South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-16
AGO HUN
THREATENED To
RULE WORLD
Past Twelve Months Have
Brought Mighty Contrast
Since World Shuddered
Before Germans.
BY FRED 5. FERGUSON.

BY United Press:
PARIS. March 15.-One year ago
today the world covered in antici-
patton Of the launching of Ger
many's master offensive of the war
On March p. the blow was struck
Today the final work of the peace
settlement was well under way. the
terms Of which will bring Germany
militarily to her knees.
No greater picture Of the triumph
Of right over might could be pre-
scented than the contrast of the presi-
dent of the worlds greatest demo-
cracy riding through the streets of
Paris today on his way TO the peace
deliberations. and these same streets
year ago
\ Striking Contrast.
A brilliant moon will bathe the
boulevards and the beautiful
Champs Elysee with silver light
tonight. A year ago the same bril-
lance would have meant terror and
destruction as the German airplanes
were abroad. Sirens shrieked. the
streets became deserted and the
city seemed scarcely TO breathe. To-
night laughing crowds will throng
the streets. Hundreds of children
played i'm the CHAMPS Elysee this
afternoon beneath the wheels of
long lines of German guns, which q
year ago were hurting death in sup
port Of autOcracy's last assault.
In Germany revolt and hunger
have taken the place of junkerdOm.
Allied delegates at Brussels have
presented final conditions 10 Ger
many. by which she is forced to
turn over her magnificent merchant
fleet as payment for food from the
larders Of her enemies. Completing
the picture, part of these ships will
be used to carry home those thou
sands of American fighters which
the general staff assured the Ger
man people would never reach these
shores
America Now Arbitcr.
A year ago America in France
meant a scant four mile line in the
midst of the mud northwest of
Toul' which was held by the first di
vision. What America in France
now means is written in terms of
Chateau Thierry. the Vesle. Cantigny.
St MihieI and the Argonne. But
even more significant is the fact
that now all the Europeans turn to
America as the arbiter.
In the final. delicate negotiations
10 come she stands out as the only
disinterested party. Delegates come
TO the American representatives TO
present arguments and claims, ex-
pecting to get from them an I'M
biased opinion.
As the committees are winding up
their work of final recommendations,
the word from every delegation was,
I'VE are now waiting for Pres't VIII
son"
Await Wilson's Word.
Numerous questions are awaiting
his final word For instance. the mat
ter of disposition of the German
fleet will be presented TO him for his
opinion With France and Italy de-
string a portion of those vessels, il
is aDparent that a disagreement al
so has developed between naval and
civilian representatives on other del
erations. The naval men, in what
might be regarded as a curious man
ner. from the standpoint OF pre-
cedent. favor sinking the ships. One
OF their arguments is that such a
course will be i'm alignment with
the disarmament move The civilians
oppose sinking the ships on the
grounds Of economic loss.
Excepting such side issues the
stage has been set for speeding the
work of bringing about peace. If all
moves on schedule. the treaty may
be ready and the Germans sum-
moned by the anniversary of the
very day when they began their
last desperate attempt to conquer
the world.