The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-16

END IN SIGHT
Wilson Denies trmi2 ice While
Hun Outrdggs Continue.
SEPARATE REPLY TO AUSTRI.
Americas Answer May Bring About
German RaVo.ution--Aliied Com
manders to Fix Any Terms.

Washington. Dct. 16.-PreSident
Wilson has promptly answered Ger
many's peace proposal.
His note, signed 10y Secretary of
State lansing. and delivered to the
Swiss legation. was Immediately put
ON the cables and is now probably in
Berne
Only il few hours should be required
for its delivery at Berlin through the
Swiss foreign office.
In a frW words the answer is:
No peace with KaiSeriSm: auto
cracy must go. No armi$tice can even
be thought of while Germany con
tinues her atrocities on land and sea.
None can be considered unless it is
dictated by the allied commanders in
the field in such terms as absolutely
provide safeguards and guarantees
that Germany's word will not be a
''scrap of paper"
If it does not bring Il capitulatlon
which may he more than unconditional
surrender, allied diplomats and Amer
lean officials believe it may cause
revolution in Germany.
As to what will happen Immediate
ly in Germany it is conceded that one
guess is as good as another, though
there is no doubt felt as to what will
happen ultimately. With the Amerl-
can and allied armies advancing stead
ily toward the German border, tits be-
lieved the only question is how far
they must go before the people arise
to stop invasion by meeting the condi-
tions upon which the world will deal
with them.
Washington has undergone per-
ceptible relaxation of tension since
the presidents answer was made pub
lie. Even those who had no fears the
presidents diplomacy would bring
relaxation of military effort or COM
promise with a faithless enemy, wear
an air of relief.
Everywhere the feeling is apparent
that the atmosphere Is clearer than be-
fore Prince Maximilian came forward
with his peace drive; that the pur-
poses of the United States and the al,
lies are more than ever clearly stated
sand that the powers in Berlin and the
German people now must see Tie fd-
tility of further attempts TO avert the
defeat in sight by compromise.
So far the president has dealt only
with the proposal of the German gov,
ernment, leaving unanswerable similar
pleas for peace from Austria-Hungary
and Turkey.
Cut off by the detection of Bulgaria
and cowed by the victorious British
armies, Turkey already virtually is
out of the war. A separate appeal
from the reorganiZed government at
is looked for momen-
tarily
Military officials are almost unitedly
of the opinion that Germany has not
vet been brought to the point where
she will accept the presidents decis-
ion and seek an armistice on the
terms laid down. On the contrary,
they think the military elements still
in control will hold up the presidents
communication to the German people
as proof of their contention that their
enemies are determined to bring about
destruction of the nation and do not
desire any peace short of that.
Then they will continue the retreat
of their armies on the western front
in the hope an early winter will find
them behind shorter and very much
more powerful lines of defense, close
to the German border, but still on her
enemy's soil.
When the president declared the
wrong done to France when Germany
took AlsaceLGrraine should be right
ed he meant AlSace-Lorraine should
be returned to France.
When the president said if an ar
miStice should be thought of it could
not be considered without imposing
terms to guarantee the good faith of
Germany and provide for the main
tenance of the military supremacy Of
the armies of the United States and
the allies, he undoubtedly knew what
the allied war council, acting on the
recommendation Of Marshal Foch,
had decided upon as necessary guaran-
tees.
These are understood to include the
occupation of Metz, StrasSburg and
CoblentZ the strategic keys to Ger
many.