The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-10-25
ARMISTICE ETEnI,iS
TO Be DRASTIC
Occupation Of HeIgo!and and
Metz -ThiODVIIIe Likely.
KEEP FOES FLANK EXPOSED
Washington Officials Preparing For
Eventuaity of Germany's Surren-
der. g

Washington, Oct. 25-Discussion
centered on the probable terms OF ar
mistice which may he formulated by
the allied and American military ad-
visors after the allied governments
have considered the German proposals
transmitted by President Wilson.
1t was generally assumed by army
officers the president had ascertained
the Willingness Of the allied govern
inents to submit the matter TO the
military men.
Military opinion is that Mr.. Wilson
has expressed the basic idea upon
which an Immediate armiStice can
be reached. The terms TO render the
German military power on land and
sea absolutely impOtent must We work
ed out by the supreme far council.
1t will be the mission of the mill
tary advisers to translate general
principles into concrete terms of fort
resses to be occupied, submarine bases
to be placed under guard. munitions
plants to be dismantled and strategic
rail lines to he secured against Ger
man use.
Since an armistice on allied terms
means an end of the war, attention
also must be given To rehabilitation
of the German army, i'll itself long
process since the great force could
not be turned back to civil life over
night.
The machinery for formulation Of
the terms already exists. The military
and naval boards of the supreme war
council at Versailles furnish means
for the assessing of the views of the
military leaders and bringing them in
to harmony in Il definite statement of
the conditions upon which fighting
could come to an end.
Marshal Foch, as supreme comman-
der. and Generals Petain, Haig, Per-
shing, Diaz. and Gillian. the Belgian
chief of staff. are eX-ofiiciO members
of the army board as the admiralS
| commanding the four great navies.
British, French, American and ltali-
an, are ex-officio members of the ma
val board.
The president proposes that the
1terf4s to be drawn up by these mill-
tary and naval agencies are to be sub
mftted TO the respective governments
associated against Germany for rati-
| fication before they are given TO the
! German government.
| The supreme war council, composed
of the premiers of the allies and OF
| President Wilson, probably would
pass upon the program since it is only
| armistic conditions and not peace
treaties which are to be considered.
AS to the terms themselves, the sit
uation on land, so far as the western
front is concerned, appears simple.
| To make certain that the C-bOat fleets
are put out of action, by any terms
except the surrender of the subma-
rines themselves appear more diff
cult.
| OCCUPATION of Helgoland might
serve to bottle up both the Subma-
rines and the German high seas fleet
| so far as the north sea outlets are
concerned, but there is another gate
way, through the klel canal ana the
Skaderrak, passing between neutral
waters.
On the western front it is regard
ed as obvious that occupation OF the
| MetZ-Thionville "mutterStallung," as
| the Germans call that great fortrerss
would be essential. Speculation In
this connection has an unusual inter
est since it is regarded as possible
that Germans, in any case, would
stipulate that American troops take
over the fortress until final DISPOSE
tion of Alsace-LOrraine is determined
The plan mapped out, it is thoughe
would provide for exposure of the
German forces to tianking operations
that would cut them to pieces shoulC
any treachery be revealed.