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SLIGHT HOPE N<m STATE THEIR TERMS IGTON THINKS PEACE- IISETTEMENT FAR OFF i a SPRING CAMPAIGN Allied Reply State* Terms Known to n Re Unfavorable to Germany and Her Alllee—Effort to Win War in the Spring is Bipectad Before An other Chance to End War. The Entente reply to President r Wilson's peace note is regarded. . In all quarters at Washington as putting an early peace practically out of the question but still leav ing an open door for the president to make further efforts. . The official view on first consid eration is that it constitutes a com plete answer to the president’s note. German diplomats. regartL&S Jt TLY^Vgfi fcrio"ftSvere" thail ffrey The enfranchisement of popula tions subject to the bloody tyranny of the Turks is said to apply to Ara bia. part 6f which has. rJreadjr de clared its independence under Allied control, Armenia,, most of which is occupied by* Russian troops, and' Syria, the southern tip of which Brit ish troops from Suez have just reached. Deep interest also centred in the section proposing the "expul sion from Europe of the Ottoman empire." It is felt that if the Turks were driven * from Europe only a small portion of the empire would be left. The failure to mention what govern ment would take its place at Con stantinople also aroused much inter est. That city with its control of the Dardanelles was formally stated by Former Premier Trepoff to have Negro Laborers From South Unable to Stand Cold Weather. Unable to stand the hardships and cold of a Northern winter, hundreds of negroes from Florida, Georgia, Alabama and other Southern states are filling the" hospitals of Eastern cities, victims of pneumonia. Many have died of this and .other diseases and scorek ef others are eager to re turn to their former jobs in the South, which they, left in quest for higher wages and better working conditions. So serions has become the problem of looking after these unfortunates from the South that the Associated Charities in some cities have organ ized special divisions for caring for these victims of the "bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow" legend been promised by the Allies to -repeated by employment agents who eia. Whether the omission marks any change of policy or lack of agreement, or whether it was made to emphasize the attitude towards the Turk, is unexplained.. Germany and her allien, It Wan stated, never will agree to' terms similar to those In the Entente note. Unforeseen developments or steps brought about by measures by the pected. They declared it evidence that the enemies of Germany are waging a war on conquest to crush and dismember her. The Germanic allies, they declared, never would agree to any such terms. • President Wilson’s next move now w becomes the centre of attention. It will not be decided uppn until a careful and detailed study of the re plies of both the Central powers and the Entente, has been made. Several courses are open to the president-. He may inform eaclb side of-the other’s reply and in doing so may forward the docunfent^ without qr : lent, or w ilh some expression to the situation to the poinl Iher exchange. He may be- ieries of confidential negotia- |/eitner through the ambassa- in Washington or through the ambassadors at the foreign capitals. ^ Also he may base his next step not upon the hotes alone but upon an estimate of the situati< n in the bel- lixarent countries. Nothing. haa been.. ; 'ifecfdedfc.apd nothing will be decided '•without the mds^deliberate and ma ture consideration. The situation . has advanced to a stage where pro gress may demand absolute secrecy. The Entente statement of terms is regarded as presenting a legitimate •ppt rtunlty. for the president to take another step if he so chooses.^ By forwarding the replies of each set of belligerents to, the other, with or without suggestion of the views of the United States the president may act without incurring exception from any of them. _ . While the German diplomats^ an nounced the terms laid down in the Entente reply, American officials made no attempt to estimate their real feeling. Naturally they expect- I «d the Entente would state the limit of its expectations. At any rate they regard such an assessment of the war situation as a valuable stepping stone. Whether the president still hopes to get from the central powers a similar statement of terms is not known. Germany’s reply, while holding to the idea of a conference to find a starting point, wis not regarded as making other^mq^fs impossible. is possible that the United States might state the Central'powers that a? the Entente has refused a confertnce and has made a general statement of terms this government would-be glad if Germany .could see Its way to make a similar statement. This point and all others will not and cannot be decided quickly. The German note to neutrals, pub lished simultaneou&ly, with the En tente reply, came as a distinct stir- prise. It promptly was characterized the Entente diplomats as a care- . fully prepared and timed address to the world calculated to offset the Entente statement of alma and pur poses The Entente note is regarded as f kbf the most delicate and care- ) written diplomatic documents vtar has produced. Officials were loath to discuss even its broad as pects before they studied it with ut most Care. The compactness of the note, the delicate touches of lan guage and suggestion and the pains taking choice of words and phrases convince officials that it will require more careful study than ally other \ document of the war. Surprise was expressed that such a complicated, manysided document, representing so many ^aims and points of view, could show such finesse and skill in ^the drafting. Officials also were pleased with the friendly tone of the note and the consideration shown to American purposes, despite the indirect criti cism of the president for what the Entente construes as^ confusing the Allied and Germanic purposes. This change in attitude proved surprising after the early hostility which greet ed the Americaii note in the Entente press and was taken to mean a ratK- - er studied effort not to do anything to cause offense in this country. Peace at an early date is foreseen now only on terms known to be un- —acceptable to Germany, . The Allies are thought to have committed them selves by the dqfiniteness of their statements to a continuation of the war till such time as they have either attained or been convinced that they cannot attain a military victory. Their note is regarded : s so em phatic that they cannot retreat from it withont at least one more spring campaign. ! Officials will await with deepest Interest confidential reports on the reception among the people of Ger many of the Entente reply. With German troops in France, Belgium, Roumania and large parts of Russia, Entente demands are expected " -feel, can alone shorten the war. It scoured the’South for workers. NoNr the North is frozen : ,.for the winter and there is little or no work for the negroes" # The condition that prevails in Newark, N. J., is cited as typical of the condition in the North. Miss Hejen B. Pendleton; secretary of the charities in Atlanta, Ga.,shrdlueta charities of that place, has reporte prisoners of war, the judicial mur ders of Miss Cavel, of CapL Fryatt, the deportation and the reduction to slavery of civil populations, $t-cet era? The execution of such a aeries x . — of crimes perpetrated without any ALLIES TELL WILSON WHAT I regard for universal reprobation fuT- I ly explains to President Wilson the THEY ARE IN WAR FOR ^ I protest of the Allies. "They consider that the note which they sent to the United States in reply tp the German note..will be a response to the questions put by the American government, and, accord ing to the exact words of the latter, constitute ’a public declaration as to the conditions upon which the war could be terminated.* "President Wilson desires more. He desires that the belligerent pow ers openly affirm the objects which Reiterate 1 they seek by continuing the war; the Allies experience difficulty in reply ing to this request. Their objects in the war are well known; they have been formulated on many occasions by-the chiefs ef .their divers govern- INCLUDES LOST UND Belgium Makes Separate Reply But Great Powers Tell Neutrals They Must Have Countriee 'Restored, Damages Paid, and Opinion as to War*s Beginning. ’ The Entente Allies, replying to President Wilson’s peace note in a ;oin communication, express the be-1 Their objects in the war will , . ... .. . . ^ . K . . .. not.be made known in detail with lief that it is impossible at the presr alI the compensations and*, ent moment to attain a peace that indemnities for damages suffered will assure them reparation, restitu-1 until the hour of negotlatione. . was reiterated that upon no condi tion would Germany part with Al sace-Lorraine. German comment was especially bitter upon that part of the note in Which indemnities and reparation are mentioned: The Ger man view was that the Altteirhave in their note demonstrated an intention to get back the territory they have lost and keep what they have gained. Only one hopeful- passage was found in German quarters. This was the declaration of a desire above all "to insure a peace upon the princi ples of liberty and justice.’ Such a peace, it was declared, was what was wanted by Germany. The possibility that President Wil son might see fit to communicate to the Central powers the terms of the Entente Allies was considered in German quarters and it was felt that in such an event it was well within the range of possibilities that Ger many and .her allies might then say they would be willing at least to dis- *cu«s~ those' terms, imarceptablr ‘ as they are, at a confeVSlfbe, w hile th^f ; opinion prevails that should PreaK dent Wilson desire to continue the negotiations the note offers an op portunity for him to do so. At the same time, it is felt in German quar^ ters that the president is free to drop the matter for a time if he choose*. With reference to suggestions that failure to secure peace at this time would be followed by a new out break of submarine warfare, it was again declared at the German em bassy that Germany would upon no condition permit violation of pledges to the United States. This state ment ‘cbmmanded close attention in view of the note to # neutrals and thq German admiralty contention that armed merchantmen are in reality warships. This phrase in President Wilson’s note that neutrality was be coming intolerable and the later ex- pTanation by Secretary Lansing that this country might be forced against its desire into the war were recalled in this connection as indicating the fear in official minds as to the re sults of a ruthless struggle between the two great forces. The friendly spirit towards the ef forts of the Tfnited States shown by both sides is very gratifying to the administration. seventy-five negroes are dying in the hQspital. * ' *, Special quarters have been assign ed the negroes at Newarly They have been housed in Children’s Aid building in lhat city untjl such time as relief in the way of transportation back to the fields of the Southland can be procured. Assisting the work of the charities and the special com mittees are delegations from several churches and civic organizations. • According to Miss Pedletoh’s let ter more negroes came to" Newark than went to other cities of that sec tion. This, she says, is due to the work of a white man employed by a fertilizer company, pffering unheard- of amounts as wages, scoured the South, especially Georgia, in his work. Miss Pendleton based her statement"on the stoHes told her by the families which apply to her or ganization for help. GOVERNOR FACES DEATH. ^ .. ^ " • Kentucky Town Scene of Tumult— Judges Like in Danger. DEATHS OF SOLDIERS ^vAhi War Department Recount* Statistics * of the Border Troops. According to an official: report compiled at the.office of the chief surgeon of the Southern department of the United States army, only 274 deaths have occurred during the past seven months among the more than 150,000 National Guard and regular troops pn duty along the American- Mexico* border and’ in Mexico. Of these 108 were caused by violence and 166 were due to disease. Of the total deaths, 47 were caus ed by gunshot wounds. This in cludes the men killed at Carrizal in the engagement on June 21, in the San Ignatio raid on June 15, at Par- ral and in other minor clashes. All were regulars. There have been 29 accidental deaths, 19 committed sui cide, 10 died by drowning and three as a result of sunstroke. Out of the” 166 other deaths, 44 were due to pneumonia, the largest number of. any specific disease, and 34 of these occurred during the month of December. Most of these w’ere in the western portion of Texas or In Arizona where the .climate is said to. kave been .extremely severe during tlie’nast two months. Only one. death from typhoid fever has resulted during the entire seven months. - D. OF C. GOES DRY—' Senate Pasees Measure-House Pas- sage Deemed Sure. The Sheppard bill to abolish sa loons in the national capital after November 1 of this year was passed late Tuesday by the Senate, fifty-five to thirty-two. It now goes to the House, where its friends claim it is assured of passage. While the' message prohibits the sale of liquor in the District of Co lumbia, it permits uh}imited impor tation for personal* use. An amend ment which would have submitted the proposal to a referendum of citi zens of the district wks defeated just before passage by a tie vote, forty- three to forty-three.|[~ Re-establi£hment of law and order through the personal efforts of Gov. Stanley, of Kentusky/ continues at Murray, Ky., Friday after a period of excitement that at pne time threatened the death of Circuit Judge Charles Bush and Common wealth’s Attorney Denny Smith at the hands of a^mob which had be come' angered because the trial of Lube Martin, a negro charged with the murder of Guthrie Duiguid, white man, had been deferred. After a turbulent night, during which the mob threatened to dyna mite a hotel, the refuge of the judge. Gov. Stanley, accompanied by three friends.i came to Murray to plead with the crowd for the preservation of order. In an address to a throng of Judge Bush’s court room he de clared he had come to Murray to up hold the law and protect the court "with my body if necessary.” His words moved a brother of the man the qegro was charged with killing to openly endorse his appeal. Later the governor moved from group to group on the streets reprov ing thofce who, exhibited a tendency to fglout the law, and before noon he dominated the situation and shortly, thereafter left the city on a special train with the judge and’the prosecutor. . tion and such guarantees aq they consider are essential. —m In a separate note the . .Belgian eo4 expreosco^teff* peace but declares it could only ac cept a settlement which would as sure it reparation and security in the future, Both of the communications, made public by the state department Wed nesday night, are datgd January 10, and wereTransmitffain translations from the French text through Am bassador Sharp at Paris. The translation of the French text of the Entente note, as cabled by Ambassador Sharp at'F'aris, follows: "The Allied governments have re ceived, tb© note which was. deTiver- ed to them in the name of the gov ernment of the United States on the 19th of December, 1916. They have studied it with the car* imposed upon them both by the exact realiza tion which they have of the. gravity of r the hour and by_ the sincere friendship which attaches them to the-American people.* V . v , "In a general way they wish to de clare that they pay tribute to the elevation of the sentiment with WBrarwTnB-sflrairjroRr 'rawstfi w-tc™ civiu**uo». and that they associate themselves 1 with all their.hopes with the project! * ,, The intentions of^htr majesty, for the creation of a league of na-1 the emperor of Russia, regarding lions to insure peace and justice Poland have been clearly indicatec throughout the world. in the proclamation which he~had "They recognize all the advantages just-addressed to his armies. It goes for the cause of humanity and civil- without saying that If the Allies ization which the institution of_.ln- wish to liberate Europe from the ternational agreements, designed to brutal covetousness of Prussian mil- avoid violent conflicts between na- itarism, it never has been their de- tions, would prevent; agreements sign, as has been alleged, to encom- which must imply the sanctions pass the extermination of the Ger- necessary to insure^ their execution man peoples and their political dis and thus to prevent an apparent se-1 appearance. curlty from only facilitating new ag-J “That which they desire above al gressions. But a discussion of future jQgure a peace upon the prin-i arrangements destined to insure ciples of fidelity to international ob- ’ "But the civilized world knows that they imply in all necessity and 'in the first instance the rei^ ^.Auration nl Belgium, ef .hiefffaia and^ of Montenegro, and the Indemni ties which are due them; the evac uation of the invaded territories of France, of Russia and of Koi*> mania with just reparation; the reorganizaflinn of Europe guaran teed by a stable regime and found- * ed as much upon respect of na* tionaiities and full security and liberty of economic development, which all nations, great or small, possess, as upon territorial con ventions and international agree ments suitable to guarantee ter ritorial- and . maritime frontiferg against unjustified attacks; the restitution^.of provinces or terri tories wrested in the past from the Allies by force or against the will of their populations, the liberation of Italians, of Slavs, of Roumani ans and of Tcheo Slovaques from foreign dominations; the enfran chisement of populations subject to the bloody tyranny of the Turks; the expulsion from Europe of the Ottoman empire, which has ^proved.. If imU .ao TELLS OF TORNADO’S FURY r —•— Oklahoma Teacher Saw 15 of Her Pupils Battered’to Death. How the littlp rural zchoo! house at Viretou, Okla., was torn from it* foundation, whirled through:" the air and ripped to pieces by a tornado, was lescribed the other day by Mist* Vera Carter, the teacher, as she lay on a cot in a McAllister, Okla., hos pital, where she is under treatment for a broken jaw,-a broken arm and serious bruises caused by the storm. I was hearing a primary claaa when the storm broke," Miscs Carter said/ "It had been raining, but wo hadn’t thought mh£h about it Sud denly above the noise of the rain w* could hear a different sound.’ I went to the door and looked out. I saw a big black cloud that was moving aw-/ fully fast. At I watched I saw piece* of timber flying in th# air and I knew it was the Indian mission. "Away to the south the sky was a ghkstly green that colored every- falng with an unearthly glow. Up hrough tfie little valley In which the school house stood, twisted and ^turned the big black cloud. It rose and dipped as it moved. /I grew dizzy with frifeht as I saw we were directly in its path and it was drew*: tn£ hearer—rapidly imareiCI'" "I closed the 'door and* placed my^ back against it. I still had my hand on the doorknob when the storm struck. I thought it was {he end of everything—and' then we were be ing twisted through the air and bat tered against pieces of flying tim bers, with the wind roaring all about us. . It seemed as if I was being drawn into a mighty whirlpool that was sucking up all about it. Half unconscious I sensed dark objects flitting by. Some of them were my "pupils—my poor little children. "Then I found myself lying with the children on the hillside. The .dark clouds were gone. The sky was no longer green. A rain was gently falling. Through the silver clouds above me the sun broke and every thing seemed fresh and bright. There on the hillside were lying my little pupils. I could hear their moans and see their clothes all covered with blood." t THAW-TRIES- SHADE enduring peace presupposes a satis factory settlement of the actual con flict; the Allies have as profound a desire as the government of the Unit-.l ed States to. terminate as soon as possible a war for which*the Gentral empires are responsible and inflicts nuch cruel sufferings upon humanity. "Hut'they believe that It in impoe- siblo at the present moment -to at tain a peace*which will assure them reparation, restitution and such guarantees to which ’ they arc en titled by the aggression fer which the responsibility rents with the Cen- traT powers and of which the princi ple itself tended to ruin the security ligation with which the government of the United States has never ceased to be inspired. . % • . * * . . v "United in the purwu^t of this supreme object the Allies are de* . term!nod, individually and collec tively, to act with all their power and to consent to all sacrifices to bring .to a victorious dose m con flict upon which they are con vinced not only their own safety and proH|»erity depends hut also the future of civilization itself. i Or % The translation of the Belgian note, which was handed to Ambassa- of Europe; a peace which would oil do** 8l ‘ ar P with Entente reply, the other hand permit the establish-• ^°^ 0W8: ment of the future of European na tions on a solid basis. The Allied na tions are conscious that they are not fighting -for selfish- interests,- -but “The government of the kiqg, which has associated ftself with the answer handed by the president ot the French council to the American EXPLOSION ON TRAIN Hiimingham Man Blows Others^ to Fleece in His Suicide. Three men were killed and three others injured in Birmingham, Ala., early Saturday night by an explosion in the smoking department of the rear day coach of the Southern rail way’s Birmingham Special from New York. The authorities are investigating a theory that the explosion was due to nitroglycerine set off by Lewis D. Walton, a prominent Birmingham man', with suicidal intent. Walton was ‘ in the lavatory and had been there about thirty minutes when the explosion occurred. It blew the steel partition between the lavatory and smoking compartment entirely away. Just outside the door was a tab let on which was written: See my suitcase for important papers. Lewis D. Walton.” His suitcase was found in the front seat of the coach, but it ‘ontained nothing biit some letters d examination of them has so far yielded no explanation. There was pn^ctically nothing left of Walton his head, his backbone and his dboes. son was formerly a grocer in Birmingham and was charged with killing his^anifer, M. O. Barton, April 9, 191&r His trial- on the charge resulted in a mistrial several months, ago and he was still under bond. It was charged that Barton carried life insurance policies in Walton’s favor for the protection of their business. MUST PAY* THE BILL above all to safeguard the'independ- ambassador on behalf of all, is par- ence of peoples, of right and of hu- ticularly desirous of paying tribute manity. Vv to the sentiment of humanity which "The Allies are fully aware of the I prompted the president of the United loHaes and suffering which the war States to send his note to the bellig- cauges to. neutrals as well as to bel-1 erent powers and It highly esteems ligerents and they deplore them; but the friendship expressed for Belgium they do not hold themselves respon- through his kindly Intermediation, slble for them, having in no way It desires as much as Mr. Woodrow either willed or provoked this war. Wilson to see the present war ended and they strive to reduce these dam- as early as possible, ages in the measure compatible with tlie president seems to he* the inexorable exigencies of their de-.t. that the statesmen of the. two fense against the violenco and thei opposing pursue the same ob- wiles of the enemy. I jects of war. The example of Bel- "It is with satisfaction, therefore, | gfum unfortunately demonstrates that they take of the declaration that the American communication is ]n no wise associated in its origin with that of the central powers transmitted on the 18th of Decem- that this is in no wise the fact. Bel gium has never, like the Central powers, aimed at conquests. "The barbarous fashion, in which the German government has treated her by the government of the United an( j j 8 treating the Belgian na- Slatcs. They did not doubt, more- tipn does not permit the supposition over, the resolution of that Kevern-1 Germany will preoccupy herself ment to avoid even, the appearance W ith guaranteeing in the future the of a support, even moral, of the rjgMg of thq weak nations which authors responsible for the war. she has not ceased to trample under ‘ Thd Allied governments believe 8 i nce the war, let loose by her, that they must protest in the ™pst | began to desolate Europe. "On the other hand the govern- friendly but in the most specific manner against the assimilation es tablished in the American note bc- tween_ the two groups of belliger ents; this assimilation, based upon ment of the khtg-has noted with pleasure and with confidence, the as surances that the United States is impatient to co-operate in the meas- public declarations by tlie .Central urca w hich will be taken after the powers, is in direct opposition to the concluslon of peace, for protect 'and evidence, both as regards responsi- puaran ^ ee the gman nations against bility for the past and as concerns violence and opposition. Kuaranlees f° r the future; Presidenl ^..p revlouB to the"German ultlma- Wilson in mentioning it certain . | tunij ij e ig( um on jy aspired to live Neither the vote on the referen- received with great surprise, dum amendment nor that on the paa^- * sage of the bill was on party lines, for the referendum and twenty-two Democrats and twenty-one Republi cans voting against it.* Most of the Republicans of the so-called progres sive group voted against it. For the bill itself ; there were twenty-eight Democratic and twenty- seven Reoublican votes, while twen-^ Ahat connection the phrase dis claiming intention to exterminate the German peoples is thoujghjL to have been written. Much interest attached to the de mand for restitution of pro'inces wrested from the Allies in the past. While no special locality .was nam ed, Ai«*ce-T>ormlne is understood to Moore Says Support the Militia or Abolish It W. W. Moore, the adjutant gen eral, has completed his annual re port. Recommendation by the chief military officer is that an appropria tion of forty thousand dollars be pro vided for the National Guard in its present status and an additional fif teen thousand dollars for the. Third ’regiment, which must be formed to comply with the military act of June 3, 1916, whereby the Guard became federalized. "I am more impressed than ever," Gen. Moore emphasizes, "that the legislature should .recognize the necessity of proper provision being be Indited, together with anv oth er territorial readjustments which cans voted against It. made for the National Guard, or H ty-two Democrats and ten .Renubli-^ought to abolish the organization en- had no intention of associating him self with it. "If there is an, historical fact es tablished at the present date, it is the wilful aggression of; Germany and Austria-Hungary to insure their hegemony over Europe and their economic domination over the world. Germany proved by her declaration of war, by the Immediate violation of Belgium afid Luxemburg and by her manner of conducting the war her simulating contempt for all prin ciples of humanity and. all respect for small states; as the conflict de veloped the attitude of the Central powers and their allies had been a continual defiance of humanity and civilization. "Is it necessary to recall the hor rors which accompanied the invasion of Belgium and of Serbia, the atro cious regime Imposed upon the In vaded countries, the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Inoffensive Armenians, .the barbarities, perpe trated against the ptfbulatlons of Syria, the^raids of Zeppelins on open towns, the'destruction by submarines of passenger steamers and of mer- chantmeii^even under neutral flags, Ckils His Throat and Wrist—Poison Tablets in His Pocket. . Harry Kendall Thaw, under In dictment in New York together^wlth two so-called bodyguards foe an al leged attack on Frederick Gump a nineteen-year-old high setfool youth of Kansas City, in a New York V hotel last Christmas, attempted a suicide in a house at West Phila4*l- phia Thursday by slashing his throat and wrists with a razor. Thaw’s at tempt at self-destruction was a sen sational climax to a hunt ^ hich bo- . gan in Philadelphia Tuesday. Thaw gashed himself with a razor belonging to/the husband of Mra. Elizabeth Tacbl, in whose home he was known as "Mr. West." He had been there since last Tuesday. He cut his throat twice, which required thirty stitches to close, and also hacked the artery ot his left wrist. Had the wound in hi* neck'been oner — eighth of. an Inch deeper he could not have lived, physieians said. Sev eral poison* tablets were (oun 1 in Thaw’s pockdt. Jj.. —1. ' S. t. OFFICER SLAIN f' * ——■+»■.. ... Second Lieutenant Meets Death la ‘ ‘ „ - ;r ' ? - . ' '" J Santo Domingo. i*. * ? ' rv ^ '-•/ Second Lieut. J; Karl Bolton of the United States marine corps, a— native of Greenwood, met bis death at San Pedro Macoris, Santo Do mingo. Lieut. Bolton landed with a detachment of marines end was fired upon by a crowd on dock. This in formation was officially telegraphed the navy department by Capt. Chan dler of the battleship New Hamp- ; shire. Lieut. J. K. Bolton was killed and Lieut J*. R. Henley wa* wounded recently by shots fired *t a landing party of United States marines by a native boy of Macoris, Santo Do mingo. In reporting the Incident to the navy department, Capt. Chan dler of the battleship New Hamp shire did not indicate that there had been any general clash between the marines and the natives Belgian workers by the thousands. ere is a country which has the right to say that it has taken up arms to defend its existence it is as» > suredly Belgium. Compelled to fight or to submit to. shame, she passion ately desires that an end be brought to the unprecedented sufferings of her population. But she could only accept a peace which would assqre her, as well as equitable reparation, security and guarantees for the fu*^ tore. ' • "The American people, since the beginning of the war, have for the' oppressed Belgian nation their most ardent svmpathr. * ITTs an Americin committee, the Commission for Re lief in Belgium* which, in close union with the government of the king and the national committee, displays-an untiring devotion" and marvelous ac tivity Ii^ revlctuallzlng Belgium. “The government of the king is happy to avail Itself of this oppor tunity to express Its gratitude to the commission for relief as wgtl as to the generous Americans eaver to re lieve the misery of t^e Belgian oop*. ulation. Finally, nowhere more tMu In the United States have the abduc tions and deportations /of B^’vian civilians provoked such a eivuiUbe^ ous movement of protestation and indignant reproof. "These facts, entirely to the honor of the American nation, allow the government of the king to entertain the legitimate hope that at the time of the definitive settlement of this long war the voice of the Rfllente -powers vwtll find !o the TTnUM Btstes a unanimous echo to claim In favor of the Belgian nation, innoc^t vic tim of German ambition and covet ousness. tbr- rank ' and the •!«?* which its IrrenroeehabV the . c ^ - r-# upon good- terms with all her neigh bors; she practiced with scrupulous loyalty towards each one of them the duties Imposed by her neutrality. In the same manner she has boen re warded by Germany for the confi dence she placed in her, through which, from one day to the other, without any plausible reason, her neutrality was violated, and the chancellor of the empire when an nouncing to the relchstag this viola tion of right and of treaties, was obliged to recognize the iniquity of such an act And predetermine that it would be repaid. "But the Germans, after the occu pation of Belgian territory, have dis played no better observance of the rules of International law or the stip ulations of The Hague convention. They have by taxation as heavy as it is arbitrary drained the resources of the country, they have Intentionally ruined Its industries* destroyed whole cities, put to death and dm- orisoned a copsiderable number ,of Inhabitants. Even now. vhlle they are loudly proclaiming their deetre v?lor of Its eoWHevs. ,f « to a J A _ A«- _ 1 : _ a : c . ^ M .'■iMr & vM V / to nut an end to the horrors of war*- honor and Its remsrksb’e f«cH»tles' they Increase the rigors if the occu-, for work assign to it among the dv- All the Pro- tirely." th* cruel, treatment inflicted upon pation by deporting into servitude lilted nations." & ; f; i kkkfiiiw rtir *ii' Vi ~ Yl rififoV