The Elbert County tribune., 1918-11-08

| In effect, all this would mean the
absolute surrender of Germany, and
| the allies would be In position to die
tate and enforce any peace arrange
ments they saw fit to make. 1t Is the
intention of the allied governments.
and the ardent desire Of the allied
armies and peoples, that nothing less
than this shall be demanded of Ger
many. Whether the Huns have yet
been brought to condition where
they will accept such terms was cues
ton. Many military authorities be-
| lieve they will elect to fight for a
while longer before submitting so alb
| jectly, and millions of the soldiers and
civilians of the allied nations fervent-
| ly hope this will be the case. 9th
erwise. they feel. Germany would es-
cape too easily frem suffering some of
those horrors Of war which her armed
| forces have ruthlessly inflicted on 9TH
ers and over which her people have
gloated with savage glee. or course
no such deliberate Inhur,anities as the
German soldiers have practiced could
or would be practiced by the troops of
the allies, but the German cities and
towns could be made to feel the ter
rible hardships that accompany occu-
patton by an invading enemy, and the
Inhabitants could be taught lesson
that would go far toward deterring
them from ever supporting war Of
aggression. even II their rulers were
left with the power to start such
conflict. The allies are not vindlctive,
but they intend that stern justice shall
be meted out to Germany and In this
the American soldiers who have seen
what has been done to Belgium and
northern France are, If possible, more
determined than the soldiers of any
other nation. They. and all right-mind-
ed Americans at home. feel that
sloppy sentimentality Of the forgive
your-enemy" order has no place in
dealings with the Huns.
-
If Germany accepts the terms of the
armistice and begins to carry them
out in apparent good faith, the great
war may be considered as virtually
ended. This, however. does not mean
that peace will be negotiated with the
present government of Germany.
Prince Max, the chancellor, sought
again last week to reassure President
Wilson as to the genuineness of the
German reforms by which the people
are supposed to have come into con-
troll of the government. But Mr. VIII
son. as well as the governments of
Great Britain and France. is more
than skepticnl. 1t is true that the COM
mon people of Germany are being al
lowed to speak and even to act as
never before. but 1t Is far from GER
tain that the powers Of government
apparently granted to them cannot be
wiped out In a msment by the kniser
and his masters, the junkers, whom
they have attained their ends. The
whole matter Of German governmental
laws and methods is tee complicated
for discussion, In these columns, but 1t
wish to keep abreast of the current of
events.
Despite repeated demands. In the
press and public speeches, that he alb
dicate, the kaiser refuses to sacrifice
himself for the good OF his country.
He is reported to have said he would
be willing to become the hereditary
president" of Germany. and also that
when he considers the right moment
has come, he viii step down from his
throne. The Socialist papers, especial
ly, have been denouncing him and his
associates bitterly, and the fact that
this has gone unpublished shows that
the autocracy is losing ground fast.
The resignation of Gen. Erich Luz
dendorfr first quartermaster general
and considered the "brains" of the
German army. had marked effect In
Germany, being taken to signify the
downfall of miiitarism. He quit, it
was supposed. because the control of
military matters was put In the hands
of the civil authorities. 1t was report
ed that Won Hindenburg would order
the court-martial of LudeHdorff. Who
will later order the court-martial of
"EIindy" was not stated.
Germany now stands abandoned by
her allies, for Austria Hungary was
urging quick action on her plea for
separate armistlce and peace. The
disintegration of Austria Hungary,
noted last week. made rapid progress.
The Croatian parliament nt Agram de
creed the total separation of Croatia,
Slnvonia and Dalmatia from Hungary
and cut the railrond between Berlin
and Vienna near Bodenbnch, so that