The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-16

Indications Found That Germany
Having Failed to Win Victory Seeks
to Have Civil Authorities Arrange
; Peace and That Failing Revolution
May be Expected.
Washington, Oct. 13.-The govern
ment asks the American people to
withhold their judgment on Ger
many's note until President Wilson
has received the official communica-
ton and has had opportunity to con-
slider it.
The official document had not been
received in Washington tonight when
the president returned from New
York. It probably will be here to-
morrow when the president with his
advisers, among them Secretary Ra-
ker, who returned today from the
Western battle front, undoubtedly
prepared to give him some inside in
formation on the broken condition of
the German military power which
the world necessarily does not know
at this time.
Tonight, as last night, no official
Of the government felt justified in
speaking to guide public opinion IN
the direction of the views which are
being formed. The Associated Press
is enabled to say, however, that these
views are rapidly crystalizing and the
next step will be taken promptly
probably sooner than may be expect
ed.
President Wilson is expected to
first decide if Foreign Secretary Solfs
reply to the inquiries, addressed TO
Chancellor Maximilian, warrants him
in presenting Germany's original pro-
posal to the entente allies. 1t should
be borne in mind that the presidents
inquiry merely was move ad inter
i'm, in which he proposed nothing,
bound himself to nothing, and merely
asked some questions which, he de-
clared, required an answer before he
could go further.
If the president puts the PROPOSE
ton before the entente it probably
will draw quick reply. Dispatches
last night from London, quoting the
London Express as announcing the
British, French and Italian govern
ments had reached unanimous de-
cision for a lire Of common action,
were regarded as being deeply slgnl-
cant.
Lacking official guidance on which
to base prediction, observers are
forced to record indications.
The indications are that there will
be no armistice, and that II the en-
tente allies were disposed to agree to
one they probably would demand as
guarantees of German faith that such
places at Metz, Strasburg, Trieste, and
possibly Essen be placed in the hands
Of entente forces to guarantee Iul-
nlIment of Germany's words. II
Germany expects that by agreeing to
the evacuation of occupied territories
she will exact the evacuation OF Ger
man colonies occupied by entente
forces, Germany's statesmen nave
made another mistake. A reference
to President Wilson's inquiry shows
that he spoke distinctly in reference
TO invaded territory occupied by
troops of the central powers.
When the American capital recov-
cred it's balance after the surprise OF
Foreign Secretary Soils note it found
its unofficial opinion divided into two
distinct lines.
One, shared largely by the Repuo-
licans in congress, is inclined to the
view that Senator Lodges predlctiot
of a situation which may threaten the
substitution of deliberation OF dlplo-
macy for victories at arms has peen
fulfilled.
The other confident in the success
of President Wilson's diplomacy ana
probably forming its conclusions
from close knowledge of what the
government is planning is very certain
that the president has created a slt-
nation where he now can denver an
orher stroke which will bring about
unconditional surrender or throw the
kaiser and the German mllltaElSls
comnletelv out of any power they
may retain. ~,
There is a general feeling that the
neyt move will confront the military
nartv with the choice Of such an un-
| conditional OS Wa ~
ceptable to all the allied cobelllser-
ents or a genuine political revolution
IN Germany which will bring about
one. 49,,
1t has been pointed out that
President Wilson's inquiry to Chan'
ceilor Maximilian to develop wheth'
er the chancellor merely was speak
ing for the German leaders VINO nave
been conducting the war prooaoI
was skillfully framed to pave the Wa'
for an opportunity to inform the Ger
man people directly that no covenant
of peace can be made with the fhei
who have betrayed the world
The present German government
which as Secretary Solf says, wa
supported of the majority OF the relch
stag, was formed through an I'm
neria1 decree which permitted II
There is nothing before any OF TN
,1lied governments so far as is known
40 show that there has been an!