Middletown transcript., 1918-10-26
Germany, Admittedly Defeated,
Is Now Squirming to Pre-
vent Utter Disaster.
GREAT CIVIL UPHEAVAl ON
Austria and Turkey Ready to Quit
Huns, Forced by Allies. Begin Gen.
eral Retreat From Belgium
Still Resisting FierceIy In
Champagne.
BY EDWARD w. PlckARD.

SQulrmlnE, 0O0glng, waiting, the
German imperial government seemed
last week to be on its last leg. Thick
and fast came the rumOrs of uncon-
ditional surrender and of the abdica-
ton of the kaiser, and though these
were uncOnfirmed or cOntradicted as
fast as they came out, enough au-
1hentic news seeped through the veil
Of secrecy TO show that things were
In desperate state iE Germany. It's
peace trap was sprung harnllessly by
President Wilson when. In reply to
what Mt first glance looked like full
acceptance of his terms. he told the
government fatty that only absolute
equalization would be considered and
that the allies would not listen ut all
while the Huns occupied allied terri
tory and continued to perpetrate out
RACES on land and sea. Any persons
who may have had doubts concerning
the firmness Of the presidents will and
purpose were joyfully treasured. and
the answer created CONSERVATION in
Iserlin. The German press admitted
that 1t was q great blow to their rising
hopes Of peace, and the ruling minds
of the empire began to try to find
some other wa:' Of escape from the
desperate situation. As preliminary,
some dpmOcratiZing amendments to
the constitution were adopted or pro-
posed. notably one taking from the
emperor the right to declare war. The
newer Of the mixers was snpped. to-
gether with that Of their war lord.
There was. in1ecd. evidence that
civil upheaval of extraordinary pro-
portions was beginning which. even
more than the great military reverses,
would bring on Il ,iebacle for Germany.
--E-
The governments. the fighting forces
and the civilian peoples Of all the al
Ned nations made it absolutely plain
that Germany could not obtain the
spence without humiliation" which 1t
Is seeking. Nowhere among them is
found any sentiment Of pity for either
the brutal sOldiery that has raviShed
the earth or the people who have sup
ported and rejOiced over the inhu-
manity of the armed forces. The de-
mand for exact Justice is universal
outside the lands of the offenders. It
would not he In the least surprising If
the prediction made In these columns
many months ago were fulfilled. name
". that one Of the conditions OF peace
- hat S,1rron6nr thu
kaiser and other instigators and per-
petrators Of friehtfu!ness for personal
prnishment. With this spirit prevail
ing among the now victorious allies,
what chance has Germany for peace
without humiliation?
The abdicntion Of the kaiser. which
after all would he but incidental, was
considered likely. and 1t was reported
that he intended to step down in favor
OF Prince william Frederick. oldest
son of the crown prince. who Is only
twelve years old.
President Wilson delayed his reply
10 the peace proposals Of Austria-Hun-
gary and Turkey. probably in order
that the truth about their hopeless sit
nation might soak into their minds,
and reports showed they were realiz-
Ing the facts and beginning to act &C.
cordingly. The breakup Of the dual
Kingdom became more imminent, the
Hungarinns openly declaring their in
tention to separate from Austria. the
4. 81.
Ing out for independence. The govern
ment made despairing plans to hold
the empire together in the form Of a
confederation Of the various nationali-
lies. but this did not seem to interest
the peoples who have suffered so long