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. BETHMANN-HOLLWEG, _Reichstag, December 12, 1916._ [Illustration] _AFTER THE FALL OF BUKHAREST_ _Chorus, "Long live the diplomacy of our enemies."_ * * * * * 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. _Times Correspondent, December 15, 1916._ [Illustration] _THE FRENCH VICTORY AT VERDUN_ _The Crown Prince leaves Pepper Hill to occupy a second line of defence prepared beforehand._ * * * * * 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. _Times Correspondent, December 17, 1916._ [Illustration] _WHILE THEY TALK PEACE_ _U-Boat Officer: "We have done for their ship. Now fire quick into their life-boats!"_ * * * * * The degree of savagery which the Germans have attained in their submarine policy of sinking merchant-ships at sight would appear to have reached its climax in the sinking of the British steam-ship _Westminster_, proceeding in ballast from Torre dell' Annunziata to Port Said. On December 14 this vessel was attacked by a German submarine, without warning, when 180 miles from the nearest land, and struck by two torpedoes in quick succession, which killed four men. She sank in four minutes. 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.