The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-09


 people would not have had the Presi- dent say less than he has said. They rejoice that he has so promptly and skillfully avoided an enemy snare. and that he voices their feelings when he declares that burden, now as ever, is on German shoulders.
 The note is smartly worded < The President virtually asserts the doctrine of unconditional surrender
 Nashville Tennessean: With the keen. gIittering sword of Justice and Right, the President has foiled the would-be cunning maneuver of the Hun, and has shivered the latter's blade to the very handle.
 There can be no peace while the Kali sers troops are defending the father land'' on foreign soil nor while the pres ent imperial German government exists to deal with.'
 Greensboro (N. @ Daily News: This brief communication supplies. the touch- stone to the Maximilan gesture. If the definite principles of the President are accepted without stipulation or reserva- tion an agreement in principle is already reached Germany can hardly reply at all unless by revealing it's full purpose.
 Charlotte (N C.) Observer: President Wilson left no doubt in the German mind as to the procedure at Berlin neces- sary to securing a discussion of the matter.
 He would have Germany come to the peace table as an evacuated belllgerent and surrendered government, with only the previously understood terms 10 pc formally accepted and signed up.
 Bristol (Tenn.-Va.) Herald Courier President Wilson purposes, before re- plying to the German peace ofIer' to ascertain just what it means and to test the good faith of the German govern ment in making the offer. Germany's refusal to withdraw her troops rom oc- cupied territory will expose the lnsin cerity of her proposal to accept the Fres- ident's peace terms. Danville (Va) Register: Cnancehoi Maximilian's note purporting to seek ar armistice for peace negotiations IS q most adroit one. It (President Whson note, is not a reply, but request TOT specifications, which it is made ciear must comply with clearly defined condi, l lions already definitely outhned anu known to the world. It offeres small hope of peace, however. Lynchburg (va.) News: The Presiuen' ! met that slays. He has met it at the iron' door and instead of permitting 1t to enter in he has struck 1t doWn ~itn l tha raniditv of fncisive keen-edged ln- Inuirv and now all that is left or us once so exceptionally vaunted presence IS 2 l ,o amorv that mocks the hypocrisy or tns l motive which gave it life ana the ou"' ming of the hand which fashioneu ~. l Newport News (Vao Daily Press. ra | Iorocidant Wilson s Tc- e,ast for more specific information WI ha disappointing on first reading ,o .n, a,, gsnsraI sentiment, in America wnisn l ,,oL ad for an abrupt refusal to conslue,
 an,- naace proposal involving arHiisr,S. r,,, or nagotiation prior to surrender, president. however. probably IS s n, l care that it shall not be In tne po r,,,s the military element in Gernlans tba re represent the grounds oi ;s deliy fusal comes when IL h'a'
 cred. h.h,v no one els' l., *ha country would have answsreu ~, ~, on,rcellor in the manner auvp ;S th,
 n.sant The general feeling II .n
 ass and other comment on lne .,,o ;s to he taken as an ',s .,,,,,,y h. that the right answer s,.;orsl wo surren
 not p,,t now that the thing mas peer uet. rr,,cre. we believe Will recoe
 oone' ;t as inc logical, straightiorwar'
 'I st Louis Globe -Democra. in n,acas .nas th, m
 terrogative way the Presiuen' .ha psAc centra "a,
 .e snonsibility of action upon tne cen.aa as,
 respoms0The They cannot pretend that theil
 powe, pasa, has been flouted or that 1t hal
 p paop, w,thout consideration. The grea
 .,o peen of peace which they so muci
 euS es.ra ss placed before them for tnei
 aes,e solution. They must approve tn
 president's interrogative or go on hsh' ing. ,ar;cans feel tha there should be nothing tha. saso un
 ra,,,oteIv of diplomatic weakening. un
 fortrnately. the Presidents note or Tn luuiry is likely so to be construed. Peace is a long way off. for there can D | no peace until there Is unconditional sur