The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-09-17
SPEEDY ANSWER
TO PEACE CHATTER
aCon+tnuad src,rn page ID
Continued from page l

iCQnI1nued cECII pdSO ~
have self-presumed victors trying 70
reach an agreement 1t couldn't De
done
.]Whatever happens We mustn't
reason"
Recently captured letters and pris-
soners' statements show the utter &c
preston of the German troops. "A
humber of letters openly talk revo-
1ution'-a word that German
yocanpIary heretofore was NOT sup
messed TO contain In contrast 10 mis-
attitude one has only 10 see the
British armies aheld and on the
roads. The armies seem 10 grow Dig
ger weekly. There are more men,
horses, guns and tanks.
Their spirit seems 10 grow lighter
and much stronger. On parade tney
seem as young and eager as the
Yanks, who cheer them on WINE
awaiting their own chance TO nelp
make victory final
RaIFour's Attitude
LONDON, Sept. 17--Without e1-
1eption London's morning newspapers
today placed their endorsement on the
unofficial reply TO Austria's peace
proposals as voiced by Foreign Secre-
1ary Balfour when he declared there
would be no peace on such founda-
4ion. Even the Daily News, which
had urged consideration OF the inYi-
sation OF "unbinding peace" discus
sion. declared BalfoUr's attitude TO De
reasonable.
"BaIfour's attitude is perfectly rea-
sonabIe." said this paper 1t doesnr
bring up the question OF whether the
reply shall be unqualified rejection or
unqualified acceptance, but what re-
ply is best calculated to extract posi-
tire gain from the situation, partlcu-
larry 10 Illustrate the enerny's obvious
Intention OF making political capital
al home out OF a hat rejection Dy ias
allies
"A com promise is impossible" de-
ciared the Times BaEour has no
DOUBT as TO the true character or AUS
trian peace"
-Baitour has exposed the true pur-
pose OF the proposal" said the Mail
-Balfour summarized the viewpoint,
not only OF the state, out also OF the
entente peoples" the Express said.
Clever 6unco Game.
IBy William Philip SimmS. United
Press STAFF Correspondent
PARIS, Sept 1t--Aany ieep think
e1s see IN Austria's peace move Gne
Of the cleyerest bunco games the cen
trail empires have yet coispire1 10
gether 10 spring on the allies. ihey
believe the whole thing amounts 10
;.ttle more than q concerted urve by
Emperors wilhelm and Charles 10
EsI- :.
blame for continuation OF the war On
the allies and leading the dispirited
Teutonic troops 10 believe they must
keep up the fight, however sick OF the
war, in order 10 defend their homes
from invasion by jealous and coTet-
GUS enemies
They hope the allies viii see the
trap before they plant their foo- in II,
as they already have done more Than
once before.
Germany and Austria are heartily
sick OF the war. Their leaders realize
that II they are 70 get past The winte'
without direct trouble, something des-
perate must be done Immediately.
General Won Ludendorh in secret
order declares the troops already are
talking of q revolution after the war
and means OF accommodating aEmunt-
ton for such use
German statesmen openly hint AZ
danger 10 the dynasty itself. The pub
lie is already murmuring oe1ause II
was deceived by promises OF world
dominion-if it would Cn:y back up the
military party for a final offensive
which, when loosed in March, resulted
ultimately in the biggest disaster yet
visited on Germany.
Evidence points toward all Germany
and Austria rising to their feet anc
crying to the kaiser:
Look what your dreams of conquest
brought TO u.s."
The interior situation in Germany
and Austria is extremely critical. Z
peace move is almost imperative. No
that 1t Will bring peace They hop:
the allies will indulge In fire brandist
talk of wipfng the central empires of
the face of the map before talktni
peace-this to be plastered nation
wide with the notice:
you see we want peace. but the al
lies scorn our offers, nothing remain
.or us but TO fight unless you want tn
allies to trample you under foot
No! Mol No!
fBy Webb Miller. United Press Stat
Correspondent
PARIS, Sept. 17.-"No. No, No!
That IS the reply OF American f1ghtin
men who have fought and been wounC
ed and know what they are fightin
sor-to the Austrian proposal 70 tai
things over.
In certain American hospitals, tall