Evening star., 1918-10-15
PRESIDENTS NOTE
ENDS FOR PRESENT
D|PLOMAT|CPAR[EY
UItimatum Considered Fire
brand Cast in German
Politics.
OTHER CENTRAL POWERS
MUST QUIT ALLIANCE
Replies to Austria Hungary and
Turkey to Be Held in
Allegiance.

Allegiance.
President Wilson's ultimatum to Ger
many is construed in diplomatic and
official circles here as putting an end
for the present to diplomatic proceed
u-e and centering all interest upon
military operations in continuance of
unremitting attack upon the enemy.
Last nights note was an ultimatum,
for the President used the word ode
eision" in announcing his attitude re-
garding his communication to the Ger
nan government.
Suggestion Is Firebrand.
While making it plain that military
force. will continue to be exerted to the
utmost, the President has cast a fire.
brand into the combustible mass of in
te-nal German politics in his sugges-
ton for the overthrow of the kaiser's
government. In this it is thought he
has accomplished an end he has long
ical edifice to crumble, while the allies
hammer at the military front.
The reply to the request Of Austria
Hungary for an arnistice and of Turkey
for intercesson with the allies to the
same end will be held in allegiance, it
was intimated this morning. There re-
mains yet for Austria Hungary and Tur-
key something to do before their appeals
will stand upon good foundation.
Must Abandon Alliance.
It may occur to Austria Hungary
and Turkey that it will be necessary
for them to abandon their alliance
with Germany before their requests
can find sympathetic response with
the allies. 1t is suggested that Bull
garia set a precedent which is well
worthy of study.
In this connection it is noted. how
ever. that Bulgaria did not dare aban-
don Germany until the allies were
present il sufficient numbers to shield
them from the wrath of Germany.
The establishment of a Danube front
of formidable propositions may help
Turkey and Austria-Hungary to a
quicker determination to quit the al
lance with Germany.
With the military situation to the
fore now, immediate interest attaches
to the Presidents demands for lab
soluteiy satisfactory safeguards and
guarantees of the maintenance. .of the
present military supremacy of the
armies of the United States and of the
allies in the fields" This is one of
the most important features of his
ultimatum.
Predict Yielding by Hun.
Military men here believe that the
principal of these safeguards and
guarantees will BE- the surrender by
the Germans of the great Metz and
StrasSburg fortresses, together with
outlying territories of Alsace-Lor-
raine. They are likely to include also
occupation by the allies of the left
bank OF the Rhine from Holland to
Switzerland
The value of the surrender of Metz
and Strassburg and of the outlying
territory of Alsace Larraine consists,
from strictly military and utilitari-
an viewpoint, in the fact that thus
Germany would be deprived of sup
plies of coal and iron necessary for
war purposes, as well as losing the
strategic support OF the fortreSses.
Naturally, sentimental value in the
liberation of Alsace-Lorraine would
be appraised by the French and shared
by others, but for the immediate pur-
poses of the war and the weakening
of the German arm of aggression the
wrestling of the coal and iron beds
from Germany is the heaviest asset, in
the estimate of the allies.
Alsace-Lorraine's Future.
It is a foregone conclusion that
Alsace-Lorraine will be forever lost
to Germany in the final settlement of
peace terms. No other conception of
the future is possible. France and
Great Britain will never sign a peace
treaty that does not provide for the
vaSf0r9fi0n of those tarrjfnriaS TO
France, and President Wilson is in
entire accord with that decision.
But the point is that even before
Germany can secure an armistice and
cessation of hostilitieS she is to be
required to give up the territories as
q guarantee of not making war here
after. since without their mineral re-
sources she will be incapable of get
ting war-making material.
Other Demands Secondary.
There are other conditions, to be
sure. as set forth in his ultimatum,
such as disseminating the inhumane
practices in the retreat from France
and Belgium and the submarine
atrocities, together with reformation
OF the German government. But they
are IN a measure secondary. it is
thought here, to the main guarantee
demanded by the President, which is
that the present military supremacy
of the armies OIL the United States
and the allies now in the fields must
. be assured.
1t was learned unofficially today
that the embarkation of troops over
seas has now passed the two-million
mark 1t was announced from the
White House last night that ship
ments will continue at the rate of
250,00o a month. These shipments, it
must be borne in mind, are from the
quota raised by the other drafts; the
men to be enlisted under the last
draft have not been drawn upon yet
There are 100000 more in reserve.
The fact was commented upon to-
day that the President in last nights
note made no reference to the impe-
rial German government which ap-
parently does not exist fo- him; he
referred throughout to the present
German government"