The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-10-15

du al ulSllCc, luuSL Dc Tie cOuuIIlOu
precedent to any talk about peace.
" No peace can be made with the
the Hohenzollerns. Peace must
be signed in behalf Of Germany by
an authority having neither the will
NOR the power to seize the next fav'
orable occasion to begin new war #
imperial ambition.
New York World:-"Coming from
any honest and respectable govern
ment, such a reply as Germany has
made to President Wilson's inquiries
might safely be accepted as an un-
conditional surrender. Coming from
the Germany government. 1t
must be accepted for what it is-an
offer Of a surrender without =
security whatsoever for compliance
with any provisions or promise.
New York Herald:--If the Ameri-
can people have any SAY the
German plea for an armstice will be
granted to Bulgaria. There must he
immediate transfer to the armies Of
the victorious allies Of all German
arms and munitions of war. Uncon-
ditional surrender : must be fol-
lowed by the punishment demanded
by justice.
New York Tribune: Victory in this
war is but a means to justice
and by justice we mean death to the
kaiser and to the authors of all that
unspeakable criminality committed
in his name. If this be not the
verdict of the American people, We
do not know them.
New York Sun:-What the creden.
tials Of the voice now speaking? A
satisfactory credential would be the
announcement of the kaiser's abdica-
ton. Unless the president has
information through other channels
we can readily imagine what his an
swer must be. The one thing
certain is that the German will for
peace is growing by geometrical pro-
gression.
Springfield (Mass.) Republican,: -
On its face the reply seems to be an
uncond. tioual surrender, II 1t Is hon
estly meant and upon this point the
president should be able speedily TO
present convincing evidence, the to
,lerm may soon sound for peace. The
reply is as direct and explicit as a
trief categorical reply could well be-
Philadelphia Public, Ledger:--The
purpose of America and her allies
that the central powers shall sur
render Internationally was never
more firmly held than now.
Philadelphia North American:-We
do not pretend to deny that Ger
many's answer to President Wilson's
queries makes an early peace posi- |
ble But IL there is any sanctity In
the worldwide demand for peace OF
Justice and permanency, II there is
any need for the final overthrow OF
Austria, Turkey and the destruction
Of its military power, then civiliza-
lion was never nearer to the abyss
Of disaster than 1t is at this hour.
Baltimore Sun:--If Germany Is act
ing in good faith in Its answer TO
President Wilson, then, as Secretary
McAdoo says, her acceptance OF the
demands amounts to I'M
conditional surrender. IL SO, the war
is won. II is not worth while to 60
on fighting for something that we al
ready possess. Obviously the thing
to do in these circumstances Is to
find out whether she is acting In good
faith, IL what she means by accep-
lance Of the presidents terms and
what we mean by 1t are one and the
same thing.
baltimore American: -There Is
lust this phase of the evolved situa-
lion of a near peace-of peace, say
within six month. This is In the pos
,ibility that Germany will quickly ac-
cent the inevitable, and the newt
,ble is unconditional surrender. This
g the one and only condition that
,an be accepted preliminary to On
lrmistice.
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune:-
All This means Is that Germany be-
rims to realize that IL Foch is not
;topped she is terribly beaten.
Louisville Courier,Journal: - The
nan in the White House must draft
he program of civilization in Its
uture dealings with the despoiler
hat he and his colleagues of the al,
led governments will permit the
Iun to retire to his bloody lair still
belligerent is unthinkable The
rms of Germany and Austria must
~ stacked on the battle line. !
Wait for him (the president) before