OCR Text |
Show WHEN THE DATTLE OF THE AISNE IS ENDED. The fighting now on along the Hlvrr AIM, in France, In our opln I Ion, will prove decisive, if the soldiers of the Kaiser arc driven back, even thoueh they be not defeated. The retreat of the Germans would end their offensive campaign, which would be equhalent to the ending or all hope of bringing the allies to terms. Then would begin a starving-out OrOCOM on the part of the allies. With Germany hemmed in. a suing for terms of peace could not long be postponed, post-poned, as the country' Is not self-sur-portlnK rind a very big part of the industries in-dustries of the German people depends de-pends on foreign commerce, which is bottled up by the British fleet. Were Germany to a9k for terms of peace, Great Britain and France would demand: First, a Belgium Indemnity. Second, a French indemnity covering cover-ing the property destroyed in northern north-ern France. Third, the ceding back of Alsace Lorraine, Fourth, the return of the billion dol Inrs paid by France to Germany at the end of the Franco-Prussian war. Fifth, disarmament and the doing away with the three-year compulsory military service. Sixth, a British indemnity. Seventh, a Russian Indemnity to be borne equally by Germany and Austria Hungary. Eighth, separate terms of peace with Austria-Hungary- The foregoing might be the minimum mini-mum To crush German militarism, the allies might seek to cut the em pin Into a north and south Germany ami even re-establish the old kingdoms king-doms under Independent rulers. But Germany would never yield to terms so drastic and the war would then turn to one of endurance. The war may result in the Germans retiring within their frontier lines, with the armies of the allies unable to advance. Then the one deciding factor may prove to be the willing ness of the allies to release German foreign commerce under a i r heavy cash Indemnity, the ships of the Kaiser Kai-ser to be, kept off the high seas until the indemnity Is paid. |