New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-25
Council Gives Him
Complete Command
in Everything
COUNTRY STRIPS
FOR FINAL DRIVE
Believes Germany in Dis
tress and That Victory
Is Near
BY FRED B. PITNEf
by Cabs 10 m. rriSun, J

Paris, Dec. 24.-General Lyautey
has become war dictator Of France,
and with a growing conviction that
the various peace moves can have no
other reason than German necessity
France is stripping herself for the
final drive which she feels sure viii
bring victory.
The passing of the supreme power
into Lyautey's hands was simple and
not attended with any Of The agita-
ton which marked the recent minis
terial crisis. At a meeting Of ths
new war council last night Lyautey.
who had been called from Morocco IN
become Minister OF War, attended
for the fist time. The council de-
cided "that all questions concerning
the preparation and carrying on OF
the war will be under the direction
of the War Minister, and that he
will notify the interested ministers
and the generals in chief Of the de-
cisions taken and assure the CO..
ordination necessary TO their exccu-
ton"
This action is expected TO end tho
agitation which has been disturbing
France for months.
Dictator Has Been Demanded
The demand has been for a dies
tator, a man who could insure the
focusing Of the whole power of tho
nation on the battle front, and it is
believed that in this action and in
the choice Of Lyautey, who is re-
garded as the ablest administrator
in France, the demand will be sat-
isfed.
Evidence Of this came last night, also,
in the unanimous vote Of the Senate Of
confidence In the BRAND Ministry. Tho
Senate also voted unanimously that
France could not discuss peace with an
enemy so long as it had a soldier on
French territory.
France for long time refused n
take much stock in the stories Of Ger
man internal troubles, economic diff
culties, starvation and that kind OF
thing. The information here. which
was very carefully gathered, did NOS
lead Us to believe them.
But now it is different There is M
doubt to-day that Germany i. in seri<
Gus difficulties. OF course, IL is not
probable that anything can come di-
rectly from the present peace moves.
but they show. unquestionably how
things are going. No one here fails To
draw the inference that the time FOE
Germany 70 break is rapidly spproach-
ing. No one believes that so many
moves-German, American and Swiss
would have been made simultaneously
unless inspired by Germany.
Evidence In Austria
There Is moro direct evidence. Ir
the first place. there is the direct states
ment Of the Papsl Nuncio in ViennS
that the Austrian Emperor asked tho
Pope to intercede for peace. Then
there arc the disorganization and res
cent rapid changes in the Austriaa
Cabinet, all pointing directly to diyi-
sions in Austria Hungary on the guess
tion Of Germanophiie policy.
These divisions and the request to
the Pope unmistakably indicate difYer>
ences between the Central Empires.
Beyond that are the German, Ameri>
can and Swiss notes. The conclusion
is not to be avoided that there are Sc.
rious internal difficulties in Germany
as we'll as between the members Of the
Alliance. Every one knows that Presi-
dent Wilson has most trustworthy in
formation from all the capitals. A
year ago he sent Colonel House around
Europe. The colonel made most care
ful Investigations, particularly cxamin-
ing conditions in Germany.
Wilson put forward no peace pro-
posals at that time. But now, Just af-
bassador Gerard, he does make his
move. It Is hard to believe that this
is merely a "feeler.r Wilson must have
had some information or he would
never have sent the note.
Observations from Switzerland
Finally, as TO German conditions.
Switzerland is one OF the best places
from which 10 observe Germany, and
reports from Switzerland all say one
thing:
Germany is in deep trouble. Ger
many is surely breaking. She needs
peace now and needs It in hurry"
The German peace note is merely an
additional proof of this, and when =
note also comes from Switzerland, so
close TO Germany and with such inti-
mate relations with Germany, what
more could you ask?
have reason 10 believe that the re-
plies 10 both the German and the VIII
son note are ready. The Foreign A.
fairs Committee OF the Chamber de-
voted large part OF It's time yester-
/ day TO the consideration of the Ameri-
/ can note. and the reply TO the Kaiser
was we'll advanced some days ago. Tho
tone OF the reply 90 Germany will os
different from that TO Wilson.
/ II will unmistakably make Germans
responsible for the war. That must hs
established as point Of departure he.
fore there can be any question Of dis.
oussions. Germany cannot come iuts
court except on. that basis. II MAY
seem simple TO Americans just 10 beSau