Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-11-21
THE END OF THE WAR

The big exciting war news is over.
But there will be from almost day to
day new developments. Fifteen days
are given for the German soldiers to
get out of France and Belgium, and
they are getting out with rush and
the allied soldiers following up slow
ly. There will be of course slower ev-
acuation of the asst front because of
the great distance and other hinder
ances. 1t may be that German troops
for time will have to remain in Rus
STA to help preserve order. There
may be therefore more fighting In a
small way. Then there will come the
taking possession of German fortress
ses and towns along the Rhine and
of German ships and submarines; all
big peace news. Then will follow
the peace conference, possibly held at
Washington. by which great world
questions will be decided. There will
be granting of absolute free govern
ment to Belgium and to the Poles.
and Bohemians and other peoples and
the fixing of the boundary lines of the
various new republics, with at least
an outline Of a constitution to guide
them. And all this cannot be done
without some clashes because of con-
flicting interests of the new peoples.
Along with this will be the fixing Of
the sum of indemnities which each
defeated country must pay, and the
time and manner of payment. There
will be disputes over this. AS this
was not to be war of conquest on
the part of the allies the German
| African colonies cannot be taken ex-
cept as a part of indemnity at stip-
ulated price. England may bid these
in and thus furnish a part of the
money with which Germany may pay
| indemnities. Then there will be in
ter-allied questions to settle. Our al
lies are already opposing President
| Wilson's freedom of the seas declar-
alton. They want none Of it, and
they cannot be blamed. Freedom of
the seas, as the president proposes,
would place England and France at
. great disadvantage in case of an
other war with some foreign power
like Germany. The virtual free trade
advocated by the president will be
another article of the presidents pro-
nouncement which will raise big
row in this country, If seriously con-
sidered. Questions for the next year
or two to be settled by the allied
countries will furnish plenty of big
features for the newspapers and big
questions for the people to consider
The peril Of peace Is here. Big fin
anciers are urging all the people to
keep cool and help to prevent panics
and Generalization of business
The government cannot deal with
these matters by force in war. We
cannot depend on arms from now or
but on patience and patriotism.
Were the Germans whipped? Viii
they in history admit it? Their coun
try was not invaded. They can claim
that and they may try TO salve theiI
pride with this. But they were whip
ped-whipped so completely thai
they made ignominious surrender. II
was surrender when they did as soor
have their country entered by a tri
umphant army which by sword ant
, shell and bomb would have laid waste
the whole of Germany. Through the
abjece terms of surrender which they
signed and the cowardly flight Of ths
kaiser. they were whipped to theil
knees. And they now admit thai
their people we're approaching starv
alton as we'll as destruction.
1t is said that Gen. Foch prayed fol
an hour each day during the whole Of
the war as we'll as his custom all thru
life, and he asked the world for the
prayers of the little children. Wer'
they answered? Anyway great sue
cess crowned Foch's military efforts
Roman Catholic though he was
Maybe. too. it was answer 10 the
prayer of thousands Of children ant
others the world over. Catholic ant
Protestant. Who knows? But the
prayers did no harm IL no good. The
kaiser and the Sultan OF turkey also
prayed but the answer. If any was G
kick into oblivion.