The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-28
ARMISTICE Will
MEAN WAR'SEND
In Plain Words, Any Terms De-
manded by Allies Would Be
Unconditional Surrender.
NO REPLY NECESSARY
President Wilson Not Expected
to Answer Germany's Latest
Note on Peace.
(By John Edwin Nevln.)

| Germany's latest communication does
| not require any reply from President
| Wilson. Officials today simply char
! acteriZed 1t as an acknowledgement OF
his answer of Oct. %.
The inclusion In 1t of further pro-
testations that the peace negotiations
are being conducted by u peoples
government. was described by officials
as in the nature of the small boy
whistling in tho dark room to keep up
his cour age. 1t Is very plain. officials
say, that the German officials, by en-
phasizing again and again, their
| claimed changed constitution. iope to
impress the president and ~ him to
| tighten the terms that will he re-
auired as a preliminary to actual
| peace.
Kind Of Terms.
Officials, however, insisted again
| today that any armistice terms granted
| Germany will be of character that
| render the German military am naval
machines absolutely impotent, and IL
accepted, actually mean the end o. the
war.
officials did not expect that the lat
est German reply would reach here
before late today or tomorrow. The
official text is understood to have been
handed to the Swiss diplomatic repre-
sentative in Berlin Sunday night. De-
lay in coding 1T and the usual delay in
transmission naturally would consu. g
many hours. 1t Is believed he. that
will reach here about the same time
s the reported Austrian reply which
IS to have been started for Wash
/ ington, according to Swiss advices
this morning. This latter reply is de-
scribed in messages reaching the 1iplo-
matte corps here from neutral coun-
tries as most conciliatory in tone.
War Council.
1t Is assumed here that the work of
completing the conditions on which
Germany may secure an armistice will
be started at the meeting of the inter-
allied war council, which Is sche. uled
to begin at Versailles tomorre V, and
at which the United States is to be
represented by Col. House, Gen. Bliss
and Admiral Benson. 1t will be at
tended by the British, French, Italian
and other allied premiers and military
and naval commanders. The first
thtAx which will be decided, officials
say, is whether any armistice can be
granted; then it is expected the work
of completing terms will be begun.
While there have been many versions
Of possible armistice conditions officials
said today that no hard and fast rules
have yet been agreed on. There are
two questions that will govern, cabi-
net official said today.
They are:
Can the allies, under existing circum-
stances. with the German army still ex-
tremely powerful, agree TO the principles
of an armlstice?
IF this question is replied to In the af-
firmative. then there are two other de-
termining factors. They are how to rem
der the German navy powerless to under
take any surprise raids. to put all sub
marines out of commission and to compel
the rehabilitation of the German army
and the surrender to the guardianship Of
the allies of such German centers as
would effectively prevent a renewal of
hostilities by Germany. should she, at the
last minute. decide that conditions of
peace were such that they could not be
accepted. In plain words, it means un-
conditional surrender by Germany in ad
vance of peace negotiations. no matter
how the terms may be camouflaged.'
Military Problem.
Settlement of the questions. in the opin-
ion of this official, Is absolutely military
problem. which no one is capable of
speaking on but the active military heads
OF the army and of the navy.
There were many officials here today
who believed that the reported acceptance
of the resignation of Gen. Ludendorff as
general Of the German |
army meant that Germany will accept any |
armistice terms that may be imposed by |
the allies. His retirement at this time |
Of the entire German army. 1t Is Lu- |
dendorff who has been the leader of the !
pam Germanists, although he is under
stood to have opposed the Verdun and
he has retired from his post. 1t means
that with him will go the entire German
general staff which has been responsible
,or the conduct Of the war.
Short on Material
There has been no doubt that Germany
s short of all kinds of raw material. One
'eason for this has been that the supply
which has been drawn from neutral coun
ries has been greatly reduced since the
lllies took over the offensive. Swedish
md Dutch officials who have been pro-
ierman in the past have all changed their
positions. This has cost Germany large
Quantities of raw materials which 1t pre-
'iously was able to get from neutral
ources.
Critical Moment.
Officials here believe that the critical
moment in the present situation will come
'efore the end of the present week. If
'ermany really must have peace-and
here are many here who believe this.
10Th American officials and members OF
he diplomatic corps-then she will accept
he war, even unconditional surrender. II
er peace maneuvering has been designed
o deceive the allies and thus gain time,
ot only has 1t failed of its purpose but
will require some real explanation
,ithin Germany to the German people.
here Is no question that Germany Is ripe
or revolt, and If 1t can be shown that
he officials have been misleading the ,
eople nothing can prevent an actual out
reak, In the opinion of officials here.
ha Mold dnc1 Ia rof fiTv1c nfM Me- |
en- in an interview with the Berinske !
'idende's Berlin correspondent. in which '
e said. Wilhelm ii. has been a film hero. {
18th Germany the vulgar cinema showing
ne ruins of thirty years OF Hohenzollern &
olicies." coupled with his denunciation s
I the Brest -Litovsk am; Bucharest trea- c
es. shows the trend OF the radical I
1ought in Germany, In the opinion of /;
early all officials here. It Is believed !
ere that the socialis's are about TO serve
office to Germany proper that a republic
lust be formed. Whether they could 7
,rce this appears doubtful from all OF /
lie information that can be gathered here q
ut they will force far more radical re- 10
,rms. officials say. than have so far been \
by the German rulers.
No matter what may transpire I'm Ger
lany. officials said today that nothing !
ould be permitted to interfere with the u
bsolute harmony between the entente al n
ouse on the ground In Paris. 1t Is ex- s
scted here that absolute diplomatic unity d
action will be secured from now on. 1,
Kaiser Present At Meeting. p
According to official advices reach "
q diplomats today. the latest Ger n
an acknowledgement was prepared r.