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Show HUN EDITORS ENDEAVOR TO EXCULPATE WILHELM AS WARRIORS GET BACK Return of German Troops Synchronizes With Reactionary Talk in Old-time Junker Press of Berlin; Zimmermann Is Apologetic, (New Vork Times-Chicago Tribune Cable Copyright.) B ERLIN, Dec. 5, via Copenhagen. With the approach of the . front line armies to the heart of Germany, Ger-many, the old reactionary press seems to take heart again, and today we find Eugene Zimmermann, in the Lokal Anzelger, despite all the evidence evi-dence to' the contrary published within the last few days, trying to exonerate the ex-kaiser from all blame for the war. He writes: "Tho German people never wanted this war and, for the sake of fair play, we l must add that Wllhelm II never wanted want-ed It.!' After having thus put the German people peo-ple on the level with the last of the Hohenzollerns, Zimmermann attempts to unload all the blame, as far as Germany is concorned, on stupid diplomacy and that "new invention, named propaganda for certain -war measures." He recites how the Gernfan people believed be-lieved in tho speedy and decisive effect of the U-boat war, and how they were told that by its means England would be brought to her knees within five months. Says U-Boat War Met With Protests. Zimmermann, however, reminds his readers that the Lokal Anzelger has as long as possible protestod against the U-boat war, not wishing America to join Germany's enemies, and had only acquiesced acqui-esced when sea ruthlessness was a fact 'accomplished. , Zimmermann holds the navy department, depart-ment, which should have known better, and Bethmann-Hollweg and Helfferich, who from stanch antagonists of the U-boat U-boat war suddenly turned into enthusiastic enthusi-astic supporters, responsible for bringing America Into the conflict and influencing the kaiser In the wrong way at the fatal hour. The Lokal Anzelger, like many other papers and persons, he says, had to take it lor granted that the navy department de-partment knew what it was about, and that perhaps new technical methods and invention had given Germany such a means of conducting the U-boat war that it could not fail. Alas, the" paper admits, ad-mits, this method never paid. Suspicion Aroused . by Lokal Anzeiger. "The time of propaganda is over now," Zimmermann continues. "Let the light of truth in on everything that is past, but also on what Is still before ua. It is the truth .we want concerning this democratic demo-cratic movement now sweeping over our poor country." The correspondent understands that the government is Indeed considering such a plan, but the suggestion coming com-ing from a-paper like the Lokal Anzeiger must necessarily cause suspicion In view of the spirit among the front-line officers. offi-cers. Zimmermann ends by declaring: "The Lokal Anzelger remains a paper I for orderly German citizens of all classes, ; as it -always has been." The Taglicho Rundschau Is less diplomatic diplo-matic than the Lokal Anzelger. saying: Strong Language Is Used by Newspaper. "The present rulers of German have for four years done 'everything to weaken her might and power; so that finally she collapsed and her competitors grew great and strong. Those who today cry loudly for a state court of justice ought themselves to occupy the prisoners' dock. They played havoc with the interests of their own country." The Deutsches Tages Zeltung savs: hat has been heretofore has probably gone, never to return; but, after all It was a system in itself sound, full of vitality, vi-tality, capable of development to the last moment. It was the system to which the German empire owed Its prosperity and greatness." Roventlow, too, excuses the kaiser, saying that his only fault was a certain passivity in late years, but that no blame for the war rested on him. |