Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-28
CHAPTER XII
President Wilson in Action

1
| The chancellor would like to have a
least eight days respite General Lu
dendorff. for all answer, demands twic,
IN succession the text of the peace of
ter. The chancellor asks questions
For how long can the army holt
the frontiers? Does the great genera
staff expect the front to give way? i
so, when! Does it realize that. i
peace negotiations are initiated undel
the pressure of critical military stu
alton. it may lead to the loss of ths
colonies. of Alsace-Lorraine and of the
Polish provinces?" To these questions
there is only one reply made, on Dc.
tober 3, under the signature of Marsha
Hlndenburg, who in Berlin ON that da,
sends the following letter to the chan.
icellor:
The supreme command of the army
maintains it's demand, formulated or
Sunday, September %, 1918, for nm i'm.
mediate offer Of peace to our enemies
AS the result of the breakdown OF
the Macedonian front and of the reduc
ton of reserves it has led to on the
western front. as a result also of the
lmpossi ibility IN which we are to make
good the very losses that have been
inflicted on us in the fighting of the
past 10 days. there no longer remains
any hope-as far as man can judge
OF forcing the enemy to make peace.
Enemy Grows Stronger
The enemy on it's side is daily
throwing fresh reserves into the strug-
gle. Nevertheless the German army
remains firm and victoriously repulses
all attacks. But the situation becomes
more critical every day and may force
the high command to take measures
the consequence of which will be very
serious
Under the circumstances it is bet
ter to cease the struggle, to save the
German people and their allies from
us thousands of brave soldiers"
The chancellor yielded to this pres
sure, and on October 5 telegraphs
through the Swiss government to
President Wilson to beg him to summon
the belligerents to peace negotiations
upon the basis of the IA points, and to
put an end to bloodshed by the immedi-
ate conclusion of an armistice. Eyery-
body, except Prince Max Won Baden. the
Vice Chancellor Won Payer, and the
Secretary Of State Solf, seems to be-
lieve that by itself this cable will suf-
flee to relieve the crisis. AS matter
OL AuSls ~ JUlS OlS-
patch, delivers herself into the hands of
the allies. The situation from now on
to the eleventh of November is to de-
velop the relentless logic of triumphant
fate. -y--e -
On October 6 the ministers hold n
They would like to hear other
generals beside General Ludendorff.
Won Payer says:
I'VE must; Ludendorff's nerves are
no longer equal to the strain
Seek kaiser's Aid
1t is decided to seek the Intervention
IF the kaiser-for the resignation of the
first quartermaster general is feared
f an attempt is made to-. consult his
On October s President
Wilson replies to~the German note Of
The fifth. 1t is Il brief reply which
throws the recipients into consterna-
ion they cannot conceal. No cOnyersa-
ion is possible, declares the president.
either on peace or an--armistjce until
preliminary guarantees shall have been
furnished. These are the acceDtation
Dure and simple of. the bases Of peace
aid down on January 6, g. and in
he president s subsequent addresses:
he certainty that the chancellor does
lot speak only in the. name of the con-
'tituted authorities who SO far have !
,een responsible for the conduct of the
var; the evacuation Of all invaded ter
itories. The president will transmit
lcontinued on Page Two3