The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-02
I CONDITIONS N GERMANY.
RELIEVED THAT MOVEMENT HAS
PASSED BEYOND MILITARY
CONTROL.

pE1dEvED THAT MOVEMENT HAS
PASSED BEYOND MILITARY
CONTROL.
State Department Does Not Make
pnblic: Last Ncte-U Understood to
attempt to Show That Efforts To-
ward Democracy Have Been Sue
cessfu In Germany.
Washington, Oct. 30.-The general
oninion among officials and diplomats,
+ ere is that the German proposal for
an armistice and peace, WhlIe havlng.
its origin in plan to gain tllne TOT
strength the ar my ana restoring
IFS shattered morale, has now sotten
heyond control of the military party.
and that the German people are the
force which is driving the German, e,
government to make for the end OF
the; war.
Another note from the German gov
ernment explanatory of the changes
that have been made or are project
ed in the German constHutlon anu
form of government was received to-
dav through the Swiss LEGATION, but
the state department did not make IT
n,,b1ic. This note was understood to
be elementary to the. preceding
German Communication saying 10 the
president that he has knowledge OF
the efforts that have been made to
democratize Germany.
President Wilson was at work to-
day on. his reply to- Austrial's 8. renewed
nlea for an arrnisfice and peace and 1t
was expected that it would be dis
matched. before night, but later today
If was said at the state department
that there would be no announce
ment regarding the reply tonight.
IT was understood that in the note
the president intended to touch upon
the steps that Austria and Hungary
have taken in the decision Of releas-
ing subject peoples from political
bondage, but that the Austrian gov
ernment's plea would be referred to
the allied governments. The admin
istration was said to be well conytnc-
ed now that Austria already is near
zly out Of the war and that her will
for peace is simply tempered by
natural disposition to get the best
terms possible short Of uncondition-
al surrender: The report that Count
Andrassy, the new Austrian premier,
is about to sue directly to Italy for
peace; on the ground that Italy Is
Austria's sole antagonist" is gem
erally regarded as confrmatory OF
this understanding Of the hopeless
situation in the dual empire.
It was pointed out that since Italy
.solemnis eng aged with the other en-
tente powers lot to make separate
peace if Austria carries cut this plan
It naturally would be referredt by
Italy to the s,,preme war council.
There was no official information
here today as to the progress Of the
deliberations of the supreme war
council and notice was taken OF the
reserved attitude of the council In
issuing any statements to the public,
The inference is drawn that a def1-
mite policy has been agreed upon TO
withhold all information regarding
the discussions before the council OF
the grave diplomatic and military
questions which now engage its atten-
ton in connection with the psepara-
ton of an armisticc.
Col. E. M. House. who is in Paris as
the special representative OF the
American government to the Euro
pean governments, has been MAKING
long reports to Washington. but it IS
believed these do not relate to the
proceedings Of the war council but put
rather enlbody the individual views
he has gathered from many private
conferences with the entente pre-
niers, cabinet officers and military
and naval officers in attendance up
on the council.
There has been much speculation IN
official circles as to the probable Iea-
lures Of the arnaistice which Will De
offered to the central powers, but 1t is
admitted that there is no definite
knowledge. on the subject. One com
paratively new proposition relates 70
the guarantees to be exacted from
Germany for the repayment OF the
Tremendous financial losses suffered
! Oy tnS pOpu1dllCI1S SA SNNOSO
/ Of Belgium and France occupied by
the German troops This is under.
stood to contemplate the possession
o. the entente powers Of a number
of important industrial cities IN the
rhine country and Of the products o.
| The mines and the soils therein unti
compensation has been made. mus
Germany would be dependent upon
the entente powers for any iron ano
/ coal or manufactured products sne
might have to draw from that ter
ritory.
The official text Of the Austrian
4 note which did not differ materlall'
from the unofficial version, was mace
public today at the State department
but there was no announcement o.
the receipt of the comnun1catloi
/ from Count Andrassy to SecretarA
Lansing asking the secretary 10 us'
his good offices with the president II
| ,xoLolf. of 1Sfria'S plea