Milford chronicle., 1918-10-25
KAISER SHORN
OF WAR POWER
People Rule, Berlin Reply Tells
United States.
RESTRICT U-OOAT ATTACKS
Accepts Armistiee Arrangement hy
Power N Field and Defends oeVas-
tations During Retreat as Justified.

tations During Retreat as Justified.
The text of the German reply to
President wilson's note was received
in London ny wireless
Germany. the note says. has agreed
that conditions Of an armistice should
he eft 70 the military advisers aud
that rhe actual standard of power on
borh sides IN the field should form
the basis for arrangements.
Orders have been despatched to sub
marine commanders. it is asserted
precluding the torpedoing OF passfn-
ger ships.
The note says Germany hopes the
United States will approve of no de-
,nand which would be irreconcilahle
with the honor of the German peo-
ple. and with opening the way TO
peace Of justice.
The text Of the German note. as
received by wireless. is as follows
"In accepting the proposal for an
evacuation Of occupied territories the
German government has started from
the assumption that the procedure OF
this evacuation and of the conditions
Of an armistice should be left TO 'he
Judgment of the military advisers ana
that the actual standard of power on
hoth sides in the field has to form
tho hasis for arrangements safeguard
ing and guaranteeing this standard.
! "The German government suggests
70 the president that an opportunity
sbould be brought about for fixing the
details. II trusts that the president
NJ the United States will approve OF
M demand which would be irrecon-
! cilable with the honor of the German
people and with opening a way to
peace of justice.
"The German government protests
/ against the reprOach Of illegal and IN
humane actions made against the Ger
man land and sea- forces and dthereby
against the German people. For the
covering of a retreat distinctions will
always be necessary and they are car
ried out insofar as permitted by IN
ternatiOnal law.
THE German troops are under most
strict instructions to spare private
nronerty and to exercise care for the
nopulation to the best of their ability.
/ Where trangressions occur in spite of
these instructions the guilty are be-
ing punished.
"The German government further
denies that the German navy in SINK
ing ships has ever puIpOsely destroy
cd lifeboats with their passengers.
The German government proposes
with regard to all those charges that
! tbe facts be cleared up. by neutral
I commissions.
in order to avoid anything that
1 might hamper the work of peace, the
! German government has caused or
ders TO be despatched to all submarine
{ commanders precluding the tOrpedoing
1 Of passenger ships without, however
! for technical reasons, being able to
/ guarantee that these orders will reach
every single submarine at sea before
its return.
GAS fundamental condition for
4 peace the president prescribes the de-
struction of every arbitrary power
that can separately, secretly and Of
/ IFS own single choice disturb the peace
of the world To this the German
government replies:
Hitherto the representations Of the
people in the German empire has not
been endowed with an influence on the
formation of the government
"The constitution did not provide
for a concurrence Of representation OF
the people in decisions of peace and
war. These conditions have just now
undergone a fundamental change. A
new government has been formed in
complete accordance with the wishes
(principleD Of the representation of
the people, based on equal, universal
secret, direct franchise.
"The leaders of the great parties OF
the relchstag are members Of this
government. In the future no govern
ment can take or continue in Office
without possessing the confidence Of
majority of the reichstag
"The responsibility of the chancel-
lor of the empire to the representa-
tions Of the people is being legally de-
yeloped and safeguarded. The first
act of the new government has been
TO Law before the reichstag a bill to
aitetr the constitution Of the empire
40 that the consent of the represen-
tation of the people Is required for
decisions on war and peace.
"The permanence of the new sys-
tenn is, however, guaranteed not only
by constitutional safeguards, but also
by the unshakable determination Of
the German people whose vast ma
iority stands behind these reforms
and demand their energetic cOntinu-
ance.
The question Of the president-with
whom he and the governments assO-
ciated against Germany are dealing
Is therefore answered in clear, un-
eouivocal manner by the statement |
that the offer of peace and an armis-
tice has come from a government |
which Is free from an arbitrary and
irresponsible influence, is supported |
- .....,o.-aI Of an ovar1vhpi ming /