Read Ebook: Raemaekers' Cartoon History of the War Volume 3 The Third Twelve Months of War by Allison James Murray Editor Raemaekers Louis Illustrator

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Prisoners are pouring in. Up to the present thirty-five hundred, including about one hundred officers, have been counted. The quantity of material captured cannot yet be estimated.

Soldiers of France,

I am very happy to have been able to realise a desire which I have had at heart for a long time, and to express to you my profound admiration for your heroic exploits, for your dash as well as your tenacity, and those magnificent military virtues which are the proud heritage of the French Army.

Under the brilliant leadership of your eminent general-in-chief and his distinguished collaborators you, officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, have deserved well of your dear country, which will forever be grateful to you for your brave efforts in safeguarding and defending it.

My armies are very proud to fight by your side and to have you as comrades. May the bonds which unite us hold firm and the two countries remain thus intimately united for ever.

Soldiers,--Accept my most cordial and sincere greetings. I have no doubt that you will bring this gigantic struggle to a victorious conclusion, and, in the name of my soldiers and my country, I beg to address to you my warmest congratulations and best wishes.

Several of these Belgians who were put at work in Berlin managed to get away and come to see me. They gave me a harrowing account of how they had been seized in Belgium and made to work in Germany at making munitions to be used probably against their own friends. I said to the Chancellor, "There are Belgians employed in making shells contrary to all rules of war and the Hague conventions." He said, "I do not believe it." I said, "My automobile is at the door. I can take you in four minutes to where thirty Belgians are working on the manufacture of shells." But he did not find time to go.

Americans must understand that the Germans will stop at nothing to win this war, and that the only thing they respect is force.

The German note to Norway of October 20 is seriously written, but is in no respect an ultimatum. The Norwegian Government has returned no answer hitherto, but is in conference with prominent politicians of all parties. All is calm here, but business is somewhat depressed owing to the damage inflicted by submarines on shipping.

On October 13, Norway prohibited belligerent submarines from using her territorial waters, except for the purpose of saving life under stress of weather. A violent press campaign against Norway followed in Germany, but no indication has hitherto been given of the nature of the note presented by Germany to Norway on October 20.

The raids have taken place at Courtrai, Alost, Termonde, Bruges, Ghent, Mons, and in numerous rural and industrial communes. The men were assembled, examined like cattle, and those found strongest sent away to unknown destinations.

At Bruges, the burgomaster, an old man of eighty, who since the beginning of the occupation has given an example of noble patriotism, has been deposed for having refused to help the German military administration in its revolting task. The town was fined 100,000 marks for each day's delay in the enrolment of the victims.

The liberation of Poland is closely connected with the victory of Germany and her allies, who alone are interested in the existence of a free Poland, and for whose sake Poland must not go back to Russia. Germany's security demands that for all future times the Russian armies shall not be able to use a militarily consolidated Poland as an invasion gate to Silesia and West Prussia.

To Poland liberated from Russian rule we offer the possibility of seeking support in the Central Powers and in firm alliance with them of leading a free life in its own state, politically and economically. Especially for the near future, the Poles will have a strong claim on our assistance.

The situation which we denounce to the civilised world may be summed up as follows: Four hundred thousand workmen are reduced to unemployment through no fault of their own, and largely inconvenience the German occupation. Sons, husbands, fathers, respectful of public order, bow to their unhappy lot. With their most pressing needs provided for, they await with dignity the end of their period of trial.

Now, suddenly, parties of soldiers begin to enter by force these peaceful homes, tearing youth from parent, husband from wife, father from children. They bar with the bayonet the door through which wives and mothers wish to pass to say farewell to those departing. They herd their captives in groups of tens and twenties and push them into cars. As soon as the train is filled, the officer in charge brusquely waves the signal for departure. Thus thousands of Belgians are being reduced to slavery.

The rulers of the allied powers of Austria-Hungary and Germany have given notification of their resolution to form of the Polish territory delivered from Russian tyranny the new autonomous Kingdom of Poland. Your most ardent desire, entertained in vain for more than a century, is thus fulfilled.

The importance and danger of this war-time and regard for our armies standing before the enemy oblige us for the present to keep the administration of your new state still in our hands. Readily, however, we will give, with your aid, to the new Poland by degrees those public institutions which guarantee her consolidation, development, and safety. Of these the Polish Army is the most important.

THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS

In this combination between infantry and artillery the Royal Flying Corps played a highly important part. The admirable work of this corps has been a very satisfactory feature of the battle. Under the conditions of modern war the duties of the Air Service are many and varied. They include the regulation and control of artillery fire by indicating targets and observing and reporting the results of rounds; the taking of photographs of enemy trenches, strong points, battery positions, and of the effect of bombardments; and the observation of the movements of the enemy behind his lines.

The greatest skill and daring has been shown in the performance of all these duties, as well as in bombing expeditions. Our Air Service has also co?operated with our infantry in their assaults, signaling the position of our attacking troops and turning machine-guns upon the enemy infantry and even upon his batteries in action.

It is assumed here that the agreement on the part of the Greek Government to surrender six batteries terminates the Allied control of the Greek railways and the postal and telegraphic censorship.

In a deep moral and religious sense of duty toward his nation and, beyond it, toward humanity, the emperor now considers that the moment has come for official action toward peace. His majesty, therefore, in complete harmony and in common with our allies, decided to propose to the hostile powers to enter peace negotiations. This morning I transmitted a note to this effect to all the hostile powers through the representatives of those powers which are watching over our interests and rights in the hostile states.

The Germans announce the occupation of Bukharest. The evacuation of the city was clearly imminent, and for some time past there has been little hope that it could be saved. As a recent semi-official statement from Bukharest intimated, the forts had been disarmed and the Rumanians never intended to defend it if the field defences before it could not be held.

The French have achieved a splendid victory before Verdun.

The capture of the strongly fortified position of Poivre Ridge was decisive in its effect upon the fighting along the whole line. The ridge was turned, and when the Germans, abandoning everything in their flight, found their retreat cut off, they surrendered in hundreds.

This ruthless disregard of the rules of international law was followed by a deliberate attempt to murder the survivors. The officers and crew, while effecting their escape from the sinking ship in boats, were shelled by the submarine at a range of three thousand yards. The master and chief engineer were killed outright and their boat sunk. The second and third engineers and three of the crew were not picked up, and are presumed to have been drowned.

Great Britain, in common with all other civilised nations, regards the sinking without warning of merchant-ships with detestation.

BERLIN, DECEMBER 14, 1916

Soldiers: In agreement with the sovereigns of my allies, and with the consciousness of victory, I have made an offer of peace to the enemy. Whether it will be accepted is still uncertain. Until that moment arrives you will fight on.

Fully conscious of the gravity of this moment, but equally conscious of its requirements, the allied Governments, closely united to one another and in perfect sympathy with their peoples, refuse to consider a proposal which is empty and insincere.

Once again the Allies declare that no peace is possible so long as they have not secured reparation for violated rights and liberties, the recognition of the principle of nationality and of the free existence of small States, so long as they have not brought about a settlement calculated to end once and for all forces which have constituted a perpetual menace to the nations, and to afford the only effective guarantee for the future security of the world.

Neutral ships which navigate the barred zones will do so at their own risk. Even though provision be made that neutral ships which on February 1st are en route to ports in the barred zones will be spared during an appropriate period, it is nevertheless urgently advisable that they be directed by all means available into other routes. Neutral ships which are lying in harbors in the barred zones can with equal security still leave the barred zones if they depart before February 5 and take the shortest route to a free zone.

Sailing of regular American passenger steamers may continue undisturbed after February 1, 1917, if

The port of destination is Falmouth.

Sailing to or coming from that port course is taken via the Scilly Islands and a point fifty degrees north, twenty degrees west.

The steamers are marked in the following way, which must not be allowed to other vessels in American ports: On ship's hull and superstructure three vertical stripes one meter wide, each to be painted alternately white and red. Each mast should show a large flag checkered white and red, and the stern the American national flag. Care should be taken that, during dark, national flag and painted marks are easily recognizable from a distance, and that the boats are well lighted throughout.

Under the convention belligerents have the right to search hospital ships, and the German Government has, therefore, an obvious remedy in case of suspicion--a remedy which they have never utilised.

From the German Government's statement that hospital ships will no longer be tolerated within the limits mentioned, only one conclusion can be drawn, namely, that it is the intention of the German Government to add yet other and more unspeakable crimes against law and humanity to the long list which disgraces their record.

We regret the rupture with a nation who, by her history, seemed to be predestined to work together with us, not against us, for common ideals. But since our honest desire for peace has only encountered hostile ridicule on the part of our enemies, there is no more "going back," but only "ahead" possible for us.

It is with sentiments of the most profound satisfaction that the peoples of Great Britain and of the British Dominions across the seas have learned that their great Ally Russia now stands with the nations which base their institutions upon responsible government.

Much as we appreciate the loyal and steadfast co?peration which we have received from the late Emperor and the armies of Russia during the past two and a half years, yet I believe that the revolution whereby the Russian people have based their destinies on the sure foundation of freedom is the greatest service which they have yet made to the cause for which the Allied peoples have been fighting since August, 1914.

It reveals the fundamental truth that this war is at bottom a struggle for popular government as well as for liberty. It shows that through the war, the principle of liberty, which is the only sure safeguard of peace in the world, has already won one resounding victory. It is the sure promise that the Prussian military autocracy which began the war, and which is still the only barrier to peace, will itself before long be overthrown.

Latest police reports show that the casualties so far reported in to-day's air-raid are:--

No damage of a military or naval nature was done.

The following German official report was issued on Wednesday:--

including 120 children killed or injured.

To-day our airmen dropped bombs on the Fort of London.

On February first we intend to begin submarine warfare without restriction. In spite of this it is our intention to endeavor to keep the United States neutral. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico:

That we shall make war together and together make peace; we shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer her lost territory of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.

You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States, and suggest that the President of Mexico shall on his own initiative communicate with Japan suggesting the latter's adherence at once to this plan, and at the same time offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.

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