The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-07

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disaster German armies face on the
ifeld OF battle.
At home Germany has undertaken
lsome reforms and the appointment OF
Prince Max OF Badens termed par
Tor radical" as imperial chancellor. is
cited
But II il pointed Gut. an improved
military situation would allow the
mhitar,sts to get rid OF Prince Max
land his co-workers a. easily as II was
possible To displace Won Hertling.
Michaelis and other chance llors.
Peace AT This time, it also was said.
would Leave Germany with the nu-
! cleus OF a mighty army with which
she could again 3eopardixe the tran
| guilty the whole world hopes to en-
rerience once a real peace Is obtained
| AZ further evidence OF the hypoc-
ricy of the German move and the
Austrian move. too, for that matter.
officials point to the request for peace
which comes at n time when. German
armies are waniontN destroying towns
ard villages in France and Belgium.
while politicians in Berlin and Vienna
are working for a German peace"
In addition. German armies still oc-
cnpy other alien territory and the
evacuation OF all occupied territory in
only one OF President Wilson's four
teen principles
In view OF the presidents utter
anCos or peace and how il may he
achieved. the Austro- German bids in !
reality arc considered lfezumptuous I
Cable aavices are to the effect that |
Austria wishes to negotiate on the |
o. IS of the fourteen principles out t
lifVd by the president. and also the /
principles laid down in his speeches I
OF February j and September - /
The president, officials emphasize. /
did not enunciate these principles as
basis OF negotiation, he put them
forth with one idea. and that was ac-
ceptance If Germany and Austria
choose to accept them and they have
but one choice in The mattcr--their
decision would be tantamouat TO un-
conditional surrender.
Furthermore officials believe the
new moves TO be dressed up rcpe-
titions OF Won Hertiings whining
com plant has, month that his acquies-
cence IN the four points laid down BY
IN" president in February as peace
essentials had met with no response
from Mr. Wilson, The former chan
celsor's aCquiesCence Mas unnotieed
because acQuiescence has al no time
been deemed a sufficient cause for
negotiations. The administration is
fuiiy aware of the effect peace talk
would have In this country, especially
when every one knows that the rea
sons for our entrance into the war
stiil exist, and that fighting will not
cease until we have obliterated them
There was no attempt in official
quarters to forecast the reply the
president will make, as that matter
rests solely with him, Ii is not known
whether his message Will be as short
AS was the one dispatched TO Austria
or whether he will make the event
the subject Of a longer message. In
order TO set matters Alright and to
| allow the nation 10 center its attention
again on Foch's steady advance to-
ward Germany AT all events, though
the president it was freely predicted.
VIII act speedily and in SO doing he
VIII reap the best advantages
News that the kaiser. in ampiifca-
t.tlon of the peace offensive. had issued
a proclamation to the German people.
caused amusement in official and
diplomatic quarters this afternoon.
The kalsers speech. IL was said was
10 the effect that things were bad on
the Macedonian front. but that on the
west the German army was wall
OF steel Added to this WAS the war
lords statement that He had again
made an offer Of peace TO the enemy"
on the basis OF Wifhelm's DECLARE
( tion. II was declared, The t1nitad States
and the allies will have nothing to do
I with an Offer OF peace, but will wait
untn the kaiser asks for IT, And this
also means unconditional surrender
minimum OF excitement was
, created by the notes In diplomatic
circles. Allied diplomats consider the
two notes as episodes in the despe-
rate peace offensive Germany and
1 Austria have launched and express
the belief that President Wilson will
once more settle the matter to the
F"ftjrzt 80 tssfartiaa j. of = the civilized
world. '..
osfieials recall the storm OF indgna-
ton aroused throughout the country
by the peace editorial" in a New
/ \ ork newspaper at the time of the
! transmission Of Austria's first note
aud take This as another indication
-af the action 10 be taken by the prrsi-
dent, who knows the temper OF the
country
-Buy Liberty nonds-