The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-11-12
AMERICA TURNS
TO PEACE WAYS
Reconstruction Problems Faced
as HostiIities Cease Under
Terms OF Surrender.
PEACE CON GRESS SOON
Thirty Day Limit for Conven-
ing Same May Be Extended.
Work for Navy.

Washington. Nov. 12.-(A. P)-
America today turned toward the ways
OF peace. with the military strength
OF the central powers shattered and
hostilitics ceased under terms OF sur
render that preclude n renewal of the
great struggle. the United States with
the associated governments today TOOK
up the problems OF reconstruction.
Immediately ahead, however. diplo-
matte Washington saw the peace con-
ference--the worlds court OF justice
before which Germany us the chief
criminal, with Austria. Turkey and
Bulgaria, will stand as prisoners at the
bar.
When or where the final peace nego-
tiations will be held. officials would not
conjecture. Thirty days is the time
allowed under the armistico terms for
assembling OF the peace congress. The
armistice, however. includes a provi-
sion for Its extension. The great in
tcrests involved. the many govern
| ments and nationalities concerned and
the difficulties Of convening such
conference in a short time may cause
an extension OF the thirty-day limit.
1t was regarded as likely that the vic
tors. meeting separately. will decide on
terms and then the defeated be per-
mitted to enter pleas for modification
Generalization Of Army.
I Tho military looked today to the
breaking up and return to civilian life
of the great army mobilized In the past
nineteen months. Increase of the mill
tary forces was checked yesterday
through cancellation OF all outstand-
ing draft calls. The return of the
nearly two and quarter million men
overseas and the mastering out of the
million and half troops In American
camps will not come Immediately. The
United States. entering the war last,
probably will be called upon to do
much of the police ana guard duty in
France and Belgium. Events In Rus
sia are uncertain and the small force
there may have TO be augmented.
Transport facilities are more or less
limited. Embarkation of additional
units will not stop Immediately, Secre-
tary Baker has sad, although the
troops to be sent overseas largely will
be medical.and similar units.
Great Task for Navy.
For the navy also great tasks lie
ahead. The sea must be swept cleai
Of mines. Occupation of the German
naval base of Helgoland may be neces-
sary as q result of the revolutiop In
/ hillliy - concluded 11sers vim 'bs pa-
/ troll work to do The newly CONSTRUCTED
ana rapidly increasing merchant ma
rine not only must bring the men
home from France. but carry to France
and Belgium, devastated by the war,
| to lands Of southern Europe, long un-
productive through lack OF manpower,
! and even to the enemy nations, food
stuffs. clothing and the means of keep
ing alive the war; weakened popula-
tons. Food Administrator Hoover and
Chairman Hurley. OF the shipping
board, soon will leave 70 survey the
situation. Tho American people from
their plenty will be called upon to feed
Europe.
Money will be needed to bring troops
home from France and allow compile
ton or the necessary projects under
way. Another loan probably will have
| TO be hoated. The great revenue bill,
placing on the American PEOPLE taxes
amounting to more than $4,000, ,00O, 900,
must be passed by congress.
Industrial Problems.
| Industrlally the change from war to
peace. VIII create as many problems as
the change from peace to war. War
contract plants must be converted to
make the commodities Of peace. Work.
ers engaged in such plants must be
assimilated In peace production. Wage
standards, changed by the war, must
be readjusted. The position OF women
In industry must be determined. The
war industries board. the war labor
board and other governmental agen-
cies must be continued or substitutes
be supplanted by the important ques-
for the solution of these problems.
| Government control OF the railroads.
while insured for twenty-one months
longer, must be decided as to perma-
nency or abandonment. as well as the
control Of the telegraph and telephone
| systems. Supervision of food and fuel
| distribution and the fixing OF prices for
necessary commodities are other prob
| lens OF reconstruction.
with the war behind and peace
ahead. government officials today in
| nowise discounted the tasks Of the fu-
| ture. The great problems OF war must
be supplanted by the ifportant ques-
tions of peace and reconstruction.