The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-09
President Wilson Tells Germany
That No Peace viii Be Made
With the Kaiser.
Views OF HIS REPLY VARY
Breaking Up of the Austro- Hungarian
Empire Seems an Assured Fact
Huns Continue Retreat From
BeIeium-Yanks in Fierce
Fighting Northwest of
Verdun.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

BY EDWARD w. PICKARD.
We are willing to evacuate occu-
pied territories and arrange an
armistice based on the actual
standard of power on both sides in
the field, Our land and sea forces
have not been been guilty of iHe-
gal and inhumane actions, and we
have ordered them not to commit
any more such actions. The Ger
man government is now free from
any arbitrary and irresponsible in
fiuence and is supported by the APP
prevail of an overwhelming major
ity of the German people.-Ger
many's Note to President Wilson.
Considering the assurances
given by the German government,
I cannot decline to suggest to the
allied governments the considera-
ton Of an armistice, which, how
ever, must leave the United States
and its allies in a position to en-
force the arrangements made and
to make impossible a renewal of
hOstilities by Germany. 1t appears
to me that the kaiser and his crew
still are in unimpaired control of
the empire, and if we must deal
with them, now or later, we must
demand, not peace negotiations,
but Surrender.-President Will
sons reply to Germany
The above summarizes briefly but
fairly the diplomatic exchanges Of the
week between Berlin and Washington,
Germany's note, evasive, shutting and
unsatisfactory, was received
with contempt by the press and people
of the United States and the allied
countries. The president and his close
advisers, it was said, were pleased
only with the indication that Berlin
was moving step by step toward full
acceptance of the allies terms for an
armistice and peace. The imperial gov
ernment's indignant denial that its
land and sea forces have committed
OutrageS was looked on generally as
an insult to the intelligence of world
that knows such outrages have been
and have not yet ceased.
Even while protesting against the
charges, the note says orders have
been issued to discontinue the inhu-
name practices alleged by President
Wilson in his former note; and the
Huns who are being driven from Bel
GUM and northern France have not
stopped the ruthless pillaging and
burning of the places they are forced
to evacuate, save in a few instances.
If the orders to observe the rules of
civilized warfare have been issued
then there is an end of the contention
Of the defenders of the German people
as distinguished from the German ali
tocratic government, namely, that the
troops commit outrages only under the
orders of the military command No
observing person can longer doubt that
we are at war not only with the Ger
man government, but with an inconsid-
cradle part of the German people. 1t
may be that the Germans win over
throw the Hohenzollerns and all their
gang, but if so, it will be not because
Of the monstrous crime they have COM
mitted, but because they have failed
Of their criminal purpose. There is
not in all Germany one sign of repent
ance. There is only furious disap-
pointment because the leaders have
not been able to make good"
IA
1t cannot be said truthfully that
President Wilson'S reply to Berlin
aroused any wild enthusiasm. Most of
rs felt as did Senator Ashurst of Ari-
IONA, who said: 81 would have told
Germany to go to HE'LL Less blunt
critics of the president felt that the
,nly reply called for was demand for
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