Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-10-24


of surrender!
No peace with the kaiser and
has war lords, now or Later!
Thus President Wilson has
given In advance his own final
decision in informing the new
spOkesmen of Germany that he
has acceded to their request
that be take up with the allies
their plea for an armistioe aRd
peace negotiations.
The presidents reply to the lat
est German note has gone on It's
way 10 Berlin. 1t was delivered
TO Frederick Oederlin the Swiss
charge here last night at o'clock
and soon afterWard was on the
cables in plain English. no time be-
ing lost TO convert the presidents
uEcompromising sentences into
code. Apparently the exchanges
which had been in progress between
Washington and the allied capitols
since the wireless version OF the
German communication was picked
up Monday terminated late In the
afternoon, enabling the president
to reply just IL hours after the Of
fetal text had been delivered.
Must Wreck War Machine.
| Assurances of the present author
tiles at Berlin that they represent
the German people, that they accept
| the conditions of peace he has laid
/ down and that the German armed
! forces on land and sea will observe
the rules OF civilized warfare, are
accepted by the president only as
changing the situation sufficiently
to warrant him in formally submit
ting the questions involved TO the
nations with which the United
States is associated in the war. In
doing this, he tells these authori-
ties and through them the German
people that the only acceptable
guarantee Of their words must be
submission to terms of an armis-
tice that will make + possible for
Germany to renew hostilities. that
the kaiser still holds the power 20
control the empire and that until
he and his autocrats are out, sur
render and not peace negotiations
must be demanded.
Allies Prepare Next Move.
While this situation is sinking
home in Germany, the allied gov
ernments will be prepared for the
next move, which lies with them
acting in harmony with the United
States. First, there is to be de-
ternined. as the president asks.
whether the allies are willing TO
effect peace on the conditions enuU-
ciated by him and accepted by Ger
many If they do, the question of
an armistice will be submitted To
the military advisers of all the CO.
belligerents and when the neces-
sary conditions to render the Ger
man military machine puWerless
for harm have been formulated the
program will be forwarded TO Ber-
lin.
Ends Dealings by Z. $.
One point that those in the CON
fidence of the president emphasized
today is that the president and the
United States government now are
through with separate dealings
with the German authorities. The
whole situation rs before the Co-Jol-
ligerent governments and the fu-
ture announcement will be OF lhe
United States and the allied gov
crnments acting In concert
Pu- Up to Army Chiefs.
In notifying Germany that its re-
quest had been transmitted 10 the
allies the president said that he
had suggested TO them that IF they
are disposed to act upon the terms
and principles now accepted by the
present German authorities. their
military advisers and those OF the
United States be asked II they dee 4
an armistice possible from a min-
tary point OF view, 10 submit term
Of an armistice that will insure fhe
associated governments unrestrinf-
ed power 10 enforce peace upon the
conditions accepted by Germany
Would Disarm Germany.
| Military observers here believe
/ such terms would include ucCupa
tion Of strategic points Boz German.
rehabilitation OF the German
armies the turning over OF the Ger
man navy and the removal OF The
means Of equippiug military and
naval forces.
Interest on Terms.
Discussion oentered here TODAY
on the probable terms OF armistira
which may be formulated by the
allied and American military adj
visers after the allied government.
have considered the German pro-
posals transmitted by President
Wilson. II was generally assumed
by army officers that the pres dent
had ascertain ID the willingness az
the allied governments 90 submit
ithr matter 10 the military men It
fw'll be the mission OF me military
advisers 20 translate gou uara' prIu
ciples I'm concrete terms 81 fort
resses 10 be occupied. submarine
bases 20 be placed on ruard- muut-
tions plants to be djsmantlad and
strategic rail lines 20 Doe secured
against German use.
Machinery All Ready.
The machinery for formulat on
OF the terms already exists Tha
military and naval boards OF the