Norwich bulletin., 1918-10-22

There was no intimation tonight of the attitude of the president and probably there will be none until the official text of the new German com munication has been received. The president was in conference all even ing with Secretary Lansing discus sing the note as received by wire less late in the day. Like the reply to the presidents inquiries a week ago, this note was sent from the wireless stations and picked up in the allied countries many hours be- fore the official text could move by cable. The official version probably will come tomorrow through the Swiss legation here.
 As received by wireless, the note is believed to be slightly garbled in the the important sentences regarding conditions for the evacuation of in- vaded territory and for an arnstice, but nevertheless it is regarded as an awkward attempt to meet the con- ditions laid down by President Will son for consideration of Il armis- l tice. And it makes the significant declaration that the government in l Berlin no longer is responsible to a single arbitrary infuence-the kaiser but is supported by an overwhelm-
 ing majority of the German people.
 This declaration is supported by 1 the statement that constitutional re-
 forms are in progress in. accord with | the determination of the people un-
 der which no government can-take or l hold office without the confidence o.
 the majority of a Reichstag elected ! by universal, secret suffrage. lE is accorded more consideration here be- cause of confidential advices re-
 ceived only today indicating the German middle classes have resolved
 to have peace at any price and if necessary are prepared to get rid of the kaiser, the crown prince and all
 military control.
 Thus the belief is strengthened that
 the present note and those that have
 gone before are genuine efforts to
 merely because the Germans con-
 bargain for Something better than the
 unconditional surrender they are Eprepared to give if pushed to the wall It is a..suned also that they
 want to prepa:e gradually the Ger l man people for a realization of what has happened to their military ma
 chine and the war lords dream of power, so as to avoid complete col lapse of government.
 | ODSeINtTS punt put that
 the president is at liberty with per-
 feet consistency to make no response
 at this time but to await develop
 ments; to await the performance of
 the promises of the Germans not to
 torpedo passenger ships their inn
 piled promise to work no more de-
 struction during their retreat from Belgium and Fance than military ne- cessity requires, and finally, to await further development of the politica leaven that evidently is working toward the complete overthrow ol
 military and autocratic power in titl empire.
 No one believes that an immediate {, cessation of hostilities is in sight \ The opinion most generally held is . that if MT. Wilson decides to make .
 reply, and if the Entente govern. ,, ments agree, the only step possible . at this time would be to sanction ar 2 engagements to be dictated by Genera Foch in the field for the withdrawa
 of the Germans without further o l fighting. Such arrangements O f course, would be contingent upor . guarantees of continued supremacy O
 the victorious allied armies, and con sequently virtually would mean sur T render for the Germans.
 = The official view so far has beel
 that evacuation of invaded territor, IT must be completed before there cal
 be an armistice. Should Presiden s Wilson after consultation with tn ,S allies adhere to this view, the worl I of driving the Germans to and acros ' their own borders would proceed an, if the opportunity for fixing detail = which the new note suggests "b if brought about" would come onl if through request from the German = lines under white flag on the battle
 field.
 IF Little importance is attached to tn if i.protests' and deniaIs in the note re n garding German brutality and ruth 10 less destruction of property. Tn ,- important thing is whether atrocitie 10 now stop. As to an investigation b 10 neutral commission as suggeste 10 in the note, the president indicate IF long ago that such investigation
 could come to nothing except in con n, 1nection with arrangements for fina NV peace.
 " Regarding the German denial ,e unnecessary destruction of propert " by the retiring armies military ex .- perts said that undoubtedly sue
 armies are authorized under inter -h national law to work terrible have 1- in evacuated territory. But thIre
 one prime condition to be meta of this must be done with the SO ot purpose of damaging and retardin B. the pursuing army. Bridges may | nt destroyed, stores of food burned ma ,d even buildings which might sheltt f. enemy troops. But it is not pel 1- mitted to poison wells, to destro
 fruit trees or to loot and destrc
 private property which would be
 no use to either army or, in fact.
 commit any of the acts of wanto