The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-09
PLEASED With
WILSON'S REPLY
"Fighting to Continue, With
Americans in Stellar
Role"
ONLY ONE WAY TO PEACE
Next Move Is Now Up to Berlin
and Meanwhile Allied Armies
Continue Operations.
(By John Edwin Nevin.)

Washington, Oct. 81. N. S,)-"The
fighting is continuing with American
troops playing stellar roles"
That was the reply by administra-
ton officials today to the few critics
who found fault with President Will
sons reply to the German peace pro-
posals. With very few exceptions.
among them United States Senator
Lodge. and Representative Fess of
Ohio, Washington today was even more
pleased with the presidents action
than when 1t was first announced. 1t
was felt that the president had taken
tie only step whereby Germany would
be unable to say that she had offered
peace on Americas terms and been
rejected. He has placed the burden
Of proving sincerity on the present
German government. In doing so. off,
cials say, he has thrown wide open
the door for lasting peace and closed
1t to deceit and hypocrisy.
incidentally. 1t is admitted that the
president has much more information
on the exact conditions within Ger
many than any other person in the
United States.
The spread of war weariness
throughout the empire in the last few
weeks. since the German armies have
shown that they could not stand up
against Foch's trip hammer blows. has
been constantly increasing. The peo-
pie everywhere are demanding peace.
President Wilson now has made 1t
pain that there Is only one way to
secure that peace-withdrawa of all
x.r;th hot
ritorial limits and her undersea assas-
sins from the lanes Of the ocean; free
acceptance Of the terms already laid
down by him and indOrsed by the
allies, and admission by Prince Max Of
Baden that, In seeking peace, he repre-
sents the German people and not mere
~ the military masters ct the naffcn.
The next move Is up to Berlin. And
while waiting for 1t, the great allied
armies on the western front will con-
tinue their operations against the
armies of Hindenburg and Ludendorff.
Officials very frankly admitted today
that they do not look for a favorable
response to the presidents three
queries from Germany The position
of the kaiser is too well known, they
say, to believe that he and his fol-
lowers will accept a situation which
compels them to admit defeat in n
military sense. And after all, robbed
Of its high sounding words, that Is
exactly what President Wilson de-
mands, when he makes the condition
Of asking for an armistice withdrawal
from all occupied territory-northern
France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia,
Montenegro, Eumania and Russia.
Acceptance Of this condition as a pre-
liminary to an armistice. automatically
abrogates the infamous treaties of
Bucharest and Brest Litovsk. and the
territorial divison of Ukrainia, with
Austria and Turkey.
Nonaeeeptanee.
Nonacceptance means, of course, that
the fighting will continue unchecked
until Germany finally has to accept
these terms.
Incidentally in dealing safely with
Germany and allowing the cases OF
Austria and Turkey to remain In
status quo until Berlin speaks, offi-
cials declare the president has made a
The majority of the
Austrian leaders are on record as de-
string a peace based on territorial
alignments by nationalities. Should
Germany reject the presidents terms,
then Austria must consider whether
she can afford to continue as an ally,
realizing that she Is facing complete
and certain defeat.
Wired to Berlin.
The reply Of the president will reach
Berlin sometime today or In any event,
not later than tomorrow. 1t was put
into code and sent forward almost i'm
mediately by the Swiss charge yes
terday. The British and French. have
been requested to expedite 1t over the
cables. And the telegraph service be-
tween Berne and Berlin, while sub
ject to delay, Is. operating smoothly.
However, officials do not look for a
reply before the last of the week OF
even later. It is certain that before
any action whatever y taken by the
kaiser and his advisers the military
leaders will be consulted. Because OF
the new turn to the situation whereby
the president has made 1t mandatory
for Germany either to say that she Is
ready to accept his outlined terms as
written or admit that she merely used
them once more to try for made
in Germany" aeace, conferences with
every branch of German leadership
will be necessary in order to frame q
reply.
Until that reply comes, there will be
no official speculation on the possible
next move. officials made this very
plain today. They are now chiefly
with continuing the military
and with advancing the
liberty loan, which has been railing
behind because of unforeseen causes.