Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-22
CALL HUN REPLY
AWKWARD MOVE

ually the German public for a re
alization OF what has happened t
their military machine and the wa
lords dream of power SO as to avoi
a complete collapse of government
Diplomatic observers point GU
that the president is at liberty, wit
perfect consistency, to make no re
Spouse at this time but to await de
velopments; to await the perform
ance OF the promises of the Ger
mans not to torpedo passenge
ships, their implied promise to worl
no more destruction during the re
treat from Belgium and France thai
military necessity requires, and II
nally to await further development
of the political leaven that evident
| ly is working toward the complete
overthrow OF military and autocrat
ic power in the empire.
Hostilities Not Over.
No one believes that an immedi
ate cessation Of hostilities is il
sight. The opinion most generally
held is that if Mr.. Wilson decides
to make replySand if the entente
governments agree. the only stet
possible at this time would be te
sanction arrangements to be dicta'
ted by General Foch in the field fol
withdrawal of the Germans without
further fighting. Such arrange
ments, of course, would be contin,
gent upon guarantees of continued
supremacy of the victorious allied
armiesy and consequently virtually
would mean surrender for the Ger
mans.
The official view here so far has
been that evacuation of invaded ter
ritory must be completed before
there can be an armistice. Should
President Wilson, after consultation
with the allies, adhere to the view
the work of driving the Germans t.,
and across their own borders would
proceed and the opportunity for FIX
ing details which the new note sug.
gests "be brought about" would
come only through request from
the German lines under white flag
from the battlefield.
Denials Unimportant.
Little Importance is attached te
the protests and denials in the mote
regarding German brutality ant
ruthless destruction of property
The important thing is whether
atrocities now stop. AS to an in
vestigation by a neutral commits
sion. as suggested in, the note, the
president indicated long ago thai
such Investigations come to moth
ing except in connection with ar
engagements for final peace.
Regarding the German denial o.
unnecessary destruction of prop
erty by the retiring armies, military
experts say that undoubtedly such
armies are authorized under lntef'
national law to work terrible havoc
in evacuated territory.
But there is one prime condition
to be met-all of this must be done
with the sole purpose of damaging
and retarding. the pursuing army
Bridges may be destroyed, stores O
food burned and, even, building!
which might shelter enemy troops
But it is not permitted to poison
wells, to destroy fruit trees or te
loot and destroy private property
which would be of no use to either
army, or, in fact, to commit any o.
the acts of wanton deviltry which
are charged against the German
armies.
Senate Would Stop Notes
Senator Poindexter Of Washing.
ton, republican, introduced a join
resolution today proposing that
congress forbid further negotiation!
by the United States with Germany
looking to the granting Of an arms
tice or peace until the German mill.
tary forces have surrendered TN
conditionally. 1t was referred te
the foreign relations committee.
The resolution further calls fol
the prosecution of the war with the
utmost vigor and the occupation and
control by the allies Of such Ger.
man territory as can be obtained by
our military forces until peace ne.
gotiations have been concluded. II
would declare it unlawful for any Of
fetal of the American government
to answer in any way, note. mes
sage or representation from the
German government or the German
people or from any official repre-.
senting or purporting to represent
them on the subject of peace or ar
armistice until the German armed
forces shall have surrendered.
Doesn't Look for Armistice.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska
chairman of the senate foreign rela
tons committee, said tonight thai
while the German government ap
parently has accepted all the require
ments laid down by President Viii
son, he did not believe Che reply
would lead to an immediate arrmis.
tice.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
the republican leader, and other SEN
ators, reserved comment until the
official text of the reply is received
The note appears. said Senator
Hitchcock, ito be an acceptance o.
the presidents stipulations. In my
judgment. however, it will not ieae
to an armistice Immediately. | thinl
the military authorities will max,
conditions so hard that Germany
will hesitate to accept them, anc
that this will lead to a delay in ne
gotiations over an armistice. In tn
meanwhile the war will 90 on.