Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-22
D|S|NTEGRAT|ON0F
HUN AUTOCRACY
President, 1t Is Believed, Is
Convinced That Process Will
Go on by Rapid Stages.
WILL HASTEN SURRENDER

President Wilson, it is believed in
official circles here, is convinced that
the disintegration of the autocratic
German government has in fact set in
and that it will proceed by rapid
stages to flnality which will hasten
the capitulation of the central powers
under the continued pressure of the
military forces of the allies.
The President has all along counted
heavily upon the crumbling of the
military and junker rule in Germany
as the prerequisite of victory for the
allies and a peace which will measure
up to the demands of the people of
this country and of the nations op-
posed to the central powers. Just as
it was in the late unpleasantness with
Mexico, when President Wilson insist
ed that Huerta must go before any
thing like permanent arrangements
could be made, SO it is thought here
he is banking now upon the diSsolu-
tion by German people of their form
of government before civilization will
treat with them.
The published version of Germany'S
latest note has, it is thought here, con-
firmed the President in his opinion
that autocracy is giving way, the
moderate tone of the communication
being in violent contrast with the
famboyant utterances of the German
kaiser within very few weeks.
Leaders Admit Defeat.
The broad fact appears to be, it is
said, that the German leaders admit
defeat. Hitherto. they have breathed
constantly a spirit of defiance to all
the powers of earth and invocation to
their people to stand fast until vic
tory should be wrested from untoward
Victory isn't going to be
their conclusion and admission. They
are therefore suing for terms of ad-
vantage to themselves, beating about
for an avenue of escape from the
bludgeon of the purSuer, like rat in
corner.
Every move which President Wilson
has made up to this time, since the
Germans first gave evidence of weak
ening spirit, has been directed to has
tening what he has foreseen as the
German governmental structure from
pressure within the empire. His mild
ness in proposing the famous three
questions" instead of curt demand
for unconditional surrender, which
would have been more popular in some
quarters, had that end in view.
Up to now, it has not been possible
for the kaiser to rally the empire about
the military party with the cry that
all efforts at peace have failed and
that the nation must rely upon the
sword and die in the last ditch, de-
fendnig the fatherland. under his
guidance and the continued control of
the autocratS.
Universally Condemned.
In whatever terms the President may
see fit to couch the expected discrediting
of the latest German proposal and re-
fusal of an armistice, there is no mistak-
ing the attitude of the public at large
toward the note. If any one Of impor-
tant position or any element of the peo-
pie places the slightest dependence on
the German note or entertains the re-
motest idea that it Is worth while con-
sidering favorably there is no public
record of it.
It's reception by the public has been
storm of derision, contemptousness
and disbelief in its sincerity or good in
tent. 1t is generally regarded as typi-
cally Prussian in its character of at
tempted double dealing, deception and
to be desperate attempt Of the Ger
man political leaders to stop the ad-
vance of the onrushing allies until the
Hun military commanders can withdraw
their fleeing forces to some line of de-
fense where they may make a stand
to better military advantage.
From every section of the country
the cry Is echoed that no a1mistice shall
be granted until the military resistance
of the central powers is broken to a de-
gree that will prevent it's being mend
ed and welded against civilization at
some late stage In the settlement of a
final and lasting peace.