Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-10-24
GERMAN FORTS
TO BE OCCUPIED IF
ARMISTICE, COMES

Washington, Oct. 24.-Discussion
centered here today on the probable
terms Of arn,istice which may be
formulated by the allied and Amer
lean military advisers after the
allied governments have considered
the German proposals transmitted
by President Wilson.
II was generally assumed by
army officers that the president had
aseertained the. willingness of the
allied governments to receive the
German proposals.
u will be the mission Of the mill
tary advisers to translate general
principles into concrete terms OF
tortresses to be occupied, subma-
rire bases to, be placed under
guards. munition plants to be dis
n,antIed and strategic railroad lines
TO be restricted to German use.
The military and naval boards Of
the supreme war council at ver-
saiIles furnish the natural avsnue
for tho ascertaining of the views Of
the necessary leaders and bringing
them into harmony.
Marshal Foch as supreme COM
nander, and Generals Petain. Haig,
Pershing, Diaz and Gillian. the Bel
sian chief of staff, are ex- offic;o
members Of the army board. as the
admirais commanding the four
great navies. British, French,
American and Italian. are ex offieio
members Of the naval board.
The president proposes that the
terms to be drawn up by these
military and naval agencies are to
be submitted to the respective gov
ernmerts for ratification.
The supreme war council, COM
posed Of the premiers Of the allies
and Of President Wilson, possibly
would pass upon tho program.
In making certain that the u boat
fleets are put out Of action. the
occupation Of HeIsoIand might
serve to bottle up both the subma-
rines and tho German high seas
fleet 30 far as the North sea outlets
are concerned. but there is another
gateway, via the kiel canal and
Skagarak.
Ashore, il is regarded as obvious
that tho occupation Of the Metz
ThionviiIe fortress would be essen
tial. II is portable that the Ger
mans would stipuIate that Ameri.
can troops-take over the fortress
until final disposition Of Aisace-
Lorraine is determined.
Holding tho Metz. ThionviIle
gateway, supplemented possibly by
occupation Of tho Rhine fortress Of
Strassburg. some officers think,
would enable the allied forces not
only to dominate the German
forces on this front, but would give
an open road into Germany itself
should a resumption Of hostilities
be threatened.
Il 10 believed the allied chiefs
will propose q definite plan for
forward movement against German
forces. The plan, Il 10 thought
would leave the German forces
open to Aanking movements that
would cut them to pieces.
What -tortrsssss on the German
Belgian frontier might later be re-
quired for occupation 10 not clear.
Other requirements, Il 10 thought.
would be surrender by Austria to
italians Of fortresses in the Alps
that guard the Austrian border;
probable evacuation Of the whole
cast coast Of the Adriatic and oc-
cupation Of such bases ~ would
bottle UP Austrian naval power
completely.
To safeguard Roumaria and en-
force peace conditions in Russia,
the road to the Black sea must be
cleared, which would require sur
rendsr by the Turks Of tbs fortress
Of the Oardanelles.