The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-06
PRESIDENTS WORK ENDS. 4
NATIONS CHIEF FINISHES TASK
JUST AS PRESS DISPATCHES
BRING THE NEWS OF
TURKEYS SUR aiss
RENDER.
Next Step Probably Will be Decision
of Allied Representatives on Terms
of The Armistice.

Next Step Probably Will be Decision
of Allied Representatives on Terms
of The Armistice.
:! KUHW! 5E
Washington, Oct. 31.-President
Wilson cr~ared up today his task as
intermediary for armistice and peace
pleas of the Central Powers, just as
press dispatches were bringing the
news of Turkeys surrender and Of
events foreshadowing an early coll
lapse of Austro-Hungarian arms.
Formally as we'll as actually the
Y. ..ole question of the conditions upon
which the war may end is now be-
fore the American and Allied repre-
sentatives in Paris. The next step
probably will be the decision Of those
representatives on armistice terms,
unless before this is reached Austria
follows the example Of Bulgaria and
Turkey and capitulates in the field
before the great drive which is cut
ting her forces to pieces in Italy.
It may be stated that, while the
armistice program which the Germans
await may not differ essentially from
predictions that it will include sur
render of the German navy and sub
marines, disarmament of the German
armies, and occupation Of German
strongholds, the framing of the pro-
gram has not been completed and any
informal announcements are prema-
ture Exchanges between the Ameri-
can and allied governments as well
as discussions among the representa-
tives in France still were In pro-
gress.
1t was intimated today that the
purely military phases Of the prob
lem probably had been worked out in
advance by the supreme war council.
but that unlurried deliberations are.
necessary to dispose Of certain Ques-
tions involved in the making OF pei
manent peace which must be deak
with in finally fixing terms of an
armistice.
Secretary Lansing made public dur
ing the day note handed to Ambas-
sador Riano, of Spain, informing him
that the Turkish request that he pro-
pose an arrnistice and peace negotia-
tions delivered by the ambassador,
October IA, had been transmitted by
the president to the governments at
war with Turkey. Later the Secretary
announced that the last Austrian
communication, supporting a similar
appeal with acceptance OF the stip-
ulation of complete independence for
subject nationalities, had been for
warded to Americas cobelligerents
Minister Ekengren, Of Sweden, in
charge of Austrian interests, was so
informed verbally, the president ap-
parently having decided that it was
unnecessary to send the written re-
ply he was reported yesterday to be
preparing.
This leaves one note unanswered,
that of Count Andrassy, the Austrian
foreign minister. asking Secretary
I Lansing to intervene with the Pres-
ident for favorable action on AUS
tria's request. Since the president all
ready has acted. Mr.. Lansing prob
ably will make no reply.
Great satisfaction over the days
developments was evident -everywhers
here. American and allied military
men expressed the opinion that the
only question now is whether Ger
many will seek to delay the inevits.>
BILE by fighting desperate defensive
campaign alone, \or accept the surs
render terms now being framed.
With Turkey and Bulgaria out Of
the war and the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus in the hands Of the al
lies, Germany's hold on the east l.
broken. Guard duty is the work left
for the military forces the allies may
consider necessary to keep there. For
the navies there remains the job Of
capturing or wiping out the German
controlled fleet on the Black sea- No
one believes that will take long.
Officially neither the Washington
government nor the allied embassies
had been informed of the days
events.
| Only through press dispatches did
they learn of the fall of Turkey, and
they had no information through
their own channels Of the reported
action of the Austrian commander on
the Italian front in applying direct
ly to Gen. Diaz, the Italian commands
er in chief, for an armistice.
President Wilson spent large part
of the afternoon at the State, war
and navy building in the offices Of
Secretaries Lansing and Baker. He
walked over from the White House
soon after word came of Turkeys col
lapse, but there were indictions that
his talk with the war and State Sec
retaries had to do, not so much with
the interesting events on the battle
fronts, as with the exchanges con-
stantiy going on between the presi-
dent and Col. House and the Ameri-
can representatives on the supreme
war council.