Late War News

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 December 1916, Page 3

Late War News

(A.-N.Z. and Reuter Service."> Received This Day, 8.55 a.m. A STRIKING SPEECH. New York, Nov. 30. Interviewed at Berlin, Count Von Bethmnn Holhvog said : Again we have declared our willingness to entet into negotiations for peace, but there has ■been no response to our attitude., which in some quarters has been represented as be>'ng dictated by weakness ; but so far surely, the events of the past year have demonstrated that we did not spealc out of weakness or fear, just as 1 events of the coming . year will demonstrate that if we adhere to our willingness to consider a. cessation of the struggle we will be obeying the simple dictates of humanity, ivot of apprehension. I say this without concern as to the ultimate issue of the struggle, however 'prolonged, but under ar solemn con- j edousness of the sanctity of the j flame of life which should not be light- i ]y extinguished by human misunderstandings which a common counsel might dissipate. ''The Chancellor, •shruggj'ng his Isluoulders continued. "Bxit of course if otu' enemies remain obdurate and choose to continue their hopeless endeavour, we only can continue to make them pay a bitter prico for their fol'y; the German soul is resolute and undatiftted; against our firm- far-reaching lines the billows of attack break in vain; the.ro is nothing to affright us in any quarter. Tomorrow we embark on an enterpriso of defence of staggering magnitude; there has never been a mobilisation of national energy on so great a scale; an Act for mobilisation of a non-mili- . tary service will be introduced' in the Reichstag 'to-morrow (Wednesday); Germany is absolutely determined to carry the war through, and thus in summoning the whole power of a united people grows more determined

to carry the struggle to any length necessaiy, as an indication of our national integrity and destiny. It has ever been and is now our diesire to resume amicable exertions for peace as soon; as we are allowed. Von Hollweg quoted extracts from speeches by President Wilson, the Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith, and his own speech in the Reichstag, and contended that they all bore evidence of a desire that eventually; a world tribunal would enforce peace. He .commented on the similarity of the sentiment of the speeches, and addied that the death of the Emperor Franz Josef was only a, means of passing the .sceptre into younger hands which had the sarno firm purpose and determination. Austria would stand shoulder to shoulder with, Germany in a common impulse to vindicate an imperial dtstiny.