Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-10-17

German government, dated the 18th
instant, which you handed me today, ]
have the honor to request you to trans
nit the following answer:
inc uu4uannru acceptance by lnG
p4SScu. OSiuIan sovcrnInSnI anu py
IaISS MaJOTIIy "a tIIe NeIcnSlag or IIIs
,vIIiIs laIu GOWN by TIE PRESIDENT or the
OnIIe0 SIaleS VI fiIuSTIGa III MS az
AlSSS 10 Inc COnSTSSS Vi lie UnlteS
otaISS Oh lne otII vi January, 1910, am
III has Subsequent addresses JuSunes
uIe rIvSIQeHI III maAlHg a frank anC
uiIecI statement OF MS accession with re-
garQ 10 the communications OF the Ger
man government OF the otn ana lGth o.
OSIUuer, 1910.
IL must De Clearly understood tina.
...e CONDITIONS Oh all armlSuce are mat
IeIs wmcn must De lett TO the judgment
ana auvIce or the military ADVISERS o.
me government OF Inc Unlleu States
ana Inc Alueo governments, ana tnl
rreSIuenI IeeiS II MS DUTY 10 say that no
arrangement can DC accepted by tnt
gov SrnMenI Oh the UnUleu States whlci
uoes not proWoe aosoIuIely Satisfactory
saIeg uaroS ana guarantees or the main
lenance Oh tie present military Suprem-
acy OF the armies OF the UnlIed States
ana the AlheS IN the held.
he feels connoent that he can safely
assume that this Will also be the Judg'
ment and decision OF the Allied govern
mentS.
Inc President feels that it is also his
duty to add that neither the government
OF the United States nor, he is quit
sure, the governments with which the
government of the United States is as.
Soclated as belligerents, will consent t
consider an armistlce so long as the
armed forces of Germany continue
the illegal and inhuman practices
which they still persist in.
AT the very time that the German
government approaches the government
OF the United States with proposals of
peace its submarines are engaged in
sinking passenger ships at sea, and not
the ships alone, but the very boats in
which their passengers and crews seek
TO make their way to safety; and in
their present enforced withdrawal from
Flanders and France the German armies
are pursuing course of wanton de-
Struction which has always been re-
garded as in direct violation of the rules
and practices of civilized warfare.
Cities and villages, if not destroyed,
are being stripped of all they contain,
not once but often of their inhabi-
tants. The nations associated against
Germany cannot be expected to agree
to cessation of arms while acts of in
humanity, spoliation and desolation are
being continued which they justly look
upon with horror and with burning
hearts.
1t is necessary, also, in order that
there may be- no possibility of misunder-
standing, that the President should very
solemnly call the attention of the gov
eminent of Germany to the language
and plain intent Of one of the terms
peace which the German government
has now accepted. 1t is contained in
the address of the President delivered
at Mount Vernon on July 4 last. It i
as follows:
"The destruction of every ar
bitrary power anywhere that can
separately, secretly and of its sim
gle choice disturb the peace Of the
world; or, if it cannot be presently
destroyed, at least its reduction TO
virtual impotency."
The power which has hitherto con-
trolled the German nation is of the
sort here described. 1t is within the
choice Of the German nation to alter it.
The Presidents words just quoted nat
urally constitute a condition precedent
to peace, if peace is to come by the &C
ton of the German people themselves.
The President feels bound to say that
the whole process of peace will, in his
Judgment, depend upon the definiteness
and the satisfactory character Of the
guarantee which can be given in this
fundamental matter. 1t is indispens-
able that the governments associated
against Germany should know beyond
a peradventure with whom they are
dealing.
The President will make separate
reply to the royal and Imperial govern
ment of Austria Hungary.
Accept, sir, the renewed assurance
of my high consideration.
ROBERT LANSING.
All the world will approve this STIR
ring statement of President Wilson, for
all the world is of the firm opinion that
Germany and the Hohenzollerns must
answer for their crimes. The armie
Of the Allies have the Germans beaten
on the battlefields, and the retreat or
every front is likely to soon become
rout that shall end in the utter collapse
of the German military power. With
glorious victory in sight, even though
it may be temporarily delayed by the
desperation of the Germans, it is un-
thinkable that we shall now allow oui
enemies to escape through any diplo
matte chicanery. President Wilsoi
satisfies US that we shall not be 'tricked
by the Huns and that the peace they
will get will be dictated, not negotiated
1t has been for the world long and
terrible night, but the dawn is now
breaking and the anxiety and suffering
are giving place to the hope Of a com
rla+a apd o1nriot,S yiotory Mhraoyar