Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-27

ich Ludendorff.
offer of December u and to Wilson's
note of December Is? Could anyone
fail to realize that the weakening of
the war spirit at home must cripple
the conduct of the war?
How seriously the position was re-
garded by CHG. the decision for the
submarine campaign and the retreat
to the Siegfried line had shown dress
tlcally and clearly enough even to the
lay mind. II must have been obvious
10 the government that earnest and
thoroughly conscientious effort alone
could pun US through.
Longcd to Lay Down Burden.
The enormous responsibility | had
! to bear made me long for the conclu-
| sion of hoStilities; how, could it have
! been otherwise? ! often expressed
myself in that sense. But unless we
/ got a peace which safeguarded the eN-
! istence OF our country, the war would
be lost. / could not see how peace
was possible unless the enemy also
was ready for il. I thought it very
dangerous for us to be alone in an
nouncing a desire for peace,
| was fully aware that nations do
not get peace merely by talking about
it, or even heartily longing for it. The
/ pacifist idea of q peace by under
| standing was for many a weapon
against us. Many others sincerely be-
| lieved in it, being moved by that spirit
of exalted idealism which has not yet
| been realized in this world of strife.
| But did these idealists know whether
| the enemy thought as they did, and If
he did not, was it not clear that by
/ spreading the notion that we could
obtain such peace. at any time, they
were leading the way to irrcparable
disaster, because, since human nature
is made that way. they were inevitably
weakening our war spirit, which
should at all costs have been strength
ened?
/ They made our people yearn for
peace, without making the enemy
ready for it. In fact, they made peace
more difficult of attainment, as the
entente knew all about the state of
feeling in our country. and used 1t for
their own purposes These idealists
/ also impeded the efforts Of general
! headquarters to make the enemy more
inclined for peace by those means
which alone lead to success in war.
In spite of all their idcalism they are
responsible for the misfortune OF our
country.
Never Saw Chance for Peace.
know of no time when the attitude
of the enemy justified our hope for a
fair and just peace of understanding.
Everything that has been said or writ
ten on TINS subject IS Wlue Vi tne
mark. The government never indi-
Gated to general headquarters posi-
, Bile opening for such peace.
= No doubt we could at any moment
= have had such peace as mas now
been forced upon us. what chahcei-
: Tor, what statesman, WhaL man WIN
true German feeIhS IN ms pIoou
would nave even thouGht OF II! but
every one might nave known perfect
= ~ well thal no other peace was 10 ne
= had, and so there was nothing Tor II
but to fight for victory, once the war
had started
Towards the end count CHefhln evil
/, IDENTIFY thought as | did, although ne,
: too, would nor adlhit lhe ruin, IN
) his speech OF December II. l9lo' he
sad:
"The best we could nope Tor was to
y take advantage OF IaNoraple lnlllIary
= situation such as might sun De eX-
pected, TO propose peace Wmlch
: while involving considerable Sacrulces
= would perhaps nave mad a chahce OF
. being accepted by the enemy. but inc
;, more brilliant their successes tnC
u more eXactlng dld the German MN
tary leaders become, ana after tnell
great victories II was less possible
e than ever to persuade them TO such
: policy Of remuneration
Il believe that there actually was
. one, and only one, moment III the
e course OF this war when such an at
II tempt really seemed very hkely t'
l. succeed, and that was AFTER the ram
p Gus battle or Gorllce'
e No Peace rank IN victory DAYS.
e The battle OF Gornce was tought II
II May 1919 subsequently therefore
II according to Count C2ernlh-ther'
II was no chance OF peace at all, even a
e the cost OF considerable SACRIFICES
" And even If there had been a chance
u either in May, 1915, or later not onl,
the German military parry, out Amos
" the whole German people would nav
J. refused 1t so long as they felt proud
"a confident Of their strength
q This confidence and strength shoul
have been fostered by the statesmen
Is to keep the VIII to victory awe i
- CelefllllHdtloH u oula eIlellitS pSlil