Evening star., 1918-01-20

|
they have been overshadowed by those
elements which demand sweeping annex
ations Of territory in all directions, those
elements who would answer President
roar Of myriads Of cannon and by the
sword already made bloody by diabolical
welding upon the heads and shoulders of
innocents. The spirit which has driven
kaiser since this war started is the
same spirit of the military leaders of
Germany today.
1t is the intention of the war lords of
Germany to drive on swift and hard until
he terri
War Lords Would torial expan-
Drift Swift and Hard. ons. =, 4ns ns.inn a.na
and it's allies have been achieved through
their own terrible methods. They would
scotch the murmurings and preachments
for a peace through conciliation. They
desire only peace that can be wrung from
the enemy by military victory. They are
ready to go to any ends to suppress the
outcroppings of dissatisfaction throughout
Germany. Through threats of anti-mon-
archist propaganda they have bent the
much-vaunted promises of self-govern-
ment for German peoples are to go up in
smoke. The sword is to rule in Germany
Just as its Wielders hope to rule without.
There can be no weakening, say the mill
tarists. All loopholes for further develop
ment of democratic ideas must be closed.
Austria and Hungary must be dealt with
firmly. There can be no wavering, no
equivocation in the stand of any of Ger
manys allies. People at home must be
made to fear as these war lords would
have the whole world fear them.
The attitude of the military elements of
Germany is plainly reflected in delibera
tions with the Russians at Brest-Ltovsk.
AS long as it was possible. that the entente
powers might participate the German mill
tarists kept reasonably in the background
but as soon as it was found the entente
would have nothing of peace talk at the
present moment they suddenly pursued
pew tack, informed the Russians that all
Russian principles regarding the evacu-
alton Of Russian territory could not be
needed and that Germany would continue
to seek a separate peace but Germany
must continue the war with other of the
entente powers arrayed against her.
In other words, the militarist elements
informed Russia that they will make peace
with Russia, but it will be on German
terms. If the Russians wish to break and
refuse to continue the present negotia-
tions then the responsibility will be purely
Russian. OF course, it will not be Ger
many's fault, the militarists will argue
if more democratic principles are not ac-
cepted by Germany, thereby ending pres
ent negotiations 1t will be Russian fail
reason in order that they may further
fortify themselves in Germany.
1t is but natural that the more demo-
cratic elements of Germany, headed by
Won kuehlmann and socialist leaders,
should Immediately voice their antipathy
toward such sharp reversal in Gerfnanic
policies. particularly the most recent
announcements betray the kaiser's pro-
misses to the rechStag and to the world
through the Pope.
The clash between the two elements
is declared to be extremely bitter. Won
kuehlmann evidently is leading the
cause of the moderates of the nation
for he has drawn an unmerciful fire
from the pan-German press. which is
as has been stated frequently, guided
largely by the government itself There
those standing firmly behind Won Hin
denburg and Ludendorff. and it is be-
lleved that the reichstag majority still
is composed of those who oppose the
"by cannon and by sword methods of
the junkers.
According to some advcies which have
come from Germany via neutral capi-
tails. the kaiser
Kaiser Holds has been busily
Moru ronf.r.noas engaged dur
ten days in conferences. primarily with
his military leaders and with Chan
cellor Won Hertling, Won Kuehlmann and
members of the reichstag. These con-
ferences have been long and earnest.
Though unquestionably the militar-
lists are in power at the present juno
ture and there will be no temporizing
on the main issue. it possibly is a fact
that the German ruler and his cohorts
have been laboring on statement in
answer to the war aims Of Premier
Lloyd George and President Wilson
which shall seek to carefully camou-
fage Germanys real position. Though
the politicians of Germany are sepa-
rated on sharp lines, the masses of peo-
pie still are there to be reckoned with
and Influenced to one cause or another.
1t undoubtedly is fact that the best
means of reconciling the masses of
German people to prolongation of the
war is being sought. 1t is hardly to be /
expected that Germany ever would, at
this juncture, make serious overtures
for peace, >inasmuch as the militarists
are so firmly demanding that the strug-
gle continue. Germany must state her
position in such fashion as to hearten
the German people. possibly mislead
them again as they have been misled in !
the past An attempt with be made to ]
place the burden Of further strife |
sauare1y upon tho shoulders Of the en-
tente allies Just n such attempts have
been made in the past.
There have been reports that in the
enunciation Of these German peace