Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-29

| Tor separate peace mas lett tne pat-
tered structure of the German military
government wavering alone, desolate
and forbidding, like the unprotected ruin
of house in a great storm.
Ludendorff, the central prop, has been
swept away. With him must go what
ever shreds of hope the uniformed luna
tics higher up had retained thus far.
Doctor Soils note to President Wilson
was fitting accompaniment to the
Ludendorff incident. II was an appro-
pirate emanation from a capital that is
full of the noise of falling things.
In one aspect the note seems like
gasp for time. In another it appears to
suggest the final, utterly weary sur
| render of men dazed by the speed and
| terror of events about them. The scar
| ing arraignment of militaristic Germany
in Mr.. Wilson's last note is not an
swered. No reply is made to the specific
requirements of the Presidents message.
Very properly, however, the President
might refer Doctor Soils note to Cen
eral Foch with the suggestion for a
statement of terms necessary to an
armistice.
There are indications that no condi-
tions would be too hard for Germany's
acceptance and that the men now in
charge of affairs at Berlin are merely
trying to save what they can from the
general wreck. That they are ready to
throw the Emperor overheard if need be
seems apparent They probably will
give all the Hohenzollerns to the deep
waters if the occasion demands it. Soils
note may prove merely the formality
necessary to a statement of armistice
conditions, and it seems reasonable to
suppose that such statement would not
be invited if the Berlin Government was
not preparing to acquicsce in every sug-
gested provision. For there is little
more fight left in Germany.
The half-comic, half-terrible machinery
of the German military autocracy, as it
is revealed in the light of passing events,
is unquestionably the most picturesque
ruin of any age. Colossal forces are
battering it from every side. Ominously
in the news from Budapest yesterday
there glinted a reference to Commit
tees of soldiers and workmen." These
five simple words must be adequate to
at Berlin, since they show finally that
Bolshevism, that last frenzied recourse
of agonized humanity, is sweeping in
from Russia to send up it's yell at the
doors of palaces heretofore secure. And
that is not all. American diplomacy has
created new forces that menace the Ger
man leaders at home. AS France and
Belgium are being liberated with the
Allied advance, so public opinion in Ger
many is being liberated to make itself
felt with the accumulated energy conse-
quent upon long repression.
Solf and his associates are feeling the
driving power of this novel factor in
German affairs. Undoubtedly they are
engaged in fumbling efforts to set up a
sort of civil government that shall be
something more than sham and pre-
tense. Mr.. Wilson and the other Allied
statesmen have the better knowledge Of
the present situation in Germany that is
possible with the secret service and dip
lomatic correspondence. They alone can
properly interpret Solf's latest note. If
they have found that fiat demand by
Foch for the Kaiser's abdication, or for
even his surrender as condition of
armistice, is necessary to inspire the
German nation to the complete elimina-
tion of the Hohenzollern influence, the
appeal for an armistice may be referred
without delay to the commander of the
Allied forces as a matter of expedency.
The enforcement of all of the sweeping
conditions defined by. Mr.. Wilson, which
have wrung no single word of objection
from the Germany with which We now
are dealing, might then be left for en-
forcement to the representatives of the
Allied military forces. 1t is conceivable
comfortable for the unfortunate officials
at Berlin who have now to deal with
their own people. It is not likely that
in any event the President will discon-
tinue the processes which are tending to
peace. The Germans may wish to await
the statement of conditions by General
Foch before they attempt to haggle and
bargain. But haggling and bargaining
precede every armistice in the field and
peace is never long delayed.
In this connection it is we'll to remem-
Der that, though we in this country have
already given and suffered much, France,
England and Italy have given and suf-
fered more. Approximately 1000, 900
Englishmen have died in the battles of
this war. More than 100000 French
men have been killed since the war
began. Europe is black with mourning
And tha desiYea of the nafions that Laua