The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-10-12
CONFIDENCE IN WILSON.
PARIS PRESS AND PEOPLE AP-
PROVE NOTE TO GER
MANY.
Refusal to Entertain Suggestion OF
Armistice While Germany Occupies
Invaded Territory Causes General
Satisfaction.

Paris, Oct president Wilson's
reply to the German peace note was
published in the noon editions Of the
newspapers today and was greeted
with general satisfaction and express
ton of approval throughout Paris.
The note could not be improved
upon; substitute Paris for Washing
ton as the date line and the reply
might have been dictated here, is an
epitome of French opinion as indicat-
ed by the popular reception Of the
presidential document.
: The note could not be improved
when the newspapers containing the
note came out and the people liter
ally fought for copies of the edition.
The note was reproduced in these
Hou4nals in heavy black type under
big headlines.
The significant passage in the note
in which President Wilson refuses to
entertain the possibility of a cessa-
ton of hostilities and demanding the
immediate withdrawal of the Ger
man troops is interpreted in mill
tary circles as meaning that the al
lies will give the Germans no respite
in their retreat.
Commandant Miribel, one of the
best known military critics in France,
expressed the view Of the Associated
Press correspondent in this connec-
ton that the Germans, if they were
harrassed and pressed during their
retreat to the Meuse would lose one
third of their electives and one-haif
of their material, and would find
themselves comparatively as weak on
the line Of the Meuse as they are now.
On the other hand, he declared, II
they were allowed to retreat to the
powerfully fortified lines Of the.
Meuse with their armies intact, their
line shortened by nearly 800 kilome-
tres 40 of their divisions would be
available for maneuvering.
Commenting on the note the IN
transigeant says:
1.-The response of President Wilson.
by it's sincerity and good faith, cuts
with a single stroke the snares laid
by Prince Maximilian of Baden.
President Wilson responds by asking:
| What do you mean? Do you accept
MY conditions? Do you speak in the
name of the government and the peo-
p1e?" He requires before any neeo-
tiations that Germany evacuate the
invaded territory Of France, Belgium.
Servia, Russia, Poland, Roumania
and Montenegro This is an answer
similar to that given the Duke Of
Brunswick after his defeat at Valn1y."' ;
La Liberte says: 1--WE know al
ready that the French government fe-
licitates itself without reserve. The
country will unanimou share this
sentiment With a high conscience
the president of the United States has
comprehended that he is not an ar
bitter, but a belligerent. The presi-
dents note also established what
guarantee must first be given before
he and the allies will be even able to
examine the proposition
Deputy Marcel Sembat in LIE Heure,
which expresses the Socialist view
says:
"The reply is not brutal refusal,
the door remains open for ultimate
negotiations, after first accepting the
IA points with complete guarantees.
The last paragraph Of President
Wilson's note made aSdeep impress
sion on Parisians and caused much
favorable comment as it was taken
by the population to directly concern
the Hohenzollern family and the
military party of Germany. The
general feeling is that the diplomatic
70 n1oc hava heen t11rned on Germany.
which tried to place the allies In a
difficult position and that Germany
now finds herself face to face with a
great problem which she attempted
to force the allies to solve.