PEACE KITES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17423, 18 September 1918, Page 5

PEACE KITES.

NO CHANCE FOR THEIR FLIGHT MR BALFOUR'S EMPHATIC DECLARATION ' ABSOLUTE UNITY OF ALLIES PRESIDENT WILSON JUST AS FIRM ON THE WESTERN FRONT ALLIED OFFENSIVE PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY HOW RUSSIA WAS BETRAYED BOLSHEVIST LEADERS COMPLETELY EXPOSED PUBLICATION Off SECRET DOCUMENTS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright" [Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. AMERICA AND THE PEACE KITE. AN INFLEXIBLE ATTITUDE EXPECTED. NOT [V7TLLING TO BE TAKEN IN. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. NEW YORK,, September 16. (Received September 17, at 9.5 p.m.) With. the exception .of the New York Times, the American press stresses the impossibility of considering the Austrian peace offer. Official circles refrain from, expressing an opinion until the President has digested the Note from Vienna, but it is undersood that there is not the slightest doubt, that the reply will be a reiteration of President Wilson's appeal to "force, and nothing but force," as a means of imposing the Allies' will upon their enemies. It is felt that Austria is merely flying Germany's peace lute, and the United States is not willing to be taken in by insincere promises of future good behaviour. The general belief is that the American advance at St- Mihiel led to Austria's action. c-, WASHINGTON, September 16. (Received September 17, at 11 p.m.) Not having received the Anstrian Peace Note, the State Department is unwilling to indicate its possible attitude. Ex-President Taft, head of the League to Enforce Peace, has called a meeting to discuss the proffer. ° WEIGHTY UTTERANCE BY MR BALFOUR. AUSTRIA'S PROPOSALS IMPOSSIBLE. NO BASIS EVEN FOR A CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 16. (Received September 17, at 7.45 p.m.) Sir Charles Lucas, president of the Colonial Institute, entertained the overseas journalists at a luncheon. Mr A. J. Balfour, supporting the toast of the guests, said the Empire was of one spirit before the war, but had reached a new degree of unity since. Common sacrifices, made on a scale wholly unimaginable before the war, had cemented us in a closer unity than ever, and nothing that could occur oould ever dissolve it. Referring to the Austrian peace proposals, Mr Balfour said he had had no opportunity of consulting bis colleagues, and therefore what he said must be taken as an individual utterance. The calamities imposed on mankind by the continuance of hostilities were so overwhelming that he would never treat with disrespect any proposal from a responsible quarter; yet he could not honestly say the proposals now made offered the slightest hope of attainment of peace. "Austria suggests a conversation without cessation of hostilities, but under the conditions now prevailing he was utterly unable to see how conversations could be profitably initiated. Personally, he' could see nothing acceptable in the present proposals. During the past four years fch® Germans had not made anything deserving of being called a peace proposition. " Before we reach the irresponsible conversation stage," said Mr Balfour, "there are bigger questions to be determined, and on these there seems no likelhiood of agreement at present. What use, then, entering upon conversations when Germany is going to demand the return of her colonies? Here is a point upon which there can be no misunderstanding. Germany stands at one point; wo stand at another. It is impossible to conceive any conversation that would bridge a difference so deep as to restore to Germany those populations she' has misused or return naval bases which give her control of communications between parts of the British" Empire as well as between the civilised nations of the world. The Germans last week said they would not give up any part of Genman territory. How, then, are conversations going to deal with Alsace and Lorraine? Also, Germany is about to determine the terms of servitude she is to impose on her eastern neighbours. That is an exploit that no irresponsible conversations will explain away. Until- Emperor, Chancellor, and the Reichstag are prepared to show an open mind in conformity with what the Allies believe to be the cause of justice, civilisation, and right I venture to say that mere conversations are fruitless." 5 The public of the Entente countries were, Mr Balfour continued, passionately desirous of peace, but they were not so stupid as some of their critics in the Central Powers supposed. He was therefore forced to the conclusion that the enemy knew there was no chance of the proposals being adopted, but hoped they might do something to divide the Allies and weaken their co-ordinated effort to victory which, was showing itself on every front. It certainly was not an honest desire to arrive at an understanding upon the terms which it was possible for us to accept The enemy efforts would not produce divisions amongst the Allies. Never in the world's history was there coalition animated by so strong a desire for the common good as the present coalition of the Allies. We would not be the victims of a clumsy German diplomat. Even though he dressed himself in President Wilson's colours, the mailed fist always appeared. His policy would never take in the simplest of our countrymen. The -Austrian proposal would not take us a yard nearer peace. G. Daily Times) thanked Mr Balfour for his inspiring speech. Ho hoped Germany would be compelled to pay indemnities to the fullest extent. GERMAN PRESS OPINION. c Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, September 16. (Received September 17, at 7.45 p.m.) German newspapers dissociate Germany from Austria's action. Thev consider that the Note will merely strengthen the pacifists among the Central neonles They anticipate an Entente rejection of the proposals, which will furnish furtherproof that the enemy is responsible for the prolongation of the war. Renter's Telegrams. , _ , 1 AMSTERDAM, September 16. (Received September 17, at 7.45 p.m.) The North German Gazette states that the German Government is readv giadly, and without delay, to participate in the discussion suggested bv Austria Hungary. DANISH PRESS DUBIOUS. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, September 16. (Received September 17, at 7.45 p.m.) Danish newspapers do not believe that the manifesto has improved peace'prospects. FRENCH PRESS OPINION. AN OBYIOUS PEACE COMEDY. Router's Telegrams. PARIS, September 16. (Received September 17, at 7.45 p.m.) The Anstrian peace proposals are regarded as the outcomc of the Alied successes. It is the general opinion that France, Britain, and America will refuse the ofleT, but there are speculations as to whether the Allies will seize the occasion to address the peoples of the four hostile countries direct rather than thronrh their rulers. ... 'Lo Journal says the offer is a confession of weakness. L'Honme Libro (the organ of M. Clemenceau, the Premier) says : Our victorious forces are driving out the invaders. We shall not allow them"to lay down their arms. > Lo Petit Journal says : Austria is now testing the ground. If the test fails Germany will disavow connection, with it. Lo Matin gays : Such an obvious peace comedy will deceive nobody.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. ADMISSION OF ALLIED SUCCESS. „ , . ; h Admiralty, perr Wireless Press. tl LONDON, September 16 (evening). I ("Received September 17, at 9.40 p.m.) T , G f™ an : The enemy between the Ailette and the Aisno somewhat o,x-t-endeu the point at which he broke through on the previous day, and obtained a i footing on the southern part of the valley between Cotes-Lorraine and the .Moselle. \ igoious infantry engagements developed before our new positions. The enemy at evening stood approximately on a line Fresnes, St. Hilaire, Haumont, Rembercourt and Papes Forest. i] AMERICANS' INITIAL OFFENSIVE. * A SIR D. HAIG'S CONGRATULATIONS. - C Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter. * LONDON, September 16. £ (Received September 18, at 0.50 a.m.) a , in a special order, congratulated General Pershing on the victory achieved in the initial American offensive. He telegraphed : " Convey to all ranks our unbounded admiration and pleasure." NEW ZEAL ANDERS 5 FINE WORK. MR ROBINSON'S TRIBUTE. The Times. LONDON, September 16. (Received September 18, at 1.35 a.m.) Mr Robinson, reviewing the New Zealanders' fighting since the 11th August, Sa 7 S: JTr, y> i e n almost continuously in the front line, and have in a I splendidly workmanlike manner hold at times a front extraordinarily wide for their r J t&T: rh *V UCC ? SeS w0 " , vel 7 cheaply, especially those of Gouzeaucourt, c Bapaume, and Ruyaulcourfc, the total casualties for the whole advance below the number of prisoners taken. BRITISH LINE SLIGHTLY ADVANCED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Renter. LONDON, Sept-ember 16. (Received September 18, at 1.55 a-m.) ■* Sir D. Haig reports: On the southern portion of our front our patrols brought tL® We slightly advanced our line in the neighbourhood" of Ploegsteerfc, eastwards of Ypres. fa THE ST. MIHIEL THRUST. FRANCO-AMERICANS ADVANCING. GERMAN BORDER NEARLY REACHED. J Renter's Telegrams. c PARIS, September 17. 1 (Received September 18, at 1.55 a.m.) News from the Woevre front is excellent. The Americans have gone bevond ViUers Sosremy and reached Vandiers, 2£ kilometres from the frontier station east and north-east of Jaulny. lie Americans, following in the valley of Ruruptdemad, earned a series of strongly-fortified positions in the direction of Gorze Chamblav towards Fresnes. The French advanced three kilometres on a front of 18 and readied a line east of Wationville and west of HanbecourUDieppe-Or^evill e '