Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-10-29
PROBABLE TERMS OF PEACE.
Subjects Being Discussed by Wash
inuton Military Experts.

| ington Military Experts.
Discussion in Washington Is center
, ing on the probable terms OF armistice
which may be formulated by the AL
lied and American military advisers
, after the Allied governments have
considered the German proposals
transmitted by President Wilson. II
was generally assumed by army off,
GERS that the president already has as
certained the willingness Of the Allied
governments to submit the matter to
military men.
| Military opinion in Washington Is
that Mr.. Wilson has expressed the bas-
ic idea upon which an immediate ar
mistice can be reached. The terms to
render the German military power on
land and sea absolutely impotent must
be worked out by the supreme war
council.
II will be the mission OF the military
advisers to translate general princi-
Piles into concrete terms Of fortresses
to be occupied, submarine bases to be
placed under guard. munitions to be
dismanteled, rail lines to be secured
against German use. Since an armis-
tice on Allied terms means an end OF
the war, attention also must be given
TO rehabilitation Of the German army.
in itself a long process since the great
force could not be turned back into
civil life overnight.
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 of the
views Of the military leaders and
bringing them into harmony In q def
mite statement OF the conditions upon
which fighting could come to an end
and Marshal Foch, as supreme COM
mander. and Generals Petain. Haig.
Pershing. Diaz and Gillian, the Belgian
chief Of stan. are ex-officio members
Of the naval board.
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 ratifi-
cation before they are 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-
gramme since II Is only armistice con-
ditions and not peace treaties which
are to be considered.
AS to the terms themselves the Sit
uation 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 sub
marines themselves appears more dif-
ficult. Occupation Of Helgoland might
serve to bottle up both the submarines
and the German high seas feet 30 far
as the North sea outlets are concerned.
but there is another gateway. via the
Kiei canal and the AlRGerrasr5R-.4s :
between neutral water.
On the western front. which domi-
mates the situation elsewhere. 1t Is re-
the Metz -Thionville "Mutterstallung'
as the Germans call that great for
tress, would be essential. Speculation
In this connection has an unusual in
terest in Washington since 1t is re-
garded as probable that the Germans
would in any case stipulate that Amer
lean troops take over the fortress until
final disposition Of Alsace-Lorrain IL
determined at the peace conference.
Holding the Metz-Thionville gate
way, supplemented possibly by occupa-
tion 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 q resumption OF
hostilities be threatened.
Terms for the evacuation Of Bel
gium and northern France probably
would precede the statement Of condi-
tions that must later be enforced along
the German Belgian frontier. II 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 sue
cessively retire. The plan marked out,
1t is thought, would provide for expos
ure of the German forces to f1anking
operations that would cut them to
pieces should any treachery be reveal
ed.
What fortresses on the German Bel
gian frontier might later be required
for occupation is not 80 clear. since It
Is thought that in any case the reser-
walton Of the Rhine road to Berlin by
the occupation Of Metz and possibly
Strassburg might make precautions 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 evacua-
ton Of the whole east coast Of the
Adriatic and the occupation or such
bases as would bottle UP Austrian ma
val power completely in that sea. Pos
sibly the surrender Of their naval base
of Trieste might be demanded.
To safeguard Rumania and enforce
peace conditions in Russia, 1t was said
the road to the Black sea must be
clea rod which would require surren-
der by the Turks Of the fortresses OF
the Dardanelles. Surrender also OF
Russian battleships and destroyers In
the Black sea. seized by the Germans,
would be demanded. II was thought
and possibly the surrender Of Turkish
war craft as we'll.
Boys Saved the susar.-The national