Evening star., 1918-11-01
On Tenterhooks, Not Know
ing Whence Big News
will Come First.
TERMS OF ARMlSTlCE
Soon TO BE ANNOUNCED
Three Courses for Hun Considera.
ton Are Seen in Capt.
tai Circles.

On6cial Washington today is on
tenterhooks, anxiously expecting news
Of paramount importance from sev-
eral centers Of activity abroad. The
feeling in high omcial quarters fs
that world history Of profoundest
gravity for the future OF nations is
actually now in the making or on
the eve Of being made.
No one knows whence the big news
will como frst-from Germany, tell
ing possibly Of capitulation or revo-
luton; from Paris. reciting the terms
of armistice laid down by the allies,
acceptance Of which would suspend
hostilities and stop further bloodshed; ;
from Vienna, Of further dismember-
ment Of the dual monarchy; from the
Italian front, recounting the physical
surrender of the Austrian armies. or
from the Black sea, OF naval en-
gagement between the allied fleets
and the remnant Of the Germantzed
Russian navy in those waters.
Make for Wars Shortening.
One thought was uppermost in the
minds Of officials here-that the
events expected to transpire or to be
reported as having occurred make
for the accomplishment of the aims
Of the allies and the shortening OF
the war.
The belief is strong among officials
that word will soon come from the
allied council in Versailles of the
terms for an armistice which will
be laid down for the acceptance OF
the central powers, IN which OF
rrharA has haan constant inter-
change Of communications between
washington and Paris upon their
formulation. President Wilson has
devoted the greater part Of two nights
oficiaI dispatches which have to be
DECIDED, a work Of great labor. and
the replies put back In code.
Three Alteraetiy Foresssn. Al,
It. is felt here that the terms sf
armist1ce viii present to, Germany
thsss U ss aetss y 4 ~ tssgsa alats z.
capitulation, hho5hdfs
tional surrender: confintiance Of the
war. with consequent devastation Of
German industries, or, adoption OF a
course which might lead to revoiu-
ton.
futile to speculate upon the possible
course Of Germany until the 1uH scope
of the terms OF arniistice are made
known and their effect appreciated by
the rulers Of Germany on ono hand
and by the people on the-other.
Oflcial views here upon the situa-
ton In Austria-Hungary are; that the
dual monarchy beyond All doubt. has
toDpled, the structure which has haen
an = anomaly since its creation. is
crumbling and that not until the dust
of the falling debris has cleared away
viii 1t be possible to determine what
basic form remains.
An essential fact recognized to exist
is that the former dual monarchy is
now impotent to render military as
sistance to Germany in any plan the
Prussian ruling element might con-
ceive. It is out Of the calculation as
an asset as effectually as are Turkey
and Bulgaria After All. this is re-
garded as the most utilitarian consid-
Grafton for the moment, and questions
Of rehabilitation Of the component
races of the monarchy. 1t is felt, may
well be relegated to future considera-
tion. -
The complete surrender Of the Aus
trian troops operating on the italian
front is estimated to be a probability
of the near future The military gains
of tho Italians and allies continue to
be pronounced and to threaten the
very existence OF the enemy armies.
Fleet in Jeopardy.
Turkey having been granted an
armistice and having permitted the
passage of allied warships through
the Dardanelles, places in immediate
jeopardy a German feet in the Black
sea. These Ships. formerly Russian,
were taken over by the Germans
after the collapse of the provisional
government in Russia They include
one superdreadnauEht. several battle
ships OF the pre-dreadnaught type and
a score of destroyers, together with
the famous German warship Goeben.
Pending receipt Of tho expected i'm
portant news from abroad, this gov
ernment has ceased its efforts as an
intermediary for the central powers.
No formal reply was made to the
latest Austrian note, but Secretary
Lansing verbally informed the Swed-
ish minister that the Austrian note
had taken the usual course and had
been transmitted to the, allied chan
ceIleries. s