The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-10-19

rflHce Maxlfniflan, as soon as the lat
tel replies.
Lays Trap for Hun.
BY an atfroit diplomatic move Presi-
ient Wilson has laid trap for the
German governmental heads If the
peace proposal made by Chancellor
Maximilian was in the least insincere
This was the view of officials as they
studied the communication addressed
by President Wilson to the German
chancellor.
Confronted by the strategy Of Ger
man diplomacy. the president, In the
view Of officials, has conntered with
strategy just as Marshal Focf has met
the military tactics Of Hindenburg
und Ludendorff with superior strate-
gy And yet in his communication the
president has left open the way to
peace.
Asks Germany Question.
The president by calling upon Prince
for information as to
whether he represents the German mill,
itafy masters conducting the war or
the whole German people has com
PEELED the ~ - chaneell0 ana those
associated with him to render to the
world an explanation as to their real
position Through the communication
sent the enemy the last hope Of the
German niIitarlsts to point to the al
lies as waging war of determination
Is considered as having been re-
At the same time the president has
f.otified the German government that
its proposed suspension Of HOSTILE
ties cannot be granted while Ger
ran soldier remains on allied soil. The
German government must state ito the
world whether 1T win accept the IA
terms previously laid down by Presi-
dent Wilson fundamentally, or "as a
lasts for negotiation" which position
cannot be considered by the United.
States and the entente allies.
President at War Office.
With the German reace offensive
met and halted until the enemy Is
really ready to sue for peace on the
American and allied terms, President
sNilsonaturned his attention to the bat
tlefields.
He walked over to Secretary Ian
sings Office at the state department
and sent for General March, who ap-
Feared with huge military map of the
west front, where the once conquering
armies of the. Hun are being driven
back toward the Rhine
Washington is awaiting Germany's
next move.
Text Of the Presidents Message.
The text of the communication
handed to the charge of Switzerland
here follows:
.Sfr.. | have the honor to acknowI-
edge, on behalf of the president, your
note OF October 8. inclosing the COM
munication from the German govern
rnent to the president, and ! am In
structed by the president to request
you to make the following communica-
tion to the imperial German chan
cellof:
Before making reply to the request
of the imperial German government
and Ia order that that reply shall be
as candid and straightforward as the
nomentous interests involved require
the president of the United States
deems 1t necessary to assure himself
of the exact meaning Of the note Of
the imperial chancellor.
German chancelIors' Meaning Asked.
Does the imperial chancellor mean
that the imperial German government
accepts the terms laid down by the
president In his address to the con-
gress of the United States on the 9Th
of January last and In subsequent adj
dresses. and that its object In enter
ing into discussions would be only
to agree upon the practical details Of
their application?
1.-THE president feels bound to say
with regard to the suggestion OF an
armistice that he would not feel at lib
erty to propose a cessation Of arms
to the governments with which the
government Of the United States is as
ISOLATED against the central powers,
SO long as the armies Of those powers
are upon their soi. The good faith Of
any discussion would manifestly de-
pend upon the consent Of the central
mowers immedi atelx-to withdraw their