The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-22
KAISER SHORN
| OF WAR POWER
People Rule, Berlin Reply Tells
United States.
RESTRICT U.BOAT ATTACKS
Accepts Armistiee Arrangement by
Power in Field and Defends OeVas-
tations During Retreat as Justified.

German reply to President wilson's
note was received by wireless.
Germany, the note says, has agreed
that conditions Of an armistiee should
be left to the military advisers ana
that the actual standard OF power on
both sides in the field should form
the basis for arrangements.
Orders have been despatched to SUBJ
marine commanders, it is asserted
precluding the torpedoing OF passen-
ger ships.
The note says Germany hopes the
United States will approve OF no de-
mand which would be irreconcllable
with the honor Of the German peo-
pie, and with opening the way to
peace Of justice.
The text of the German note, as
received by wireless, is as follows:
I'm accepting the proposal for an
evacuation of occupied territories the
German government has starred from
the assumption that the procedure OF
this evacuation and of the conditions
of an armistice should be left to the
Judgment of the military advisers ana
that the actual standard of power on
both sides in the field has TO form
the basis for arrangements safeguard
ing and guaranteeing this standard.
"The German government suggests
to the president that an opportunity
should be brought about for fixing the
details. 1t trusts that the president
of the United States will approve OF
no demand which would be irrecon-
cilable with the honor of the German
people and with opening a way to
peace of justice.
"The German government protests
against the reproach of illegal and in
humane actions made against the Ger
man land and sea forces and dthereby
against the German people. For the
covering Of a retreat distinctions will
always be necessary and they are car
ried out insofar as permitted by IN
ternational law.
"The German troops are under most
strict instructions to spare private
property and to exercise care tor the
population to the best Of their ability.
Where trangressipns occur In - q OF
these instructions the guilty are be-
ing punished.
"The German government further
denies that the German navy in sink
ing ships has ever purposely destroy
ed lifeboats with their passengers.
The German government proposes
with regard to all those charges that
the facts be cleared up by neutral
commissions.
in order to avoid anything that
might hamper the work Of peace, the
German government has caused Or
ders to be despatched to all submarine
commanders precluding the torpedoing
of passenger ships without, however,
for technical reasons, being able to
guarantee that these orders will reach
every single submarine at sea before
its return.
LAS a fundamental condition for
peace the president prescribes the de-
struction of every arbitrary power
that can separately, secretly and of
dts own single choice disturb the peace
of the world. To this the German
government replies:
Hitherto the representations of the
people in the German empire has not
been endowed with an influence on the
formation of the government.
"The constitution did not provide
for a concurrence of representation of
the people in decisions of peace and
war. These conditions have just now
undergone a fundamental change. A
new government has been formed in
complete accordance with the wishes
(principle? of the representation of
the people, based on equal, universal
secret, direct franchise.
"The leaders Of the great parties of
the reichstag are members of this
government In the future no govern
ment can take or continue In office
| without possessing the confidence of
| q majority Of the reichstag.
"The responsibility of the chancel-
lor of the empire to the representa-
tions of the people is being legally de-
yeloped and safeguarded. The first
act of the new government has been
| to lay before the reichstag bill to
altetr the constitution of TIL, empire
SO that the consent Of the represen-
tatiOn of the people is required for
decisions on war and peace.
"The permanence of the new sys-
| tenn is, however, guaranteed not only
by constitutional safeguards, but also
by the unshakable determination of
the German people whose vast ma
| jority stands behind these reforms
and demand their energetic continu-
ance.
The question of the president-with
whom he and the governments asso-
ciated against Germany are dealing
is therefore answered in a clear, un-
eauivocal manner by the statement
that the offer of peace and an armis-
tice has come from a government
which is free from an arbitrary and
irresponsible influence, is supported
by the approval of an Overwhelming
ma ajority of the German people.
(sipnedl "SOLF."
ITO GRANT HUNGARY FREEDOM