Norwich bulletin., 1918-10-14
TEXT OF GERMAN REPLY
 HAS REACHED LONDON

London, Oct. 13-The text of the German reply to President Wilson's note reached the British foreign office this morning from the British minister at The Hague. Foreign Secretary Bal four and Andrew Bonar Law, the chan cellor of the exchequer. immediately
 left with it to confer with Premier Lloyd George, who is spending the
 week end in the country.
 At this juncture it is unlikely that
 any responsible British minister will
 make any detailed declaration on the situation arising from Germany's reply to the American president. The next step seems to be for the president to consult with the allies for a general consideration of the German answer. On the face of it, the German note, i according to an authoritative source,
 seems to be an acceptance not only of | the points of the presidents dec,ara- tion in January, but also of his subse cuent statements. It may thus be said | to look as if the Germans meant ac- | ceptance, but of course, it was pointed out the real difficulty is that Germany hitherto has shown an utter disregard of obligations to speak ths truth or keep her word. The phrasing of the
 note, it is held, does not yet make it definitely clear if the presidents terms 1 are dCC6DlSu UT are OIlly IS- 1 garded as a basis for discussion. The reply was received in London too i late last night to become generally 1 known outside the theatre and restau-
 rant sections, where at first glance it | was accepted as meaning peace. After ! it's publication in the morning news | papers, however, expressions of suspi- i cion were heard on all sides. Many
 searched the note for some evidence 1 that it might be a ruse to save the German armies from utter destruction, | but most of the people are awaiting
 an authoritative lead before forming a
 definite opinion.
 i Unconditional surrender is rapidly 1 gaining popularity with the average
 citizen as a response to the German
 document, and many would not be
 satisfied with anything less. This feel l ing is accentuated by the German at
 tempt to destroy Cambrai and the
 raging of villages by the enemy in his
 great retreat, as well as by the sink
 ing of the Leinster-all these being
 acts from which no military advantage
 could be gained.
 The reply did not surprise soldiers on furlough from the front. Officers and privates alike are firm in the | opinion that the German has received | d huOChOuI UlOW, anu hnOWS IL dIlu IS willing to save anything possible from
 the wreck. The churches were crowd
 ed this morning in the expectation that 1 some reference to the situation would l be made in the sermons.
 1 While counting at least a nominal acceptance of President Wilson's terms
 as a great step towards the abject sur 1 render of Germany. the point enters | into the discussions here that the
 terms of Great Britain and it's domin-
 ions as well as of France, also count.
 It is commented that there is no doubt 1 Germany found herself faced with the 1 loss of the bulk of her army, caught | in the pincers of the advancing allied
 armies, without any assurance of their
 escape. and thus the view is taken in
 some quarters that the terms of evac-
 uation must include the surrender of those armies internationally.
 | America, it is recognized, has saved the cause of the allies, the Sunday Ob-
 server says, but it points out that ica could have saved it any more than l it could have been saved without France, and that the part played by each of these countries has been vital The opinion is expressed here that 8 mere vague statement such as the German reply will not be sufficient an6 that there can be no question of stop ping military operations. No armistice is possible, it is held except on mos rigorous guarantees that the enemy Is
 not merely making use of the interva
 to prepare to begin again later.