The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-10-14

WIRELESS INTERCEPTED.
Washington, Oct. l1-Germany's re.
ply to President Wilson's inquiry, in
tercepted as it was being sent by the
great wireless tewers at Nauen, and
forwarded here in an official dispatch
from France, declares Germany is
ready to accept President Wilson's
peace terms, evacuate the invaded
territory as a prerequisite to an armi-
stice and that the bidfor peace repre-.
sents the German people as we'll as
the government.
Although on it's lace the text of the
German note seems to te a complete
acceptance of President Wilson's
terms, the people Of the United States
and the allied countries should be eau
toned against accepting it as such a
compliance of the president demands
as will mean immediate cessation of
hostilities.
No Comment, by President Wilson.
As President Wilson was in New
York last night, and reserved COM
ment on the note, his views cannot
be stated now and none of his offi>
cial family here in. Washington cared
to speak for him
Without any attempt to discount
what appeared to be, at casual read
ing, an acceptance OF the terms the
president has laid down, officials here
were very positive as not accepting
the German note as a document which
means the end of the war. It needs
to be examined and fully considered
before the views of the American gov
eminent can be stated. \.
Should President Wilson finally de-
eide that there is enough sincerity in
Germany's proposition to transmit it
to the allies, as the German chancel
lOr requested, it should be borne in
mind that Great Britain, France and
other entente nations must be taken
into consideration for decision as to
whether an amistice should be granted
or whether discussion should, be un-
dertaken to carry out the details of
the application of President Wilson's
peace terms. -l, Il ."@1' - '.-
ba"' Warns the Public.
The greatest danger facing the peo
pie of the United States, officials said
here last night, was that they might
hastily consider GerYahy's proposition
as the unconditional surrender which
the co.belligersnts demand and relax
their efforts to continue the victories
at arms and carry over the Fourth
Liberay loan. On every side in Off
cial quarters it was stated that this
view of the situation could not be
placed before the public too strongly
Conceding that possibly the pro-
posal forsan armistice might be &C,
cepted, and that the German accept.
ance Of President Wilson's peace
terms might be satisfactory, the ques-
ton, in opinion of officials and dip)o-
mats here, would center in "WhO is
the present German government"
NIf the present German government
is the government Of Hohenzollern
there seems no doubt here that the
German reply will be unacceptable.
REPLY CAME AS BIG SURPRISE.
Washington. Oct. 14.-All official
Washington was at a complete loss to
understand the text of the note be-
coming public in this way. Neither
the state department nor the Swiss
lCkdLlOll lOOhAAl6 cACSA W.
man interests had received the reply
and it was very evident that it had
Leen made public through faux pas
There was. However, no attempt to
dispute it's authenticity and the dip
lomats to whom he dispatches have
been sent could only express regret
that the dispatch had been made pub
lie Early the newspaper correspond
ents were summoned by the telephone
to the offices Of the diplomatic. mis-
sion where many diplomatic dispatch
es are received every day. An attache
there gave out copies OF the dispatch
in the regular way, barring the usual
distinguishing marks. 1t was at once
flashed to the country.
Regret Premature Announcement
When the high officials of the Of
flee learned that the dispatch had
been made public, their distress and
regret was almost boundless. much as
they were ~gratified by its apparent
contents. s-
The contents of the dispatch were
at once communicated to Secretary
Lansing and other officials OF the gov
eminent. President Wilson was IN
New York and the contents, OF the
dispatch. were communicated 70 him
there. p %E
1t is very probable that the text OF
the official communication may diff
fer in some respects as to verbage
from the unofficial 'copy given out last
night, but it is regarded as highly
improbable that it will show any SUD.
stantial differences.
At the first reading the text would
seem to answer in a manner which
might lead to peace all the questions
President Wilson asked of Chancellor
Maxinillian in his inquiry which was
sent as an answer to the German note
received here last Monday
What President Wilson Demands.
In this inquiry the president deciar-
ed he would not propose an armistice
while troops of the central powers re-
NAMED on invaded soil: he asked
whether Prince Macmillan accepted
the terms of peace as laid down on
merely wanted to discuss them cas-
basis for negotiations" and finally he
aesked whether the chancellor merely
REPRESENTED the militarists who have
been conducting the war.
These inquiries, the German govern
meut seems to answer in manner
which at least has not closed the door
To reace. The evacuation of invaded
...:ta.,, roudip1 q ~ doc Ia "a tiOna Of an