The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-30

~ sea the Surrender Of The tIvi,-
mans was Si%naliZod last week by the
turning over to tlia allies of the Ger
man high seas Sect and many sGhma-
rines. These vessels were met BY
British warships and escorted to port,
the submarines to HarWich and thu
battleships and cruisers to the Firth
of Forth. The Huns, who have never
shown good faith except under COM
pulsion, were watched with utmost
care. They were sullen and chagrined
but attempted no treachery. The ves-
sells they surrendered were dirty ana
stripped Of nonessentials but other
wise were in working condition.
u
Conditions in Germany still are
chaotic and Premier Ebert is not hav-
ing his own way by any means. He
decided that there should be con-
stituent assembly as soon as the fran
chise lists could be made out, but the
soldiers and workmen's council at
Berlin declined this, demanding in
stead the summoning of general sol
diers' and workmen's congress in or
der to make a decision as to the fu-
ture of Germany The extremists
are in the great majority there and
their strength is reported to be grow
ing in many other German cities. The
Socialist government is striving In
various ways to bring to bear inf1u-
ences that may mitigate the rig0rs of
the armistice and peace terms. Ap-
peals for food continue to come, from
both Germany and Austria. .If,tealSGG
stomachs are full we will behdTG much,
better" cry the Huns. AS matter
of fact, shiploads of food for hungry
Europe already have been dispatched
and the Germans are making agree.
ments by which they will be able to
obtain food from Denmark, Argentina
and other countries. What the United
States can spare probably will not go
to them, but to more deserving suf-
| ferers, and even to Russia.
! Considerable stir was caused by the
rumor that the former kaiser intends
J to return to Germany because his
presence in Holland was enlbarrass-
| ing the queen and government of the
| Dutch Wilhelmina weathered the crisis
! and the radical Dutch abandoned
! their attempt to force her to abdicate,
| but doubtless she would be glad to get
| rid of William HOhenzollern. Germany
might permit him to return, though
| the danger of his becoming the cen
ter of a reactiOnary movement is rec
! Ognized. However, it is to be hoped
the peace treaty will settle the future
of the deposed ruler so that he need
never again be considered. Charles
of Austria is in better state than Will
liam, for, though he is said to be in
| poverty in Vienna, neither his people
nor the allies have any serious charges
to make against him.
IA
President Wilson has ended the
doubt as to his going to Europe by
announcing that he will attend the
opening of the peace conference
though he probably will not remain
to preside over it's sessions or take
part in them. The entente govern
ments seem to be pleased with this
decision. The members of the Amer
lean delegation had not been an
n0unced when this was written, but II
was believed they would include for
mer President Taft and perhaps Sec
rotary of Agriculture Houston, as wei
as Secretary of State Lansing ant
Colonel House
According to the Washington cor
respondents, the president will seel
to influence the peace conference II
five matters especially. These are:
The creation of league of nation!
to enforce peace.
An agreement to reduce militar.
ornaments.
An agreement making freedom 0
the seas in war as in peace subject t.
regulation by the league Of nations.
A square deal for the German PEG
pie.
Aid for Russia.
Four of these the people probabl
will willingly leave to Mr. Wilson an,
the other diplomats to settle, but tn
fifth, "a square deal for the German
people," is calculated to arouse til
apprehension of many millions of pee
pie in America and the countries Q
the entente Even if they are not dc
handing revenge, they do demand tina
a square deal be given America, Grea
Britain. France, Belgium, Italy an
the other nations that fought the Ger
. trail powers and whipped them, an
7 that Germany and her fellow conspirs
tors get only what Is left, Il anything
The governments of the allied nation
have kept from the knowledge Of th