Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-29
SEES GERMAN AIM
NOT YET CHANGED
Correspondent Says Faith Is
Shaken, But Early Sur
render Is Not Probable.
WITHDRAWAL FOR MORALE
BY JOHN F.. BASS.

CableSram to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
PARIS, France. October 2s.-Ger-
| but the nature of the German people
has not been changed by a few defeats.
1t is believed that the withdrawal of
the Germans was due to purely mill
tary and political reasons. When the
German staff started to evacuate occu-
pied territory in France and Belgium
| it took into consideration the need of
doing something radical to bolster up
the waning morale of the army. Never
| theless it is true that at the pivot of
| their withdrawal on the Mouse near
iVerdun the Germans for the past
| months have stood off repeated attacks
of the American Army pending the
| withdrawal of the rest of their line. 1t
was vital that the Germans should hold
on at the Mouse. Elsewhere they had
retreated. but where it was necessary
to hold they have held.
In the late summer the German army
faced disaster 1t could no longer hope
to win owing to reinforcements from
beyond the sea and the single COM
mand overwhelming it on every side.
While there was prospect or uitl-
mate victory the German soldier
might be counted on to fight. When
the conviction of inevitable and final
defeat was forced upon him the s1tua-
tien became overwhelmingly DANGER
Gus. If an attempt had been made 10
stand in France the whole German
army might have been disintegrated
and destroyed. The only chance of pull
ing the German army together was
to convince the soldier that he was
fighting in defense OF his home and
country. 1t is hard to do this when
he is fighting in foreign land he mas
invaded, and it is therefore probable
that the German staff decided upon
a sweepipg retreat, which Logically
frontier Nothing stimulates a. SOL
dier to fight like seeing his own home
town shelled and subjected to the ols,
asters of war. This has been proved
in the French and Italian armies. In
my opinion the German staff trusts
that it's army will recover the hight
ing spirit when it's own frontier is
reached.
German Plan May Work.
AS the army has withdrawn this
hope shows indications of realization.
Order has been restored and the troops
on the Meuse have fought stubbornly.
At the same time the Germans began
their withdrawal their government
began a peace offensive which ap-
| parently was directed principally to-
ward convincing Germany that the
war had become a defensive one and
that it was the intention of the allies
| to crush and destroy Germany. The
German notes to President Wilson
indicate an attempt to convince the
people first that the government Is
now representative of the people and
not of the monarchial and military
classes; secondly, that the govern
ment is ready to make peace on Presf-
dent Wilson's terms. The notes seem
to be cleverly framed to accomplish
their purpose. The German govern
ment would have the benefit of an
armistice and could discuss and final
! Nv refuse to accept the details of the
| settlement, although they may accept
Mr. Wilson's fourteen principles as
1.-THE basis for negotiations.
In view of this situation it is inter-
esting to note that Prince Macmillan,
in his speech before the reichstag.
states that the power to pass on peace
terms is not to be given the reichs-
tag until a society Of nations has been
formed-that is, until the peace terms
have been signed up.
That leaves the decision as to peace
in the hands of the governing class
in Germany.
Emperor William may be sacrificed
on the altar Of expediency, as he Is
not necessary to the ruling class.
Surprise Is expressed that the gov