The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-07
Emperor William Announces the Collapse of Macedonian Front to the German Troops
Continued from Page one)

principal German federal state, must proceed in the spirit of these words of the Emperor, and the message of the King of Prussia promising the demo- cratic franchise must be fulfilled quick ly and completely. (Applause) I do not doubt, also, that those federal states which still lag behind in the develop ment of the constitutional conditions will resolutely follow Prussia's ex- ample. (Applause.l
 "F'or the present, as the example of all belligerent states demonstrates, the extraordinary powers which condition of siege compels cannot be dispensed with, but close relations between the military and civilian authorities must be established which will make it possi- ble that in all not purely military ques- tions and hence especially as to cen sorship and right of assemblage, the at titude of the civilian executive authori- ties shall make itself heard and that final decision shall be placed under the chancellor's responsibility. (Applause.)
 NEW INTERNAL POLICY
 ''ro this end. the order of the
 Emperor will be sent to the military
 commanders. With September 30.
 the day of the decree, began a new
 epoch in Germany's internal history.
 The internal policy whose basic
 principles are therein laid down is
 of deciding importance in the aues-
 tton of peace or war. 2
 "The striking force which the
 government has in its strivinss for
 peace depends on whether 1t has
 behind 1t the united, firm and un-
 shakable will of the people. Only
 when our enemies feel that the
 German people stand united back of
 their chosen Ieaders--then OHIy
 can words become deeds. tAp-
 plause.)
 At the peace negotiations the Ger man government will use its efforts to the end that treaties shall contain pro. visions, concerning the protection of la- Dor and insurance of laborers, which provisions shall oblige the treaty mak. ing states to institute in their respective lands within a prescribed time a mini. mum of similar r.s or at least equally, ef. ficient institutions for the security of life and health as for the care of la. borers in case of Illness accident or in. validism.
 "Of direct importance are the conclu- sions which the government in the brief span of it's existence has been able to draw from the situation in which it finds itself and to apply practically to the situation. More than four years of blood fest struggle against "a world of nu- merically superior enemies are behind us, years full of the hardest battles and most painful sacrifices. Nevertheless, We are of strong heart and full of conf dent faith in our strength, resolved to bear still heavier sacrifices for our honor and freedom and for the happiness oi cur posterity, if it cannot be otherwise (Applause.)
 we remember with deep and warn gratitude our brave troops who, under splendid leadership, have accomplished almost superhuman deeds throughout the whole war and whose past deeds are q sure guarantee that the fate of us all will also in future be in good and de- pendable hands in their keeping. FoI months continuous terrible and mur- derous battle has been raging in ths west Thanks to the incomparable hero ism of our army, which will live a' | an immortal. glorious page in the his tory of the German people for all times 1 the front is unbroken.
 This proud consciousness permits Il: l to look to the future with confidence l But, just because we are inspired by I this feeling and the conviction that i I is also our duty to make certain that the bloody struggle be not protracted fol single day beyond the moment whe' close of the war seems possible tc us which does not affect our honor, have, therefore. not waited until today | to take a step to further the idea o! peace.
 SENDS PEACE NOTE Supported by the consent of all duly authorized persons in the empire, and by consent of all our allies acting in concert with us. sent on the night oi 1, October 4-5. through the mediation o1 Switzerland, note to the President oi the United States in which I requested him to take up the bringing about ol peace and to communicate to this ent with all the belligerent states.
 'The note will reach Washington to 1 day or tomorrow It is directed to tho President of the United States, because ! he in his message to Congress January s, 1918. and in his later proclamations particularly in his New York speech ol