The sun., 1918-10-14
WANT COBLENZ
AND METZ AS
HOSTAGECITIES
British Observers Outline
Guarantees to Test Ger
man Honesty.
WILL NOT PERMIT REST
No Armistice Until Generals
Are Satisfied With Condi-
tions, Is View.
WILL NOT PERMIT REST
Special Gable Despatch to THE srS.
Copyright, 1918; dU rights reserred.

likely tuHL any TtSpOuslDIe milllSteT
Is prepared to make statement re-
gardlng Germany's reply TO President
Wilson's note 1t can be said that the
British Cabinet, anticipating n cable
from President Wilson. is in communi-
cation with the Ministers of other
allied countries.
Andrew Bonar Law, Chancellor Of
the Exchequer, and Arthur Balfour,
Foreign Minister. conferred to-day
with Premier Lloyd-George. Lord
Robert Cecil also was at the Foreign
Office.
There Is no question that II Is on
cial opinion that any immediate stop.
ping Of military operations is not to
be considered unless Germany is both
able and willing to give the most
rigorous guarantees. There is a de-
termination that she shall not have an
interval Of rest, only to renew hos.
tinties later.
Guarantees Are Suggested.
II she sincerely desires to enter
upon peace negotiations the most OBJ
vious guarantees, 1t is pointed out
would take the form Of a surrender on
the Rhine fortresses and brIdgeheads
Army officers also think a sure guar.
antee against Germany using the
H4K
greater military efforts would be per.
mission for the allied armies to oc.
cupy Metz. Strassburg, and above al
Coblentz. which Is the strategic key
to all Germany military defences.
The situation. THE SUN correspond
ent learns may be summed up as fol
lows:
Germany, while trying to give tn,
impression of being willing to fulfil
President Wilson's demands, is playinl
against time, hoping an opportunit,
will be afforded to gain more than sh
could expect to gain by continuing thu
| fight under existing conditions.
On the other hand. the western Pow
ers are awaiting President Wilson
examination OF the German reply
Should he consider this reply satisfac
tory 1t is felt he will Immediately con
| suit with them on two points to b,
settled: the question Of an armistice
and its form, precise time and locality
| and secondly, the matter OF peac
| terms.
Not Ready for Peace Talk.
The latter covers extremely wild
ground and is a question which is no
felt here to have matured sufficient.
| to bear discussion.
Neither President Wilson nor TIL
western allies would grant an armistic
until assured by the allied militsr.
chiefs that the guarantees were suf
ficiently strong to leave Germany onl,
the alternatives OF either accepting tn
allied programme or continuing tn
war in circumstances that would b
without hope OF success.
| Military necessity, not moral conver
sion, is responsible for Germany's &C
ceptance of President Wilson's prelim
mary demands for the opening of peac
) negotiations.
| This is the conviction expressed Il
the press comment on Berlln's reply 4
| the Presidents note. The British news
papers regard the reply as politica
surrender only, leaving Germany
chance to retain a vcstige OF her dig
nifty and prestSse, an army and navy still
being naturally preferred In Berlin L
military disaster on such a scale as I
leave German military masters utterl
discreditcd In the eyes OF their ow
people.
Despotism Ruling Moves.
There is no Illusion, In the opinion c
the press that the political moves 1
Berlin during the last few weeks hay
really taken power from the hands c
the men who made the war and cor
Quoted II on a scale of brutality vi
lparalleled In history.
1t Is the belief here that the ne,
word from President Wilson cannot rc
suit In the cessation OF host,lities, bu
will rather demand proofs that the mil
tary despotism has been deposed
Germany. and guarantees that an armis
tice will not be used as trick TO chea
the Allies out OF the Victories their fleet
and armies have won nor will the allie
public be satisfied until there are assn,
ances that the men responsible for II
guilty acts committed by Germany al
brought to justice.
| The mixed commission" suggeste
roatiaued m 9ecaod poa.