The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-08-01
HUN PEACE OFFER
OLD CAMOUFLkGE
MiLITARISTS WILL NOT BE Al
LOWED TO BARGAIN OVER RE-
STORATION OF BELGIUM.
KUEHLMANN'S RETIREMENT
Mason Says That Two aiken Togeth-
err Show Deceit of Germans-Hin-
dcnburg's Reputation Dead Even
IL He Is Not.

New York.-Germany has begun ,
new campaign for peace with the old
gang of militarists still in control OF
the Hohenzollern empire.
Chancellor Won Hertling has beec
pushed forward to assure the western
world while German diplomacy is pill
fering all it can in Eastern Europe.
The patter of the kaiser's spokesman
has ever been made to include re-
pudiation of any intention by Ger
many to hold Belgium after the war.
Instead, however, of offering lo
give up the western loot unreserved-
ly, as an evidence OF contrition, Won
Herltnig demands that the allies must
bargain over the restoration of Bel
GUMS independence.
Bargaining necessitateS the recoS-
milton of the right of the German
militarists to participation in delibe-
rations over conditions to govern Bel
gums future. If any conditions are
allowed the militarists will not have
been defeated. Militarism's defeat
IMPLIES it's first essential the uncon-
ditional and unbeatable evacuation
of Belgian territory by the German
army. Won Hertling is trying to
evade this issue, and in the true mil
taristic spirit insoienetly intimales
that Belgium is being held as a host
.ge for the western democracies to
ransom. The kaiser cannot succeed
with that kind Of camouflage. Amer
lea is in the war to prevent it.
Won Kuehlmann's enforced retire
ment from the foreign secretarysnip
because of his public disavowal of
Germany's ability to win peace On
the battlefield shows the spirit which
is back of Won Hertling's peace drive.
The same childish attempts at deceit
still characterize German diplomacy
Reputation of Won Kuehlmann by
the militarists is accompanied by pro-
testations that the lords of Germany's
destiny have NO imperialistic amDi-
lions. With such clumsy tactics as
these revealing the truth, it is I'M
possible for the worlds democracie5
to be led into a peace trap of Ger
many's making.
Reports of the illness and death OF
Won Hindenburg recently probably
have originated in the continued in
activity of the German armies. Wheth-
er or not Won Hindenburg is dead
physically, his reputation as the con-
queror Of Western Europe is rapidly
nearing destruction. His name mas
mysteriously disappeared from coni-
ment in Germany. The shadow be-
gan to make its appearance simultau-
eously with the announcement Of Me
uninterrupted arrival of Americans in
France by the hundreds of thousands.
Every week Won Hindenburg has
delayed his fifth offensive has meant
the reinforcement of the allies by
from $4,000 to 100000 fresh Ameri-
cans. No wonder establishment is
beginning to arise concerning the ef-
fectiveness of Won Hindenburg's
strategy of slaughter. If Won Hind
enburg is not dead there are enough
Germans who are to drive the lesson
home.
The most dangerous policy the Ger.
man war lords can accept would be
another offensive gamble. Victory Is
made wholly impossible for them by
the presence in France of Americas
armies. Yet if new drive is not
Forthcoming the former ones of this
fateful year are proved vain and con-
denim Won Hindenburg as Germany's
evil genius. Perhaps, seeming Won
waning popularity, the
German leaders are inspiring reports
of his death to abserve the reaction
upon German public opinion. If tho
public shows no regret there may be
no more German offensives, whether
Won Hindenburg is dead or alive.