The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-23

are given possession of the land bait
teries the warships can be driven to
sea, and there they can be dealt with
by the allied fleet.
-G-
The abdication0of the kaiser, the emf
peror of Austria and the rulers of mi
nor states in central Europe, while
doubtless of absorbing interest to them
selves, cannot be considered of great
moment amid all the tremendous
events that are taking place. These
monarchs were but symbols Of the or
der that Is passing, and even the kaiser
already had lost most of his power.
He, as William Hohenzollern, Is now
informed at the residence of his friend,
Count Bentinck, in Holland. Abdica-
ton was forced on him, but In fleeing
from his country he showed the yellow
streak. Compare his course with the
really dignified exit of that other seek
er after world domination, Napoleon.
The Dutch government pretended to
be surprised and disconnected by the
arrival of William, but in reality 1t
knew he was coming and arranged
for the event. There is report that
the former kaiser will eventually take
up his residence in his palace on the
island of Corfu. This presupposes
that the allies will not take possession
Of his person and put him on trial for
his monstrous crimes against ciyiliza+
ton. The Germans themselves might
decide to do this, for there is an in-
sistent demand among them that such
war leaders as Admiral Won Tirpitz,
MajoE General Keim, Admiral Won
Hnltzendnrff and Dr. w olfgaa sfSSiiigsss
be arrested and tried. HindEnbdrg
and others Of the army commanders
have sought to evade such fate by sub.
hitting to the rule Of the soldiers
councils
The former empress of Germany is
said to be Ill In Potsdam, and there
are all kinds Of rumors about the ex-
crown prince. Probably few care
whether or not he has been killed.
Charles of Austria by abandoning
his throne lodges the great task OF
Strengthening out the affairs of the
countries that comprised his realm.
This will devolve on the peace confer
ence, and doubtless will not he settled
without many disputes over conflicting
claims and aspirations. AS was fore.
seen, the German part of Austria has
elected to become a part of the new
German state.
IA
There was great rejoicing along the
entire front in France and Belgium
when the news spread of the signing
Of the armistice. Allies and Germans
alike cheered the announcement and at
once emerged from their trenches and
threw aside the caution to which long
years of warfare had accustomed
them. The retrograde movement Of
the Huns was accelerated in obedience
to the terms of the armistice but for
several days the allied armies did not
follow them. Then began their own
advance into the regions the enemy had
been forced to evacuate.
On Thursday 1t was announced that
the Americans had crossed the frontier
toward Metz and Strassburg, and that
on Sunday Marshal Foch, commander
In chief of the allied armies, would
make formal entry into those cities
Of Lorraine and Alsace in the presence
of President Poincare and Premier
Clemenceau.
In Brussels and other cities the Ger
man soldiers got out of hand and were
reported to be burning and pillaging.
The allies high command at once
warned the German high command
that unless this violation Of the arm
istice terms were stopped the allies
would take drastic steps.
-n-
It Is generally agreed now that the
world peace conference will meet some
Wnere IN Europe, PROBABLY in Yer
sailles. Whether or not President VII
son will attend is not settled 1t has
been suggested that he be present at
the opening and then return home to
attend to the vastly important domes-
tic problems that must be solved. Pos
sibly Americas representatives at the
peace board will include Secretary Ian.
sing, Colonel House, EIihu Root and
Justice Louis Brandeis. The proceed
ings of the conference are sure to be
protracted, and well Informed corre-
spondents are amusing themselves and
their readers by specializing on the
conclusions that 1t will reach. Briefly,
they predict that Germany will be COM
PEELED to restore Alsace-L Lorraine to
France; that Luxembourg will be united
to Belgium that Poland will receive
large additions, including part Of Prus-