The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-10-22
NO MORE CONVERSATION
WITH GERMANY UNTIL SHE
SURRENDERS COMPLETELY

FROM an utlndtuW 10 q proposal ll all dluhStN - al
decided change accomplished in three brief months OF marvellous
developments.
But we must not overlook the fact that the German, in
pursuing the subject of peace, fingers tondly upon the things
he would like to do, and touches but lightly upon the Things
that he may be forced to do.
Peace, as we understand it, final and enduring peace, can
come only from a decisive issue at arms, from which there can
be no appeal to any other tribunal, and no return to force in
the lives of the present or the next generation: ca, .
Peace, as the German is willing to accept it, is little short
of an armed truce, from which the nation will profit most that
can the more quickly %recuperate. The German has great latin
in his recuperative qualities.
The German persists in proposing terms OF peace. He IS
even sufficiently conciliatory to employ methods which he
hopes will accelerate the aPPro1eh,ot an honorable peace!
Instead Of crawling on his belly pleading Tor mercy he has
the temerity to gratuitously propose to show the allies how
they may obtain a cessation OF war. He would point the way
for the allies to find that which he, most OF all, is earnestly
seeking and in most need OF finding.
In his last note he pleads that destruction is necessary for
covering a retreat. Not one hundredth part of the destructive
ness he has wrought was accomplished in retreat. 1t was in
the flush of success, when destruction had no military or
strategic value, that vandalism reached its flood tide. Those
were days when the enemy was merciless. Protests would have
been unavaning. 1t was only in his hour OF disaster that warn
ings Of reprisals had any significance for the German, and not
until the allies could threaten similar treatment for German
cities, with a fair prospect OF carrying it out, did they teel
warranted in issuing a warning that carried a penalty.
The submarines, the enemy claims, have been notified not
to sink any more passenger ships, but he gives no guarantee that
women and children will not be murdered before the modified
orders reach them. If there has been any justification for such
methods of warfare in the past there would be no occasion for
altering them now. Because a man ceases to kill, is he to be
absolved from the crimes he has committed? Is a man guilty
only SO long as he continues to kill, and does he attain to
innocence when he has satisfied his lust for blood?
That there has been an internal upheaval i'll Germany is a
probability. It a government responsible to the people is in
process OF formation, it is not to be attributed to President
WILSON'S expressed determination not to deal with those respon-
snhe tor the conduct of the war, but to the dissatisfaction of
the people over the failure OF those charged with responsibility
10 conduct 1t successfully. We owe them no special consid-
Grafton because they have sought to alter the fortune Of war,
or because they have not spared those in authority, in the hope
OF changing defeat into victory.
The allied critics give the Germans credit for executing, the
retreat with mastery skill, 1t is admitted that Iudendorff
has extricated himself from a precarous situation with a mini
nu1 loss Ot nPu n material IA rut 1b,t No u,Lal f..
but scarcely had cause to expect, did not materiaHze.
lhe eliminating episode therefore, that brought the Ger
man much nearer to accepting an unconditional surrender than
he has yet admitted, was not due to the soldiers in the field.
but to something that has transpired at home.
onuouo'ediy there is war WEAKNESS in Germany. 1t is to
be found in all countries that have bled and suffered for more
than four years. But mere WEAKNESS does not alter a nations
determination to carry on. Rudey and almost suddenly the
German dream OF world dominion was shattered, and IN IFS
stead came the dread fear Of defeat and invasion Ne has
glorled IN the ruthlessness of his army in France and Beloium
but his soul has been filled with horror at the thought of tme
INVASION OF the %Fatherland, the loss of his beer garden and his
r~athskeler. ~ "O "'
he knows how Bulgaria fell by the wayside. lie knows
11at turkey is practically out of the wal, and thar Austr;a
many is able to secure. '' what "'"S Ne'
IL is only a matter OF time until Germany will be without
an ally The Dardanelles will be open, and the allies will hav,
access to the Black sea. Germany has already lnst Ih" "
M maine thD bases on ,;n inc Belgian coast With Austria Hungary on
an attack upon Germany through that country and Tho Coz
man would have another front to defend
Germany has lost the war, as she deserved to lose il mice
we tenporize with her, and permit her to make capital Of on
credulity' Unconditional surrender is the most liberal fern
we can afford to make, and Germany should be warned that an
1urther attempt to prolong the conversation with other rond;
tons should be dispatched with return postage
Our good Trend MIR. Martin ] Condor tells us tina, som
OF the members OF the country clubs feel that a reflection wa
cast upon their patriotism in an editorial in which an eNorf wa
made to be tacetious over the lifting OF the ban VI "pa>Iec
Sunday" So far as we have heard there were only one or ty
technical violations of the letter Of the request and no Violate
of the spirit. We might add that the observance Of fine cover,
ment request by these clubs was 100 per cent patriotic. No Sc
of men in Memphis have sacrificed more nobiv or oi,cn no,
generously to every worthy call on their time and means.
NJ criticism OF them would be a reflection upon the intelligence
the person making it.
Noting that Paris officially reports the French have reachc
81 the Danube, we can now expect them to walt" right in an
81 render the Blue Danube even bluer.
With country butter selling at Is cents a pound in the 81
rounding towns we are persuaded that we need 4 butt
epidemic.
s9he Germans are still making protests OF their respec
ability. EVERYONE wants to be measured hN his w standar