Evening star., 1918-11-03
War Council Considers These
Points as Start to Franz
ing Armistice Terms.
ALL MILITARY SUPPLIES
WOULD BE TAKEN OVER
Stpulations Probably Ready To-
morrow or Tuesday-Germany
Must Accept Without Quibbling.

The supreme war council at Yer
sailles, it was learned today through
diplomatic channels, has under con-
sideration, as the starting point in
framing terms of an armistice, pro-
posals that Germany be required to
withdraw her armies, without their
military supplies or the loot being
carried from France and Belgium,
to zone thirty miles to the German
side Of the Rhine, and that the en-
tire German navy, including sub
marines and the Helgoland fort
resses, be surrendered.
1t is possible that the conditions,
when finally agreed upon, may not
emerge from the council in exactly
this degree, but it is believed they
will be no less potent for preserv-
ing the military supremacy of the
allies, and at the same time offer
propositions which the Germans
may accept without further fight
ing.
Must Accept in Entirety.
Information coming through the
same sources indicates that the armis-
tice terms. as finally agreed upon, may
be made known to the world tomor-
row or Tuesday and that they will be
presented to Germany for acceptance
in their entirety or not at all, with
out opportunity for quibbling or trad
ing.
From military point Of view. the
proposal that the German armies be
disarmed and retired thirty miles be-
yond the Rhine is classed only as tan
tamount to an absolute surrender. It
would not only throw open to the al
lied and American armies many roads
to Berlin itself. but with the surren-
der Of railway rolling stock deprive
the -esermans-ofn nfexns to retracs their
steps to fight il they would.
There Is some question among mill
tary observers as to whether such
complete terms are really necessary.
Undoubtedly the object sought in pro-
miles behind the Rhine is to DESTROY
the German inner defense system.
That system is supported by a chain
of fortresses. without which the line
would be untenable, and some military
experts believe it may not be neces-
sary to go farther than to demand
the surrender or dismantling of those
forts.
Suggests Establishment Of Zone.
The military discussion developed bv
the proposals brings suggestion that
a wide zone might be established
within ire boarders Of Germany from
which the armed forces Of both sides
might be withdrawn until peace
treaties finally have fixed new bound
aries. The French and Belgian from
tiers are expected to be reoccupied by
the allied armies. but it might deyelon
that as the German forces would be
required to fall back. the German
frontier provinces might be left un-
occupied in a military sense.
It seems certain to military experts
here. however, that the terms will in
clude the surrender Of the Metz for
tifications and such Of the Rhine fort
resses as will clear the way for mill
tary invasion Of Germany to an extent
making resistance futile.
President Wilson continued yester-
day to keep in close touch with the
war council at Versailles through his
personal representative, Col. House.
No one in Washington outside of the
inner official circle knows the exact
extent OF Col Houses powers. but
they are believed to be very large.
They probably do not go to the extent
Of authorizing the conclusion of any
binding agreement for an armistice or
peace without approval Of the Presi-
dent.
Secrecy Is Deemed Advisable.
It has been, Of course, deemed inad-
visable to disclose what is going on at
Versailles. certainly not while the
proceedings are still under way and
before the various views of the dele
gates have crystallized into ultimates
terms to be offered to Germany. Aside
from the danger from an open dis
cussion while questions are still un-
settled, 1t is regarded as discourteous
between nations for one Of the par
ties to the conference to make any
disclosure until an agreement had
been reached It Is even probable
that this rule viii govern until tho
terms have been presented to Ger
many.
In some quarters there IL a dfsposi.
ton to turn to the Turkish armistfce
as afordfng Q likely precedent in
It's IT. general principles c to the demands
there would Of necessity be great
in the details owing to the