The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-15
GERMANS MUST
ACCEPT TERMS
Though They Be Uncompromis-
ing and Mean Absolute
Surrender.
MILITARY SU PRE- MACY
Safeguarded in Presidents Re-
ply to Prince Max-Allies
Now Eu1lv in Saddle.
MILITARY SU PR E M ACY

Washington, Oct. 15.-President Will
sons reply to Germany. ending talk
| of an armistice until the Germans are
| ready to surrender and finally closing
the door to peace negotiations with
| kaiserism. was on the cables today,
| IL 1t actually had not arrived at Berne.
Only few hours should be required
for It's delivery from there to Berlin
through the Swiss foreign office.
Relaxation of Tension.
Washington has undergone q per-
ceptible relaxation OF tension since
yesterday and even those who had no
fears that the presidents diplomacy
would bring a relaxation Of military ef-
fort or compromise with faithless
enemy wore an air of relief. Every
where the feeling Is apparent that the
atmosphere Is clearer than before
Prince Macmillan came forward with
his peace drive; that the purposes OF
the United States and the allies are
more than ever clearly stated and that
the powers In Berlin and the German
, people must now see the futility OF
further attempts to avert the defeat
in sight by compromise.
So far the president has dealt only
with the proposal of the German gov
ernment, leaving unanswered similar
pleas for peace from Austria Hungary
and Turkey. There is no indication
that these allies of Germany will hear
from him until the dominant factor In
the central alliance makes another
move, unltss one or both of them
in the meantime should plead anew.
seeking surrender without regard to
the course or fate of the power that
hitherto has governed their action.
Cut off by the detection of Bulgaria
and cowed by the victorious British
armies. Turkey already virtually Is out
of the war and separate appeal from
the reorganized government at Con-
stantinople is looked for momentarily.
As to what will happen Immediately
in Germany 1t Is conceded that one
guess Is as good as another. though
there Is no doubt here as to what VIII
happen ultimately. With the American
naataa aeerur1ee AAlHnninge steRdllx
toward the German border, II - be-
lieved the only question is how far
they must 60 before the people OF the
Teutonic states arise to stop Invasion
by meeting the conditions upon which
the world will deal with them.
Washington, Oct. 15.-Unconditiona
surrender by Germany was the inter-
probation today put on President Will
sons answer to the German plea for
peace by both Americans and allied
military officials here. Only by abso-
Lutte surrender they said, can the enc
my now prevent the terminating evil
dence Of his defeat-inyasion of Ger
many.
There Is no doubt among officers
that sooner or later the enemy will be
compelled to accept these uncompro-
missing terms.
Pounding Enemy.
The German army Is being pounded
to death in the field. they declare, and
the only thing Germany can hope to
save from the wreckage Is to prevent
the war being carried across her bor-
der. And that can be accomplished
only at the price of putting herself as
utterly at the mercy Of the victors as
did Bulgaria.
Military opinion appeared to be in
full agreement that i'll enunciating, the
policy that absolute safeguards and
guarantees of the "present military
Of American and allied
forces must control any armistice
agreement, President Wilson had
placed it beyond the power Of Germany
to reap any benefit from an insincere
move towards peace.
The question Of the agencies to be
employed in framing armistice condi-
tons naturally will come up only when
Germany has complied with the presi-
dents other requirements. 1t seemed
probable to officers, however, that the
military board of the supreme war
council at Versailles would be the
natural agency. The council itself Is
only of the premiers of the
llied nations and President Wilson.
rhe military and all other boards Of
he council are advisory only and their
must be ratified by
he council to become effective.
Must Be Consulted.
without question Marshal Foch, the
supreme commander, and the field
Gems. Petain, Haig, Per-
hing and Diaz, would be fully con-
iulted and the resulting definite terms
# surrender In all probability would
,e at once ratified and laid before
iermany as the only price for respite
rom attack.
The general elements Of the terms
ppear to all military officers. 1t was
ointed out that 1t was the situation
f today at the front that constituted
he supremacy of which President
wilson speaks, the situation which
lust be adequately safeguarded. AS
military judges see that
ltuation, the German army Is IN deS-
crate straits, particularly for man
over. There also is striking evidence
waning morale.
With the shortage Of man power to
leet 1t was said that the German gen.
raj staff has logically decided upon
its lines to increase the re-
sting power of its reduced forces.
0 accomplish scientific retreat,
owever, the lines in the rear must be
repaired, organized and equipped In
ivance and the reserve troops must
3 installed In those lines to receive
I'D check the shock of enemy pursuit
ter the retreating forces have passed
rough to rest or reorganize in the
ar.
Terrific Hammering.
Under the terrific and never ceasing
Of the allied armies, ..ow-
'er, they have no time to arrange for
Ithdrawal on the same scale neces-
ry to meet their shrinking fcrces.
any officers have feared that by
me diplomatic trickery the enemy
ould secure enough time to fall back
the Rhine, shorten his lines. redis-
butte his forces, reconstitute his
ocks of guns and ammunition and
epare for long defensive battle.
esident Wilson's reply has shown
0 enemy, 1t was said, that this pro-