VIC
tory for Germany. Peace now
would simply lay the foundation
for another war, however long 1t
might take for recuperation. The
German Might-is-Right idea has
not been exterminated. 1t has not
even been scotched. 1t is as DOM
inant as ever. 1t has got to be
swept off the face Of the earth. 1t
is better to lay all plans based on
that conclusion; to consider every
individual move for the future in
the light of that purpose.
If that purpose is not realized
the world will not be worth living
in. It will remain an armed
camp with enormous taxation to
keep up ornaments, crushing the
life out Of industry; with fear pre-
vailing and discomfort of soul and
body eternally growing more I'M
bearable. The world will become
what Russia is today-a hell of
turmoil and dissension-if per-
manent peace is not achieved.
Any sacrifice to secure complete
victory over Germany-the wild
beast of the worlds better than
a patched-up negotiated termi-
nation at the present time.
Let every business man stop
spending time on this peace prob
lem and devote his best energy
and hest thought, first to helping
America and her allies to win the
war. and second. to making his
business as successful as possible
with that end first in view. The
determined willpower and pur-
1s.,s.1 o.