The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-10-17
NO ARMISTICE
WITH GERMANY
ARMISTICE is MATTER FOR AL
LIED OFFICERS TO SETTLE.

LIED OFFICERS TO SETTLE.
President Has No Thought of Endang-
ering Allied Victories - No More
Scraps of Wilson Means AL
sace-Lorraine Must Be Returned to
France-Hun Forces Must Disarm
Washington. October 14.-President
Wilson has answered Germanys
peace proposal with a decision which
not only fulfills the expectations OF
supporters Of his diplomacy, but al
so dispels the fears of those who pre-
dcted he would substitute victories
at arms with defeat at diplomacy.
No peace with kaiserism, autocracy
must go; no armistice can even be
thought of while Germany continues
her atrocities on land and sea; one
cannot be considered unless it is
fully dictated by the allied command
ers in the field in such terms as alb
solutely provide safeguards and guar
antees that Germany's part will not
be a scrap of paper.
This, in a few words, is the presi-
dents answer:
If it does not bring a capitulation
which may be more than an uncondi-
tional surrender, allied diplomats and
American officials bellows it may
cause oeyolution in Germany.
Beyond question it speaks for the
entante allies as well as the United
States.
The dispatch of the presidents re-
ply was followed by the issue Of this
formal statement at the White House
by Secretary Tumulty:
1.-THE government will continue to
send over 100000 men with their sup
plies every month. and there will be
no relaxation of any kind.
Quite outside of the formal phrases
Of diplomatic document that was
President Wilson's word to the world
that he had no thought of stopping
the fighting at this stage.
The Senate chamber rang. with the
applause of senators as the presi-
dents answer was read a few minutes
after ii had been announced at the
state Department. Senator Lodge, the
presidents chief critic in his course
until today, issued a statement ex-
presing his qualification at the presl-
dents decision. Opinion ct the capt.
tol and throughout official WasnIifng-
ton was unanimously in approval.
The official note which viii convey
the presidents decision to the Ger
wan government, and more import
ant. the German people, was delivered
TODAY by Secretary Lansing to the
charge Of the Swiss legation, who has
heen acting as the intermediary II
was given out publicly by Mr.. Lans-
inc at the State Department at 9
o'clock this evening.
One outstanding point which does
not appear in the presidents note
noint on which the world has been
asking questions-can be answered
tonight.
When the president declared that
the wrong done to France when Ger
MANY took Alsace- LORRAINE should De
riqhted he meant that Alsace- Lorraine
should be returned to France.
Those who contend that the presi-
dents decision arranges the SITUATION
for something more than an uncondl-
tional surrender base it on the argu-
mcnt that he has passed the stage
where he might have accepted a sur,
render of the German military ana
naval forces and left the Hohenzol-
Tern aaltocracy on its throne.
Mr.. Wilson, according to this view,
has now finally informed the German
people that if they want peace they
can only attain it by getting rid Of
The kaiser and his system.
An armistice, it is true, might
come first and the details of the
downfall of the German artocratlc
government might be arranged later;
But this is what an armistice would
entail:
First, a stop to the atrocities on
land and sea and the systematic des-
truction and devastation in the wake
81 the retreating German armies.
Then the disarmament of the German
forces and the deposit of their arms
and munitions at points to be chosen
hv the allied military commanders.
Then. the occupation by allied forces
~ certain German cities of strong
holds Of strategic Importance. Prob
abIv also the occupation OF all the
submarine bases, turning over OF
the German fleet,
III short, it will entail q taking
from Germany Of everything with
which she might break her word to
Al armistice.
From that poina the United States
and the allies might proceed to dls-
nnse Of what remained Of kalserism
II liz German people have not done
r. bcfore. as President Wilson IN his
note plainly invites them to DO.
While nowhere in the note does the
rresident openly join with the entente
statesmen IN the demand chat the
s sis criminals" must be delivered
,n for trial, the presidents conf
Jants point out that he plainly sub
scribes to the doctrine that the guilt
81 bringing on the world war Is per-
scnal ~, n.os;aon+
compIetely rejects the German sug-
No for mixed commission to ar
ssange an evacuation and reminds the
,,;I;farists that they will accept the
t ,',rn laid down by Marshal Foch
srd the associated commanders; that
Az. viii have no part in framing
the1, He makes it plain that he does
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