The Washington herald., 1918-10-16
WILSON'S NOTE
BRINGSFIGHT
BACK T0FOCUS
Shows U. S. Allied Victory
by Arms Over Autoc-
racy Is Needed.
DELAY FOR AUSTRIANS
Answer to Their Bid With
held Pending Action
of Berlin.

President Wilson's clarifying words
On the international situation have
had a dual effect.
They have again centered the at
tention of the country on the only
important issue before 1.-THE winning
of the war. and they have placed
Germany's military autocracy in the
unenviable position OF sacrificing
everything 1t set out TO win. even it,
self. before the attainment of peace.
This was the opinion offered on
every hand yesterday in Washington
as 4 result of the Presidents decision,
which was justly termed the most
far reaching decision of the war.
There is slight hope expressed in
either the voluntary resignation of
the Kaiser or the overthrow of the
militarists, but it was pointed out
yesterday, the Presidents note and
the particular portion of IL which
dealt with the OBSTRUCTION Of every
arbitrary power is word direct TO
the German people.
Reports Awaited.
For the present. at any rate, Il was
learned yesterday, no action will be
taken on the Austrian request for
peace. Authentic reports are first
ava ned as to the reception accorded
the President's note in both Austria
and Germany. Everything hinges on
this point. There is little question
that the President, by his announced
delay on the Austrian proposal. rs
giving the dual monarchy a chance
to set Its house in order and to for
sake the alliance which thus far has
I only had the effect of shattering for.
ever the power of the Hapsburgs
The same is true, though to a lesser
degree, of the Turkish proposal
which is as yet unanswered.
The response which Austrian Off
| cialdom and the public of that ma
ton will give to the Presidents ie-
| cision. once its full purport is real
! lied. will serve to guide the President
in his disposition of the Austrian
plea. So woeful are affairs in that
! country that many persons believe
! IL entirely possible to separate Aus
| tria from Germany by the sim,,!C
processes of allowing natural circum-
stances 10 fulfill their own ends. As
| far as Germany is concerned. how.
| ever, action, and not words. is ex-
pected for the PRESIDENTS note. which
| is decision. and in this form really
constitute. an UItimatum.
! While everyone in official and dip.
lomatic Washington expects there Will
| be a violent reaction in Germany
! upon publication of tho President,
decision. it is also confidently belisv.
ed that this will represent the re.
action inspired solely by the mill
| tarists, who are still in power. II
is known that the great body of Ger.
| man citizers want peace. and wan
1t so badly that they forced the ham
of the rnihrGrists. And having reap.
ed the full eXaltation that the hopC
of peace gave them. they may &
farther and attain it by Kidding
| themselves of the autocrats who con,
troll their destinies.
| Autocracy Dies Hard.
The matter is now, however, one Of
life or death for autocracy, and au-
tocracy has always died hard" IL
was said yesterday. Therefore both
the United States and the allies may
expect the fiercest fighting of the wal
and the enemy's supreme effort witt
submarines. The United States and
/
any eventuality on this score The
statement from the White House
! Monday that We will continue to
send $4,000 or more men and theil
supplies monthly to the battlefields in
France is one indication OF our prep
arations. Another was offered yes
| terday by Secretary Daniels as he
| left the Cabinet meeting.
| Within a few days, he said, III
would submit TO Congress estimate!
| for an enlarged naval program, tn,
| chief expenditure of which would b
| for the construction of additiona
| submarine chasers and torpedo de
| stroyers. English shipyards are alsC
| going full blast on the same kind o
| work with but one purpose in view
| to thwart Germany's supreme sub
marine effort. So much for Ger
! many's final attempt to conquer
which. like her other efforts. mus
| eud with defeat.
In official quarters yesterday &;
| warning was issued to the American
| public to beware of the many re
| ports which lately have come out o
Germany and which, it is expected
will continue 10 come. These hav,
been reports of internal reforms. TIT
| abdication Of the Kaiser. violent at
tacks on him by German papers, ant
| other indications that the war !!
coming to rapid close.
Truth or Propaganda
Officials declared 1t was impossible
to tell how much truth or how much
propaganda was In these reports, snd
the additional suggestion was Of
fered that they might be put out to
create an impression in France and
Italy that the war was about over.
The fine distinction the Presiden,
| drew of Germany with an olive
branch in one hand and a bludgeor
in the sother may serve to guide the
American public. II was said, to re-
pose its confidence solely in Foch and
the allied armies in the field, and tc
| await results only on this score
1t Is pointed out that we should not
expect a revolution, IN the sense oi
the French or Russian revolutions, Il
"a CONTINUED OK FACE TWO