The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1918. THE MILITARY AND PEACE OFFENSIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1918. THE MILITARY AND PEACE OFFENSIVES.

There is such a close connection between the military and peace offensives that they must be considered in conjunction with one another in order to adequately estimate the value of the German move for an armistice. The forward sweep of the Allies on every sector on the West front is eloquent testimony of the shattering: of German hopes of being able to avoid that defeat which the Allies have again and again declared they are determined to inflict on Prussian militarism. It has become perfectly clear that the Central Powers recognise that they have met their masters in the war arena, and now they are utilising the foremost brains at their command to inveigle the Allies into some sort of armistice that will prevent the invasion of Germany and Austria. In a most illuminating review on the present military position Mr Keith Murray quotes Marshal Foch as saying: "I have not fought by battle yet.'' The meaning of that statement is perfectly clear. Marshal Foch's great strokes are far from finished. His gigantic strategy has evolved a series of enveloping and frontal movements, all designed to work into his plan of delivering the final knock-out blow; meanwhile the "hopes for an immense triumph grojv." The Germans are being rapidly driven out of Belgium and France, and the Allies are approaching German soil. Germany wants desperately to have the opportunity of withdrawing unmolested from the invaded territory; hence her feverish desire for an armistice, nominally to discuss terms of peace, but really to save her reputation, her country from devastation, and the skins'of'the infamous Kaiser and his associates. Germany and Austria profess their readiness to comply with President "Wilson's proposals regarding evacuation, and suggest the appointment of a mixed commission to make arrangements. The proposal, under present mili'tary conditions, is nothing less than an impudent endeavor to obtain the consent of the Allies to allow the Germans to walk Out of the invaded territory instead of being driven out by fire and sword. If Germany is sincere ni her desire for a just peace, and is prepared to undergo punishment for her foul crimes, she should be eontent to throw herself 011 the mercy of the Allies, and agree to an unconditional surrender, and that is what the Allies should insist upon, and nothing less. The evacuation of Belgium and France is a mere detail that the Allies can enforce, and are enforcing, whether the Germans are willing or not. But there are the far more important questions of reparation, restoration, compensation and the just punishment of the criminals who have outraged humanity and all international codes of right- At the time the German peace kite was flown, the ruthless Huns were burning and destroying every town and village in the line of their retreat, and they are still vigorously pursuing the same policy, as well as committing horrible atrocities on the seas. The hold that militarism lias taken on the German people is so strong and so deep that there is only cue way in which it can be eliminated—it must be smashed to fragments and its devotees fittingly punished. We are warring against war, and there is only one way in which such a straggle can lie effectively ended. It would be an unparalleled outrage on civilisation to allow the Germans to retire with the honors of war, and with the booty they have stolen from the invaded territory. There must be a complete surrender of all the German forces, as well as of the German nation. The only fear we know-in this struggle si the fear of the German peace offensive. There must be a repentant and a reformed Germany. The cry of the victims of Germaa lust and abominable cruelties mounts high in the heavens, and demands a stern and great retribution. The havoc, and ravages of the retreating Huns calls aloud lor punishment, and the blood .of those who have fallen in the war will have been shed in vain*if the guile of the German serpent prevails in the peace offensive whereby it is hoped to escape from the penalty of. the long list of crimes that has revolted all civilised nations. It is idle to talk of guarantees; Germany is a law unto herself. She. has sown the wind, and must now ' reap the whirlwind.