THE CENTRAL POWERS.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14877, 27 September 1918, Page 5

THE CENTRAL POWERS.

HERTMNC'S REICHSTAG SPEEG&S.

DAMAGING ADMISSIONS

ATTEMPT TO DEFEND THE

BELGIANGRIME

GERMANY AND THE PEACE

OFFENSIVE

(Reuters Telegrams.)

(Received September ?6/ 7."i0. .p.ui.) Amsterdam, Sept. 25.

Hertling, in his Reic;iiiag s.pec-i:h, referring to the deep'disco'i Mat previiliM.t in wide circles of the jx'iiv l:i*.w:i, ?aid that if this discontent aro::e from tiie military situation it far exceeded justifiable limits. The situation was grave, but there was no reason for faintheartedness, as it was not so bad as during the summer of 1916.

Reviewing the Eastern situation, he said the future appeared uncertain, but the former menace had disappeared, hence a considerable part of the Eastern army was employable on the West front. He boasted that Hindenburg and Ludendorff would be equal to the situation, and the enemy^s. premature cries of victory would soon die away. He appi-aled to the people not to leave the men at the front in the lurch now tliat .everything was at stake.

Defending the invasion of Belgium, lie said that if Germany had not acted quickly the enemy would have anticipated the move and invaded her. Germany's conscience was clear, because .she; oifered Belgium money for aOMpniise of neutrality whemßelgiumi'was first overrun. ' The offer was even.re-: pcated,after the fall of Liege, i ;

He domed that :Gennahy;was striving for world hegemony. The world war was prepared years ago by the wellknown encircling policy of King Edward.- The match was not put to the powder by Prussian militarists. While the Kat?er to the last moment was endeavouring to preserve peace the Russian militarists effected the mobilisation against the will of the weak Czar, owing to which the war became unavoidable. Germany could calmly await the judgment of posterity. It was true that an unparalleled campaign of lies had obscured the truth, with the result that a hatred of Gern\'any had arisen amongst tho enemy population "which choked all moderation and just judgment. M. Clemenceau, in his last speech, in fanatical hatred and coarseness of mind surpassed everything hitherto achieved.

Hertling, continuing, attributed the American war enthusiasm partly to huge profits from armaments, and sneered at. British recognition of the conglomerate rabble of Czecho-Slovaks as a belligerent power.

He added that the submarines were slowly butt surely fulfilling the taslc of diminishilig toiinage'j but all restricting American, reirif orcemenis of men and material. The. hour '.must come when the enemy would see reason and bo ready to make an end of the war before half the world was ruined and the flower of manhood dead -on'- the "battlefield.

Hertling reiterated his entire sympathy .with the idea of a League „of 'Nations, provided equal rights foxtail members of the league were guaranteed. He declared that the idea of restriction of armaments Was thoroughly'capable of

discussion,

BruerJnghaus, on behalf' of the Admiralty, declared that more submarines were now operating than at any period of the var.

Genernl yon Ewrisberg attributed the failure of the German blow east of Rheims to the impossibilitfy of securing a surprise. The subsequent Allied successes were largely duo to the British bringing oT,er their home armies and the intervention of American divisions. The German -withdrawals in Flanders were made in order to prevent a British enveloping attach. Headded: "The American armies ' should not teirify us. We will also settle them."

Summing up the general military situation he.said: "Despite our material losses wij are well protected."

Yon TTuitze, referring to the Austrian Peace Note, said the German Government did not think this the most suitable moment for a renewal of such an appeal, when the enemy were -suffering

With feet soaked in a mustard hath, Poor Grandpa crouched besido the hearth. And gasped'so hard'and looked so glum, Despite three tots of steamirv; "ram. That Grandma-, anxibx:s grown.for hi'in, Exclaimed* at last to TThclb Jim "This dread suspense I can't endure, I'll send for Wood's'1 Great Peppermint Cur^ "

CABLE NEWS.

[Press Association.-—Copyright.]

the intoxication of victory. The appeal had, however, been despatched, and Germany, Turkey, and Bulgaria had forthwith adhered thereto.

The German newspapers make unfavourable comment on. Hertling's speec-h. The "Lokalanzeiger" admits that Hertling was hissed, and adds that members of the Reichstag did not expect to listen to a mass of generalities.

The "Tngeblntt" says: "Hertling belongs to another generation, and does not understand our present needs."