Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-20
KAISER'S LAMENTATIONS

~ Ills speech at the hTupp "OI ms
L the other day, the Kaiser
dropped all of his bombastic
predictions Of great victory and in
dulged in a chapter of lamentations
which any other people than the
Germans would interpret as a con-
fession of defeat. OF course, he in
sisted again that he was the anointcd !
of the Lord, but he didn't make the
statement with the same confidence
that has Deen his custom heretofore. |
Among other things, he told the dis
contented Krupp workers that while
he did not know when the struggle
would end there was one thing he
did know-n1mely, that it was nee
essary to fight the battle through. !
He wasn't telling them anything that
they didn't already know, but he was
indulging in a whistling game that
was vastly different from his usual
grandiose oratory. Showing that the
Kaiser realizes the internal condi-
tions somewhat, he said:
Everything now depends on bur
final eXertions. Everything is at
stake and because our enemies
know it, because they have the
greatest respect for the German
Army, because they see they can
not overcome our Army and Navy.
they are trying to overcome us by
means of internal disintegration
and to weaken US by false rumors.
Further in his remarkable speech
he almost begged the German work
ers to give no heed to the talk OF
disintegration and defeat. He boast
ed that Serbia and Montenegro were
finished, but he didn't say a word
about the rapidly-advancing Ameri-
can Army on the west. He also
pleaded that there should be no par
ties and eXacted a pledge that they
would fight with him to the end.
OF course. the Kaiser indulged in
the usual peace talk and told lis
hearers how he had endeavored TO
bring about an honorable peace, but
almost wept when he explained that
the enemy would have none of it. He
told them the truth when he de-
clared that the Allies refuse to listen
to him and the thing that pains the
Prussian gang now is the thought
that the Hun machine is TO be
smashed beyond hope of reconstruc-
ton.
There can be little doubt that the
Kaiser had heard of the determira-
ton of England, France and Amer
ica to stand out against any compro-
mise of principle in the final deter
mination of the war. Premier Lloyd
George has emphasized the opinion
of the Americans in his declaration
that we must win the war first and
that when peace comes the allied
nations must not be taken un-
awares.
Speaking at Pittsburgh, Secretary
McAdoo put into very vigorous
Anglo-Saxon the attitude of our own
people when Re said:
The thing to do is first lick hell
out of the Kaiser and then think
about peace terms" This is proba-
bly, the attitude of the average red
blooded American, and it would be
well for all of us. when We hear
whispers of reace, to remember that
we must now talk of war and wal.
20 the finish. Peace talk will come
later.
President Wilson cannot too often
repeat the real aims and purposes of
the United States in the war, espe-
cially the attitude of the people on
the final determination of the con-
flict. Germany must feel the wrath
of an outraged world, and no other
course will satisfy the men who are
doing the fighting and the millions
who. are backing them in the
struggle.