The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-24
TERMS PROBABLE
FOR ARMISTICE
Military Men Discuss How Ger.
many May Be Made Abso.
lutely PoWerless
ON LAND AND ON SEA
Bottling Up U-Boats Not to Be
Easy Task-Must Occu-
py Forts.

Washington. oct, "a. - Discussion
centered here today on the probable
terms OF armistloe which may he for
mulated by the allied and American
military advisers after the allied gov
ernments have considered the German
proposals transmitted by President
Wilson. IL was generally assumed by
army officers that the president al
ready has ascertained the willingness
of the allied governments to submit
the matter L military men.
Military opinion here is that Mr..
Wilson has expressed the basic idea
upon which an immediate armistice
can be reached. The terms TO render
the German military power on land
ard sea absolutely impotent. must be
worked out by the supreme war coun-
ell.
IL will be the mission OF the military
advisers to translate general principles
into concrete terms OF fortresses to be
occupied. submarine bases to he placed
under guard. munitions plants to be
dismantled and strategic rail lines to
be secured against German use. Since
an armistice on allied terms means an
end of the war. attention also must
be given to rehabilitation OF the Ger
man army, In itself long process,
since the great force could not be
turned back to civil life over night.
The machinery for formulation OF
the terms already exists. The military
and naval boards OF the supreme war
council at Versailles furnish the natu-
raj avenue for the assessing or the
views of the military leaders and
bringing them into harmony in n defi-
mite statement Of the condition upon
which fighting could come to an end.
Marshal Foch, as supreme commander.
and Gems. Petain, Haig. Pershing. Diaz
and Gillian, the Belgian chief OF stan,
are ex-oflicfo members OF the army
board as the admirals commanding
the four great navies. British. French,
American and Italian are ofiicio
members of the naval board.
Terms Appear Simple.
The president proposes that the
terms to be drawn up by these mill
tary and naval agencies are to be sub
mitted to the respective governments
associated against Germany for rati-
fication before they ure given to the
German government. The supreme
war council, composed of the premiers
of the allies, and Of President Wilson.
probably would pass upon the pro-
ditions and not peace treaties which
are to be considered.
AS to the terms themselves the stu
alton on land so far as the western
front Is concerned, appears simple. To
make certain that the U.boat fleets
are put out of action, however. by
any terms except the surrender of the
submarines themselves, appears more
difficult. Occupation of Helgoland
might serve to bottle UP both the sub
marines and the German high seas
fleet so far as the North sea outlets
are concerned. but there Is another
gateway. via the Kiel canal and the
Skagerrak, passing between neutral
waters.
Metz Forts Essential.
On the western front, which domi-
mates the situation elsewhere, 1t is re-
garded obvious that occupation of tho
Metz Thionville "mutterstallung" as
the Germans call that great fortress,
would be essential. Speculation in this
connection has an unusual interest
here since it Is regarded as probable
that the Germans would In any case
stipulate that American troops take
over the fortress until final disposl-
ton of Alsace- Lorraine Is determined
Holding the -Thionville gate
way, supplemented possibly by occu-
patton Of the Rhine fortress Of Strass-
burg, some officers think would enable
the allied forces not only to dominate
the German forces on that front. but
would give also an open road into Ger
many itself should a resumption Of
hostilities be threatened.
Terms for the evacuation OF Belgium
and northern France probably would
precede the statement of conditions
that must later be enforced along the
German Belgian frontier. 1t Is be-
lieved the allied chiefs will propose
a definite plan for the rearward move
ment of the German forces under which
the enemy's armies would successfully
retire. The plan marked out, 1t IL
thought. would provide for exposure OF
the German forces to flanking opera
tions that would cut them to pieces
should any treachery be revealed.
Reservation Rhine Road.
What fortresses on the German
Belgian frontier might later be re-
quired for occupation. Is not so clear,
since 1t Is thought that In any case
the reservation Of the Rhine road 70
Berlin by the occupation OF Metz ana
POSSIBLY StTaSSDuTS, IlISut indhc ~
cautions in the north less essential.
Other obvious requirements would be,
it is thought, surrender by Austria to
the Italians Of fortresses In the Alps
that guard the Austrian border and the
road to Vienna; probable evacuation
of the whole east coast Of the Adriatic
and the occupation Of such bases as
would bottle up Austrian naval power
completelv in that sea. Possibly the
surrender of their naval base OF
Triests might be .emanded.
To safeguard Rumania and enforce
peace conditions in Russia, 1t was SAID
the road to the Black sea must pe
cleared which would require surrender
by the Turks Of the fortresses OF the
Dardanelles Surrender also OF Rus
sian battleships and destroyers in the
BLACK sea, seized by the Germans
would be demanded. 1t was thought
and possibly the surrender OF TURKISH
war craft as well.
W0ljNDED I'M FRANCE