New-York tribune., 1918-09-17
A Broken Weapon


9ensivc was now Germanys most dan
gerous weapon But we little knew
how dangerous it was. Who could have
imagined that it would instantly touch
the heart of an institution which hitherto
has been steadfast and unfaltoring in
support Of the cause?
Austria said:
all peoples. on Whatever side
they may be fighting. long Tor d speedy
end to the bloody struggle.
The Ne0 York Times says:
All the bclligercnts desire the end Of
the war. The stricken world longs for
peace.
What of victory, 0 falling comrade?
Austria. who leagued herself with Ger
many to conquer Europe by might and
ghtfulness-Austria said:
the conviction is increasingly
spreading that the further continuance Of
the bloody struggle must transform Eu-
rope into ruins and into a state Of ex-
haustion that viii mar its development
for decades to come.
The Times responds with interest, say
ing:
When we consider the deluge
of blood that has been poured out in this
war, the incalculablc waste of treasure
the ruin it has wrought, the grief that
we must conclude that only the madness
or the soulless depravity Of some one of
the bellgerent powers could obstruct and
defeat the purpose Of the conference.
While that was being written The AS
sociated Press was sending out from
Washington the news, officially inspired,
that the governments answer to Aus
tra's proposals would be taken from the
Presidents Baltimore s?eech-from that
part in which he said "Force, force to
the utmost; force without stint or limit
Since it was written Austrias proposals
have been scornfully rejected by a spon-
taneous and overwhelming expression of
national sentiment. We are that bollig-
erent power, Times. We will obstruct
and defeat the purpose of the conference.
Do you say we are mad, or merely that
we convict ourselves Of soulless de-
pravity?
Austria said
We venture to hope that there will be
Obi ~
erents to such exchange of views
The Times goes further-very much
further than to hope. 1t says:
We cannot imagine that the invitation
will be declined
Since that was written the invitation
has been declined by the President. He
has defeated the enemys peace offensive.
We forbear to make the obvious appica-
ton of The Times s amazing characteriza-
ton beforehand of power that should
obstruct or defeat the purpose Of the con-
ference proposed by Austria.
There was never any doubt about what
the President would say to Austria
none, at least, so far as VIC know, that
had the wish to express itself-except
the doubt of The Times. Where the enemy
but ventured to hope it could not imagine
that the invitation would be declined.
Yet that was a sequel foretold People
generally took it for granted. That it
came so quickly Will astonish both Aus
tria, which too deeply misunderstands the
temper of American democracy to be able
to insult it, and The Times, which has no
excuse at all
And lest its imagination should fail it
again at a more critical time than this,
possibly in some hour of stress when the
demands Of faith make the body groan.
we urge it TO so profit by this painful ex-
perience that it can never forget again
what the war is all about.
This German thing we have resolved to
destroy is a criminal, outlawed thing and
cannot be parleyed with.
Our business with the enemy is sim
pie. 1t is to get him. dead or alive,
though we go to Berlin to do ir.
When we have taken him he shall be
brought hapacuffed before the bar of hu-
snanity and. 4entenced as he deserves