The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-08


 out communication with Berlin, regard less of what demands are made in the terms offered by Marshal Foch, depends whether an immediate cessation of hos tilities may be in sight.
 FOCH HAS FULL POWER
 Marshal Fsch. of course. is fully em- powered to act for the entente allies and America, for the supreme war council at Versailles already has laid down the terms and no changes are to be tolerat- ed. It has been assumed, based on the usual practice of negotiators iny agree ing upon armistice, that the Germans also are fully empowered to sign for their government. That was the case with the Bulgarian commissioners who were sent down from Sofia to meet the British and French military and naval commanders. And while the Austro-Hungarian govern ment nominally approved the terms of the armistice which the Italian comman- der, General Diaz, dictated, it was Gen. eral Bender, the Austrian commander in the field, who really acted
 It is regarded as entirely possible, how ever, that since the German delegates did not know the terms of the armistice until they actually met Marshal Foch, they might have planned to await at least perfunctory word from Berlin closing the negotiations. With military tele- graphers and wireless at their disposal, little time would be consumed in this reference. The Germans, of course, want no delay in stopping the American and allied advance, in view of the tremen- dous pressure upon the government by the populace, and by the mutinous sol diers and sailors of the North sea force, and of the panc-stricken Bavarians, who are desperately anxious to avert an in- vasion of their country from the south.
 GROUND FOR FEAR
 That the fears of the Bavarans are not without foundation is made evident by the rapid mobilization of the Czecho- Slovaks of Bohemia, with the reported purpose of attacking Germany through the Austrian Tyrol. According to French cable advices today the Bavarian premier has threatened to order the Bavarian troops at the front to return home to meet this menace from the south unless an armistice is at once concluded.
 There is reason to believe that in a despairing hope of retaining some shadow of control over the future government of Germany, no matter what form that may take. the Kaiser and the military leaders will insist that the Reichstag representing the German people, assume full share of responsibility for the hu- initiating armistice and peace terms which must be accepted. For this reason if for no other. the official view here Is that the armstice commissioners would go through the form of communicating with their government.
 CAUSES SPECULATION
 The inclusion of General Winterfeldt and other members of the Prussian mill itary class among the German envoys attention here. There was some doubt as to whether this selection was made as a last manifestation of defiance or whether, on the contrary, the civil powers now supposed to be in control of the German government deliberated to humiliate in this way the military party which is held responsible for the disaster which has overtaken Germany.
 General Winterfeldt was a military at tache for Germany at Paris before the war. It was recalled today, in September 1913, he was severely injured in an au- tomobile accident at Grisselles, while witnessing the great French maneuvers For months he was nursed with devoted care When war broke out he repaired to St. Sebastian, in Spain, where he took over the direction of Q German agency, using against the French all the knowledge he had acquired of the geography and conditions of the country during his convalescence.