Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-11-15
"UncOnditi0naI Surrender. "

Wv to President Wilson. with one accord the
people of the United States and of all the Allied
countries demanded that peace should never be
granted except on the basis of unconditional sur
render.
To-day their demand is abundantly fulfilled in
the terms of armistice laid down by Marshal FOch,
accepted by Germany's white-hag delegates, and
announced the United States by President Wilson
in his address before the joint session of Congress
As expressed in sentence by the President
himself. these terms mean that everything for
which America fought has been accomplished,
signifying not only unconditional surrender in
the field in military but absolute assurance
that the terms of peace shall be written by the
United States and the Allies without regard to
German convenience or German objection.
Germany must evacuate Belgium, France,
AIsace-I. orraine Luxembourg, all occupied portions
of Turkey Rumania and Russia, and must with
draw her military forces across the Rhine and
establish a neutral zone forty kilomcters wide along
the east bank OF the Rhine, giving up designated
bridgeheads the Rhine and leaving all evacuated
territory intact in every particular both as 10 prop
erty and persons.
tity of artillery of all cabers, together with NUM-
tions for the same, as well airpanes, wagons,
motor trucks and locomotives, all of this equipment
TO be in good working order and to be accompanied
by spare parts and fittings.
She must surrender at once all prisoners of war
who are not in hospitals, must provide the proper
medical attention for those in hospitals, and must
restore at all civilians nterned ana deporteo
from their native countries
She must surrender at 160 submarines;
must intern in neutral Allied ports no less than
six hattie cruisers, ten battleShlps, eight ught
cruisers and fifty destroyers must pay off the crews
of the balance of her navy and dismantle the same
VI all armament
She must at once release all neutras of restric-
lions upon their merchant marine, must surrender
all merchant vessels interned in German ports
must submit to a continuance or the Aimed DOCK
ade pending final signature of peace and must SUD-
NIT to the freedom of the Baltic and Black seas.
Finally, she must pay for all of the damage COM
mitted by her armies in all of the occupied coun-
tries and must pay back at once In gold the money
looted from the banks of Belgium, Russia ana
Rumana. =,
Such in substance are the terms laid down by
Foch and accepted by the German delegates VINO
came through the lines under the protection OF the
white flag, which has always signihed unconollOnal
surrender.
THESE terms mean that the military power of
Germany is completely destroyed, not only for the
nrasent hut for the future, as the terms of peace
TO be later imposed will be so framed as to prevent
the building up again of great offensive war ma
chine to menace the peace and security OF the
world. -.
Thus once again is the craftsmanship OF Pres-
dent Wilson triumphantly Wndicated Partisan
critics like Colonel Roosevelt protesting great I'M
easiness for fear the President might allow the
weight of his influence to be used in favor Oh a
weak or inconclusive peace, now find their answer
in Foch's implacable amistice terms.
But even these terms do not comprehend the
ful1 consequences of the debacle which has over
taken the German Empire, for in the closing hours
of the great world drama there has come TO pass
the complete overthrow OF German dulOCIdCy ny q
revolution for which President Wilson Is more re-
sponsible than any other influence.
While Colonel Roosevelt and lesser critics OF the
President were attempting to the seeds of dis
sension and discord in America, President wilson
was driving straight ahead in his determined pur-
pose to break the hold of the German autocracy on
the German people. Never at any moment was ne
swerved from his policy of direct appeal TO tner
common sense and reason until at last by the ire
sistibe power of his logic he achieved the miracle
of complete political transformation dictated by the
chief Spokesman of Germanys enemies.
Germanys glittering dream of world dominion
shattered Germany's almost idolatrous worship OF
military prestige completely destroyed, Germany
Kaiser driven from his throne and seeking SAFETY
in flight bevond the borders of his kingdom, the
once great and powerful Nation stands today be-
fore the world like a starved and beaten and man
acled giant compelled by the judgment of humanity
To nav in full whatever penalties may be imposed
for the punishment of Unreasonable crimes
In the nineteen months which have elapsed since
Americas entrance into the the people or TINS
country have learned more fully than ever before
the lesson of following their leaders IN times OF
merrill and stress Now in the momentous period
that will shortly follow the conclusion of peace,
every citizen owes his country and humanity the
patriotic duty of continuing to abide the counclls
of those who are charged with the stupehuous ProD
lens of reconstruction. ..
In the hour of her greatest test America was
blessed by Providence with a leader or supreme
ability in the person of Woodrow Wilson. Amerl-
cans have followed him with implicit confidence at
every step to this good hour and any other course
in the fateful future would be disastrous for the
Nation.
A warmer place than Holland is waiting for
the Hohenzollern family.
Which is your choice-a tax receipt or War