AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH.

Grey River Argus, 16 September 1918, Page 3

AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH.

GERMAN PEACE OFFERS

SCORNED.

"ON TO BATTLE!"

NO TOLERATION FOR DOUBTERS,

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.)

(Rec. September 14, 5.5 p,m.) AMSTERDAM, September 12. The Kaiser, addressing Krupps employees at Essen,' declared that he had leit no stone unturned in order to shorten the war. The enemy, be said, had jeeringlq, and contemptuously rejected the unambiguous peace oifer which he had presented in December of 1916, and he had similarly treated the repeated and responsible suggestions which had since been made. Germany had always been ready to oifer the hand of peace, but the enemy had compelled Germany to tight for her existence. The Kaiser lauded the German Army and reiterated the German claim. that the British fleet had been defeated at the Skagerrak. He eulogised the Üboats, which, he said, were like consuming worms, gnawing at the enemy's vitals. lie proceeded to argue that the war really was due to the enemy's envy ot German industry and culture. That ! envy had now been replaced by hatted j owing to enemy miscalculations. j Everyone knowing the Anglo-Saxon character, knew what it meant to fight with them — how tenacious they were. The Kaiser accused Britain of ez-im-inally attempting to overthrow the ultra -democratic Russian Government. He warned his hearers against rum-our-mongers. The enemy tried to weaken the moral of the German people by spreading false rumours. Whoever hearkened unto these vas n traitor to the Fatherland. Here the Kaiser proceeded to quote scriptural passages, showing that the Almighty would sustain his own. For example he quoted Matthew 7-33. However, if they were going to build upo n God's assistance, they must have faith, because to doubt was ingratitude to God. Moreover ,had they really any ground for doubt? Had they not won peace with Russia,- Roumania and finished with Serbia and Montenegro. Was God at the last moment , going to abandon them in the west? Only the fainthearted would think so; but Germans must weld themselves into a solid block of resistance to the enemy. "Now,'" he said, "promise me, on behalf o f the entire German Labour, that ynu intern! to fijrht. to Kold out to the last, so help us God! -Whoever intovrk to do so, let him answer ; 'yes.' " i Tlip assembly answered with a loud "yes?" The Kaiser replied: <T T thank yon. Now you must banish doubt. Our watchword "-now is: 'German sword* raised! Hearts strong! Muscles tant! On to battle against «vvM'v + hin«T tlmt stands aen inst us! So help pc G'viJ Aw"! l Farcwel !' "