The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-23

awaited.
 | The official text of the German note reached the Swiss legation here by cable early today. but 1t was not de- livered at the state department be- cause the entire day was spent at the legation on the tedious task of decoding the docurnent and preparing an English translation of the German text The translation was made with the greatest care by Frederick Oeder- lin. the Swiss charge. because there are obscure phrases in the unofficial version received yesterday by wire less, which may be cleared up by more accurate rendering of the German. When the charges work was done Secretary Lansing had left his office, and an engagement was made for de- livery of the note at 10 o'clock to- morrow morning This incident in It. self was pointed to later as evidence that exchanges het seeen London. Paris and Wasn#gtpn nave bee prnceedtps since the arrival of the wireless were sion and that pending word from the war council of what the military sit- uation demands the President is in no hurry to know the exact verbal dif- h. official texts. There also were re- ports that any action might wait upon diplomatic conference about to con yene in one of the allied capitals, but these found no official confirmation.
 CABINET IN SESSION
 The usual Tuesday cabinet meetinx was in session all afternoon, and it was assumed that the German note occupied Its attention. No member of the official family would discuss whether he was taken into the Presi dents confidence.
 Those in official, diplomatic and con- gressional circles. who do not pretend to have heard anything from the White House on the subject, are confidently as- serting opinions that the Germans will draw an answer from the President or that they will not One group, recalling that the Presidents reply to the request Tor an armistice and peace negotiations was characterized by him as "decis- ion.' contend that this meant no fur ther discussion of the issues involved would be tolerated. The other view, held very generally in official circles, ia that reply is desirable from every standpoint; 1t will be forthcoming after full consideration and that it will deal chiefly with the immediate military prob- lems, leaving aside for the future such things as the German denials of cruel ties and ruthless destruction and doubts as to the genuineness of the self-pro- claimed democratic regime in Berlin.
 ONLY ONE QUESTION
 Whatever form any further diplomatic exchanges may take, one official pointed out tonight, after all there is but one question, Are the Germans whipped 2
 If they are whipped and ready to sur render when attempts at bargaining have failed the surrender will come quickly enough-as quickly as the men who say they have superseded the Kaiser and the war lords in power dare to let the truth sink home upon tho German public Some diplomatic reports support the theory that they are re- strainng from revealing the real situa- tion abruptly and taking peace at any price only from fear of more than a po- Iitcai revolution. Notes approaching gradually a final equalization serve to s.iYe he German public the news in brok- en doses, and at the same time to take every possible chance of finding a loop hole in American and allied harmony with the hope of avoiding ultimately throwing the German nation upon the mercy of it's enemies.
 AUSTRIA LEFT OUT
 Austria Hungary and Turkey were scarcely mentioned here in todays dts cussions Of the situation, though it was noted that the present German communi- cation says nothing whatever about Tin harmony with our allies.
 It seems that both the allies and Ger many regard the lesser central powers as virtually out of the war. though the forces working within their borders have little more to do before surrender comes.
 Senator Lodge, republican leader and ranking minority member of the for eign relations committee, issued state ment during the day denouncing the German note as another poorly laid trap and retterating his opinion that only one demand should be made by the Presi- ent--'unconditionai surrender
 The belief that no trap will succeed was reiterated everywhere. Almost the one thing stated and repeated on author ity is that there will be no relaxation of the great forward movement of the al died and American armies nor any ab stention from attack upon the retreatins foe except upon the terms of the allied and American military leaders
 Terms of evacuation, it is pointed out, would be virtually the terms of an armstice. and in the opinion of military men would include breaking ot the German war machine as au armed force and the occupation by the Ameri- cans and the allies of such strategic
 tCentinued on Paxe Two0