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VOL. XCIX-ISTO. 79. GERMANyMnB WJXMIKGTOlSr, IN". C, WEDNESDAY MOBBING, DECEMBER 13, 1916 WHOLE NUMBER 39,793 HER ARE READY TO DISCUSS PEACE PROP OSAL IS MADE TO THE mum IIIIG UP OPE Notes Have Been Transmitted to the American, Spanish and Swiss Governments and to the Vatican Teutons Declare They Are Ready to Continue the War If the Entente Declines to Discuss Terms For Ending It. NO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH PEACE TERMS WOULD BE ACCEPTED ARE MADE IN THE PROPOSITION Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg, However, Declares That the Terms the Central Powers Will Bring Forward Will Be Appropriate For the Establishment of Lasting"!Peace Reads Note and Delivers Speech in the Reichstag. The Teutonic allies declare themselves ready to discuss peace. Also they are ready to continue the war if the Entente Allies do not find the time propitious f or such a discussion. The readiness of the Central Powers has been made known in iden tical notes to the United States, Spain and Switzerland, who are tsked to make known the contents of the notes to the nations at war with the Teutonic allies. Notes also have been transmitted to the Vatican and the active interest "Of the Pope solicited in the peace offer. " . While ho conditions for peace were mentioned in the notes, it was asserted that the propositions to be made by Germany, Austria-Hun- pary, Turkey and Bulgaria would have for their object a guarantee of the existence of the honor and the liberty of evolution for these nations, and would prove "an appropriate basis for the establish ment of a lasting peace. ' ' Hollweg Says Terms For Establishing Lasting Peace Berlin, Dec. 12, (via Sayville) Ger many and her allies today proposed to enter forthwith into peace negotia" tions. The propositions which they will bring forward are, , according to Chancellor von Bethrrtann-Hollweg, ap propriate for the establishment of a lasting, peace. The Austrian. Turkish and Bulgarian governments are making similar pro posals. These proposals have been transmitted also to the Vatican. The following announcement was given out today by the semi-official Overseas News Agency. , "The chancellor this morning receiv ed one after another the representa tives of the United States of America, Spain and Switzerland, that is, of the states protecting German interests in hostile foreign countries. The chancel lor transmitted to tnem a note and asked them to bring it to the knowl edge of the hostile governments. The note later was read in the Reichstag by the chancellor." After reading the note, the chancel lor (.-aid: "Gentlemen, in August, 1914, our ene mies challenged the superiority of power in the world war. Today we raise the question o peace, which is a Question of humanity. We await tlie answer of our enemies with that se reneness of mind which is guaranteed to ns by our exterior and interior strength and by our clear, conscience. If our enemies decline to end the war, If they y.-ish to take noon themselves the world's heavy burden of all these terrors which hereafter will follow, then even in the least and smallest homes every German heart will burn In sacred wrath against our enemies, 'ho are unwilling to stop human slaughter in order that their plans of conquest and annihilation may con tinue. . "In a fateful hour, we took a fate ful oeeision. It has been saturated v"'fh tho blood of hundreds of thous nr)s of our sons and brothers who gave their lives for the safety of their home. Huntiin wits and human understanding f'e unable to reach to the extreme and last questions in this struggle of na tions, which has unveiled all the ter rors of earthly life, but also the gran- Oeur of human nnnro cro. and numan will in 1 O M. . " ways never seen before. God will the judge Our w.iT We can proceed upon The chancellor's speech was listened -hy thronged galleries. The ' royal vx was crowded. All the ambassa dors and ministers of foreign govern ments were in the diplomatic box. 1FFICIAL STATEMENT OP t AUSTRIA AS TO PEACE OFFER London, Dec. 12. An unofficial Aus r'" statement, referring to the peace off. says: -. . , . - "When in the summer of 1914 the pa uence bf Austria-Hungary was ex naustert by a series of. systematically COn,inutd and ever-inpreasing provo cations and menaces anil thei monarcnjr ED1ATELY NEGOTIATIONS Appropriate after almost 50 years or unbroken peape, found itself compelled to draw the sword, this decision was animated neither by aggressive purposes nor by designs of conquest, but solely by the bitter necessity of .self defense, to de fend its existence and safeguard itself for the future against similar treach erous plots of hostile neighbors. "That was the task and aim of the monarchy in the present war. In com bination with its allies, well tried in loyal comradeship in arms, the Austro Hungarian army and fleet, fighting, bleeding, but also assailing and con quering, gained such successes that they frustrated the intentions' of the enemy. The quadruple alliance not only has won an immense series of victories, but also holds in its power extensive hostile territories. Unbroken is its strength, as our latest treacherous ene my has just experienced. "Can our enemies hope to conquer or shatter this alliance of powers? They will never succeed in breaking It by blockade and starvation measures. Their war aims, to the attainment of which they have come no nearer in the third year of the war, will in the fu ture be proved to have been completely unattainable. Useless and unavailing, therefore, is the prosecution of the fighting on the part of the enemy. "The powers of the quadruple alliance on the other hand, have effectively nursuftd their aims, namely, defense aeainst attacks on their existence and integrity which were planned in con- i cert long since and the achievement of real guarantees' and they will never al low themselves to be deprived of the basis of their existence which they have secured, by advantages won. "The continuation of the murderous war, In which the enemy can destroy much but cannot as the quad ruple alliance is ' firmly confident al ter fate, is ever more seen to be an aimless destruction of human lives and property, an act of inhumanity justi fied by no necessity and a crime against civilization. , "This conviction and the hope that similar views may also be begun to be entertained in the enemy camp, has caused the Idea to ripen in the Vienna cablnet-Mn full agreement -with the governments of the allied (Teutonic) powers of making a candid and loyal endeavor, to come to a discussion with their enemies for the purpose of paving a way for peace." 1 -- FULL .TEXT OF THE NOTE PRESENTED TO THE VATICAN. Bernn, Dec. 12, (via Sayville) The note presented by Dr. von Muhlberg, German minister to the Vatican, to Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary of stated follows: ' v "According to Instructions received, I havd the honor to send to your emi nence a copy of the declaration which the Imperial government, by the good offices of the powers entrusted with the protection of German Interests in the countries with which the German Empire is Jn a state , of war, transmits to these , states, and in which the im COontlnued on Page Ten. ii Full Text of Central Powers' Note to Hostile Governments Berlin, Dec. 12, (via Sayville). Following Is the text of the note address- ed by Germany and her allies to the hostile governments: "The most terrific war ever experienced in history has been raging for the last two years and a half over a large part of the world a catastrophe which thousands of years of common c ivilization was unable to prevent, and which injures the most precious achievements of humanity. "Our aims are not to shatter nor annihilate our adversies. In spite of our consciousness of our military and e conomic strength and our readiness to continue the war (which has been forced upon us) until the bitter end, if necessary; at the same time prompted by the desire to avoid further bloodshed, and mak& an end to the atrocities of w ar, the four allied powers propose to enter forthwith into peace negotiations.' The propositions which they bring forward for such negotiations and wh ich have for their obJ,ect a guarantee of the existence, of the honor and liberty of evolution of their nations are, Recording to their firm belief, an appropriate basis for the establishment of a lasting peace. "The four allied powers have been obliged to take up arms to defend justice and the liberty of national evo lution. The glorious deeds of our arm ies have in no way altered their purpo se. We always maintained the firm be lief that our own rights and justified claims in no way control the rights of these nations. "The spiritual and material progress which were the pride of Europe at the beginning of the Twentieth Century are threatened with ruin. Germany and' her allies, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, gave proof of their unconquerable strength in this struggle. They gained gigantic advantages over adversaries superior in number and. war material. Our lines stand un shaken against ever repeated attempts made by armies. "The last attack in the Balkans has been rapidly andV-vlctoriously over come. The most recent events have demonstrated that further continuance of 'the war will not result in breaking the resistance of our forces and the whole situation with regard to our troops justifies our expectation, of further successes. "If, in spite of this offer of peace and reconciliation, the struggle should go on, the four allied powers are resolved to continue to a victorious end, but they disclaim responsibility for th is before humanity and history. The imperial government, through theoo d offices of your excellency, ask the government of (here is inserted the name of the neutral power address in each instance), to bring this communication to the knowledge of the goyern ments of (here are inserted the names of the belligerents.)" PEACE PROPOSAL REGARDED AS PAVING WA Y FOR OFFER OF MEDIATION BY NEUTRALS When United States Transmits the German Note to Entente Govern ments It May Urge That the Proposal Be Given Consideration. President Deeply Interested But Reserves Comment Sub stance of Terms Germany May Ask. Washington, Dec. 12. Germany's proposal for peace is regarded here as having broken the ' chains which for months have restrained the United, States . as well as other neutrals from making offers of mediation. Now that one set of belligerents has signified Its . willingness . to discuss peace terms a condition often reiter ated as necessary to any action by President Wilson there are indications that when the United States, acting as the intermediary, transmits the Ger man proposal, it may accompany its ac tion by some steps necessarily delicate to throw the influence of the United States into the balance for at. least a consideration, however preliminary, of the term's on which a lasting peace might be brought to the world. Some ranking" officials of the American gov ernment believe a league of nations, such as President Wilson has suggest ed, must be the . outcome and it could not be perfected without the participa tion of the United States. Whether the United States will trans mit the German proposal without any comment whatever or accompany it with some formal or informal expres sion, .will .not ,he finally -decided until the note delivered to American 'Charge Grew, in Berlin, reached President Wil son's hands, probably tomorrow. May Urge Consideration. There were indications tonight that President Wilson might find some way to express the solemn and earnest wish of the United States for a careful con sideration of the -suggestion of peace, even before the Entente governments have made known their altitude toward the German proposal. This, it was pointed out, necessarily would be done in such a delicate and ultra-confiden tial way that it never would be pub licly known should the Allies decline the offer. This course was said to be absolutely necessary so as to leave the United States free ana unembarrassed to act when an acceptable peace offer comes. Regardless of whether President Wil son decides to accompany the German proposal with any word, it was .said tonight he .unquestionably would take steps to learn the attitude of the En tente Ailies toward the peace move, and possibly might again send to Europe his personal friend and adviser, Col. E. M. House. President Reserves Comment. None of the official dispatches had arrived tonight. The government's first information was conveyed in the Asso ciated Press dispatches from Berlin. President Wilson was said to be deeply interested but reserving comment. Secretary Lansing maintained a simi lar attitude. The cabinet discussed the development at its regular Tuesday meeting, but the situation was describ ed by members as so obviously delicate that no announcement could be made. Theabsence of any specific terms for peace In the note or In the German chancellor's speech, was in a measure a 'disappointment, to those who expected some concrete expression of a basis on which negotiations might begin. The German embassy, however, is In pos session of advices which outline in a general way what .Germany expects, and the diplomats of . the Entente pow ers, through their means of being sup plied w.ith Fnformation, believe they have a general idea of what terms the Central Powers are willing to advance as the basis for discussion. Recent dis patches to the German embassy indi cate a belief that the general terms might be in substance as follows: Probable Term ol Germany. A restoration of the status quo ex isting before the war. This includes the evacuation of Belgium and the res toration of the occupied portions of northern France, with the exception of Alsace and Lorraine. No authorized expression was obtainable from the em bassy as to whether conditions would be attached to the restoration of Bel gium and French territory, but it was understood that the German idea was to make provision for the future neu trality of Belgium and probably pro pose def ortlflcatlon, particularly of the city of Antwerp. It was also under stood that no conditions amounting to economic control of the mineral lands of northern France would be likely to be asked. All Germany's lost colonies, she expects to be returned. Her pos sessions, in the Pacific, however, are not a subject of great concern and the Berlin government is understood .to be ready to relinqiush the claim on Kiau Chau. The security of Turkey in possession of Constantinople prooably would be Insisted upon by the Central Powers as well as the restoration of Albania. The establishment of independent kingdoms, of Lithuania and Poland would be one of the factors in the Ger man proposal, although that part of Poland pqssessd by Germany at the outbreak of the war would not be in cluded. ' What adjustment would be made to cover the Trentino region between Austria and Italy, or any provisions affecting Egypt, the Suez canal, the Mesopotamia or the gateways of con trol to the Indian empire, are not made clear In German quarters here. The Balkan situation is considered so deli cate it would have to be untangled In the peace conference. Beriatortr Talks. The whole German view of the peace move Is that It is a step toward a dis cussion of peace, which if it amounts to anything, ought to show some definite, progress early in January. There in said to be no possibility of a peace con ference beginning in the United States. Berne and The Hague are mentioned as most likely places and it . is not doubt ed that Count yon Bernstorff, the Ger man ambassador here, would go as one of his country representatives. His attitude was expressed tonight in the following statement. - ."I am, of course, extremely gratified at the step that, has been taken. I hope that it will be successful. Even if it does not lead to peace, it offers proof that Germany wants peace, even after a victorious campaign, and does not desire the responsibility for further suffering of mankind. Joss. .of life and property. Germany .wants peace and (Continued on rage.xen. SECURITY OF THE S IS IRE E THAN E Hollweg Says the Peace Proposal Is Made Because of Responsi bility to Humanity. SPEAKS IN THE REICHSTAG Says That With God's Help Cen tral Powers' Troops Have Made Defeat Impossible. Berlin, via Sayville, Dec. 12. Chan cellor Von Bethman-Hollweg's speech to the reichstag is reported by the Overseas News, Agency as follows: "Chancellor Von Bethman-Hollweg today announced to the Reichstag that Germany, together with her allies, 'con science of their responsibility before God, before their own nations, before humanity,' had proposed this morning to the hostile powers to enter into peace negotiations. "The chancellor first outlined the ex traordinary political situation and then insisting upon the achievements of the Central Powers made an announcement which possibly may be the turning point in the war. The chancellor said: " 'The reichstag has not been ad journed for a long period but fortun ately it was left to the discretion of the president as to the day of the next meeting. This decision was caused by the hope that soon happy events in the field would be recorded, a hope fulfilled quicker, almost, than expected. I shall be brief, for actions speak for them selves.' . ..XutRftafc-ot Allied.-OfCeaslve. "The chancellor said Rumania had entered the war in order to roll up the. German positions in the east and those of Germany's allies. At the same time the grand offensive on the Somme had as it object to pierce, the German west ern front and the renewed Italian at tacks were intended to paralyze Austria-Hungary. " 'The situation was serious,' the chancellor continued. 'But with God's help our troops shaped conditions so as to give us security which not only is complete but still more so than ever before. The western front stands. Not only does it stand but in spite of the Rumanian campaign it is fitted out with larger, reserves of men and ma terial than it had been formerly. The most effective precautions have been taken against all Italian diversions. And . while on the Somme and on the Carso the drum, fire resounded while the Russians launched troops against the eastern frontier of Transylvania, Field Marshal Von Hindenburg captur ed the whole of western Wallachia and the hostile capital of Bucharest, lead ing with unparalleled genius the troops that in competition with all the allies made possible what hitherto was con sidered impossible. , "And Hindenburg does not rest. Mili tary operations progress. By strokes of the sword at the same time firm foundations for our economic needs have been laid. Great stocks of grain, victuals, oil and other goods fell into our hands in Rumania. Their transport-has. begun. In spite of scarcity, we could have lived on our own sup C Continued on lage Ten.) WILL TRY TO FORCE THE AMERICANS OUT? Copy of Manifesto By Gonzales Brought to the Border. Governor of Chihuahua Says be Will Join Carranxa in Bringing: About the Retirement f Persh ing's Forces. El Paso, Tex., Dec. 12. General Ar nulfo Gonzales, provisional governor of Chihuahua, declared in his first proc lamation to the people after the re occupation of Chihuahua City by Car ranza troops that he would soon be ready to join the first chief in forcing the retirement of the American puni tive expedition. An original copy of the printed man ifesto, which is dated December 6, was brought here today from Chihuahua by a refugee. General Gonzales began his procla mation by saying that the people have the right to know the line of action i their governors intend to pursue while in office. "The state of .Chihuahua," he contin ued, "must lament the disgrace of see ing its sacred soil desecrated by the proud Saxon troops, a misfortune that the bandit Villa caused with his deeds at Columbus. As these deeds not only injure the sovereignty of the state, but also of the country, It is to the central government that belongs the solution CContinued on Page Two.) TEUTON VER TWO MORE RUMANIAN TOWNS ARE CAPTURED BY CENTRAL POWERS IS FOR FORT STOREY Site for Great Land Defense on' Virginia Coast Dedicated by Commercial Congress. PRAYERS FOR PEACE MOVE Secretary Wilson Speaks Proposal for Distribution of Negro Population is Tabled Cotton is Discussed. Norfolk, Va., Dec. 12. The breaking of ground for Fort Storey at Cape Hen ry, prayers for the success of peace of fers made by Germany and her allies, the tabling of a resolution favoring the distribution of tlie South's negro population among the other states and an address by Secretary of Labor W. B. Wilson, were features of today's ac tivities of the Southern Commercial Congress here. Simple ceremonies marked the dedi cation ' of the site for the gret land defense the government proposes to erect for the protection of Hampton Roads, Baltimore and Washington. Gov ernor Stuart, of Virginia, turned the spade of earth. Earlier in the day the National As sociation of Commissioners of Agricul ture had met and discussed cotton, crop diversification, conservation of the South's ; resources' and a better system of. marketing. Some speculators hailed the Federal Farm Loan act as a means of increasing the South's agricultural yield by enabling tenant farmers to become land owners. A movement to have the congress go on record' as favoring the location of the proposed government nitrate plant at Mussel Shoals, Alabama, was launch ed at the first meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary of the congress this after noon. Mrs.G. H. Mathes, of Alabama, urged the adoption of a resolution of a resolution which the Alabama delegation was to otter. The resolutions committee announc ed that the negro distribution resolu tion, offered bjy Judge Francis D. Win ston, of Windsor, N. , C, had been laid on the table. The committee to night had not completed consideration of other matters before it, but it was expected to report tomorrow. Cotton's relation to international re construction was the subject of an ad dress today by Col. Harvie Jordan, president or the Southern Cotton Grow ers' Association. Speakers tonight be sides Secretary Wilson included Presi dent L. E. Johnson, of the Norfolk & Western railroad; P. V. Stephens, of. New York, and H. H. Rumble, of Nor folk. Secretary Wilson told the congress he, did not believe immigration from Europe after the war would be as great as it had been before because history showed that it was a people's tendency to stay where they had suffered. He said he was in favor of a more equit (Contlnued on Page Two.) PAPER MANUFACTURERS TO MEET PUBLISHERS Propose to Arrange For Equitable Distribution of Paper. Three Tar Heel Publishers Appear Be fore Federal Trade Commission. Hearing Came to a Close Yesterday. ( Washington, Dec. 12. At the conclu sion of the Federal Trade Commission's hearing on print taper prices today the manufacturers xroposed to meet a committee of the National Editorial Association and the American Newspa per Publishers Association to work out, for the commission's approval, a plan for an equitable distribution of the stocks of print paper. Chairman Hurley, of the commission, asked the publishers, manufacturers and jobbers to hold separate meetings Friday to frame their plans and ap point committees to meet with tlie com mission Saturday. The manufacturers' proposal came as an unexpected development when the Trade Commission, after finishing with publishers as witnesses, called on the manufacturers to present their case. Newspaper owners had told of wide differences in paper priees in various parts of the country and of the inabil ity of many small publishers to obtain 'paper at any prices. Counsel for the Newsprint Manufac turers' Association declared It had (Continued on Page Two.) GROUND BROKEN Berlin Announces That 10,000 Ad ditional Rumanians Have Been . Taken Prisoner. RUSSIANS LOSE 30,000 MEN Violent Attacks in Carpathians and Along the Moldavian Frontier Without Gains. SERBS MEET WITH SUCCESS. General Mobilization in Greece Has Been Ordered. Rumania and the Cerna river re gion, in Serbia continue the sectors where most of the fighting is, tak ing place. In Wallachia snow has checked only slightly the advance of the Central Powers against the Rumanians and Russians. The town of Mizil, on the railway be tween Ploeehti and Buzeu, has beerf captured as also has the vil lage of Urziceni, twenty miles to the southeast. Berlin announces that more than 10,000 additional Rumanians have been captured. ..Russian Lose Heavily. In the Carpathians and along the "Moldavian frontier the Russians are continuing their violent attacks, but, according to Berlin, without success.' It is asserted by Berlin that the Rus sians in the Carpathians have lost 30, 000 men. Along the Cerna river the Entente Allies have again attacked viciously but again have been repulsed with heavy casualties, according to Teutonic ailies advices. Five Bulgarian posts south of the Lymnitza river have been captured by Entente troops. Snow has put an end to infantry activity north of Monastir. On the front in France and Belgium there is a continuation of artillery ac tivity and small operations by patrol parties. Mobilization in Greeee An official dispatch from Switzerland says the King of Greece has ordered a general mobilization. An official com munication from Paris announces that the French Admiral Du Fournet, com mander of the Entente naval forces in the Mediterranean, has been replaced by Admiral Gauchet. Berlin reports the destruction by a submarine in the eastern Mediterran ean of two big transport steamers load-' ed with war material. The British press bureau, however, denies that the vessels were transports. TEUTONIC DRIVE IS ONLY SLIGHTLY CHECKED BY SNOW Berlin, Dec. 11 (via London, Dec. 12.) The Austro-German pursuit of the Rumanians has been only slightly checked by the snow, rain and general ly bad weather of the past 24 hours. The Teutonic armies are already far to the eastward of Bucharest, but their exact positions are being carefully concealed so that the scattered bands of Rumanians in the mountains north and northwest may not learn of their locations and thereby avoid apparently inevitable capture. The advance has been so great that the Russo-Rumanian line runs almost due north and south and even local successes by the Russians to the north ward would be able only to accomplish a slightly bending in or the line, while the Russian left flank of the Seret line appears to be endangered. In German quarters not the slightest anxiety is expressed at the activity, of General Sarrail, In Macedonia, which is accounted purely political, as other wise his efforts would not be made in the Monastir region but to the east ward, where the distance to Rumania is not quite so great. The total losses of the Rumanians in all sections since the beginning of the war to -date are estimated at 150,000 prisoners, 250,000 men killed or wound ed and 600 cannon, or the equipment of four to five army corps. The strength of the remaining Rumanian artillery, in ronsftfiuenee is reckoned a noarlv n 11 and the strenerth of the arm v at avati t rfff less than that of the Serbian forces which reached Greece after the retreat last year. . .'j'Tv. advance -were able to overtake and set" rftj jif iree ouu civuiana wno naa Deen intern- .---ed in Bucharest and were being trans ported eastward. Likewise they are v;V daily finding more concealed stores 'of - :-. grain'and other supplies, the total' of ; which is now described as enormous. ' It is reported that the destruction of -- Rumanian petroleum supplies was con-' ' jL siderably less serious than at first be-v lieved, as the Roumanian flight was too.1';, precipitate for them to do' more than" ' V..''-' partly set the supplies on fire. They v J are said to have lacked sufficient ex- 'S it plosives, while the work of the Austro-f German troops in extinguishing' uCH.f'.; fires as had been sent proved unexpect ' ilTK edly effective. ' . . .1. .';;; . n. 3i
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