Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-23
WAR MUST END ON
BATTLEFIELD PARIS
FRENCH PAPERS DECLARE THE
ONLY WAY TO SAVE 81 'oO-
SHED is TO FIGHT TO FINISH.

Paris. Oct. 23-In discussing the
German n'y to President Wilson
the Tenn vs;
Nov. more ,han ever, the decision
must be with the military and naval
chiefs of our alliance. To make the
French public believe that Germany
Yields and to insinuate that peace IS
coming along the pathway of least ef-
fort is an outrage 10 truth and m III
service to the country.
There is only one way to spare
French hood and that is to refuse The
enemy until he capitulates. A respite
in the fighting would give Ludendofh
time in which to recover.
The Temps reviews the Germans
note and points out that it contain s
no word of apology for crimes com
mitted. The note, ii says. is conpos-
ed of two parts. One part. which is
short, carries the need of the gener-
al staff for respite from fighting,
The other, which is verbose. answers
the need of the German government
for sustaining hope in Germany.
In regard to the German demand
that arrangements for an armistice
should be according 10 the power on
both sides Of the field. the Temps
wonders what Gen Hoffman would
have said about that before the Brest-
Litovsk negotiations.
'rWhat is the good" ii adds, "of
telling us the German regime has
been radically transformed when the
reichstag has not deliberated on any
Of the three replies to President Viii
son? To say ii is dark at midday de-
ceives nobody
The German reply was eagerly dis
cussed in ofEcial circles and in parlia-
ment Among deputies of all shades
of opinion the impression was first of
all that the reply betrayed more
than previous communications the
state of depression and the democrat
ization of the German people as the
result of the allies victories.
AS a whole the note is found to be
equivocal and tortuous and platitudi
nously phrased as 10 leave the door
open for all sorts Of quibbling, No,
where is there evidence in the reply
of a genuine desire to accept the only
way in which peace can be concluded
according to expression of opinion
here.
The Figaro says that the men who
combined to write the reply to presi
dent Wilson have translated the an
guish, disarray, and powerless anger
OF the people in whose name they pre-
tend to speak
The German note is typical doc
ument.' the Matin says. In it are
expressed the sentiment of barbar.
Gus people who failed in foray
There is not a word in the note which
reveals that stoical strength of which
France and other nations have so of.
ten given proof in misfortune
Nevertheless, by a remnant of that
living trickery innate in the Teuton
our adversary seeks still to deceive
himself by lulling himself against all
evidence and hopes, by one doesn't
know VIVA crazy illusion. to succeed
in deludia. wilson by euphuisms and
equivocatio.
THE German government is again
trying to bubble" says LHomme
libre "Still. while Illuminating it.
self, II does not admit its defeat, but
one feels it is at the end of It's resis-
lance"
Marcel Cachin, writing in Humanite
SAYS "On every point the German
government clearly shows an effort
at Cancellation Good sense and rea.
son dictate that we do not persist in
talking Of traps and tricks. We said
few days ago hat the conversations
begun on Oct would be continued
We may abserve that a new step to-
ward a just peace has been made this
day"
The Germans are hoping by their
discussions Of an armistiee to substi
tute Cen, Pershing for Marshal Foch
as the Military leader who VIII state
the terms, the Petit Journal says
This newspaper adds that Is is suiIi
cient TO point out that President vii
son has been a warm partisan Of uni
fled command. 1t remarks that only
the supreme commander has the
right to lay down the conditions Of
an armstice.
The most general comment in the
press upon the German reply Is that
the enemy is attempting to escape
an admission of defeat by causins
pacilit agitatons in entente countries
With this end in view the German
wireless Is sending out fantastic
stories OF pacifst manifestations il
Lyons. Marseiles, and other import
ant cities. and Of imminent strikes.