The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-28

l tie OHlted states not word that IS
 clear or plain:
 We cannot give up German for | tresses. The demand for the evacua-
 ton of Metz would be contrary 70 OUT honor. l do not fear q catastrophe. But l am anxious to save the army
 so as to be able to have 1t still as a ! means of pressure during the peace negotiations"
 | Here, perhaps. we have the true inwardress of his thoughts. To ne- gotiate and gain time to recuperate. so as IT need be to break off after
 ward. As a matter of fact. the Ger
 man general staff. during this pe-
 riod, sought a suspension of arms
 rather than definite peace. On
 the ninth, 1t still thought that it
 could obtain it. Hence it's interven-
 tions in the preparation of the reply;
 hence it's attempts at equivocation
 and ruse. The reply was sent on the
 twelfth In the name of Germany and
 of Austria Hungary. Germany ac-
 cepts the fourteen points and t.s-
 sumes that its allies will do likewise; i;
 the chancellor in full accord with the
 Reichstag, speaks in the name of he
 government and of the German peo-
 pie; Germany is disposed to "accede to the proposals of eYacuation"-that Is where the rub comeS-but she thinks they ought to be the object of preliminary negotiations and sug-
 gests the appointment of a mixed commission to deal with this matter. If the allies lend themselves to this Germany Is saved for the time being. She will be able to withdraw her ma terial to the rear and regroup her forces. Pending the meeting of the mixed commission and during the protracted discussion of evacuation "methodical evacuation" as Hinden- burg said-she will have the time to rebuild an army. The ministers agree to this draft. But they are careful to obtain from Marshal Hindenburg and General Ludendorff their ap- proval in writing. The maneuver, unskilled though 1t be, inspires hope in all.
 Then comes the thunderbolt. Pres ident Wilson refuses to fall Into the trap and crossing swords in earnest presses his attack to the utmost in the note of October IA A mixed com mission for evacuation? No! There are matters which like the arimstice itself must be left to the Judgment and advice of the military advisers of the allied and associated govern ments" Besides, no armistice Is pos sible If 1t does not furnish "absoiute- ly satisfactory safeguards and guar antees of the maintenance of the present military supremacy of he armies of the United States and of it's allies" Besides no armistice "so long as the armed forces of Germany continue the Illegal and inhuman practices which tf " still persist jn.' Finally, no armistice so long as the fv. ii. l. H. |. < of the military power which has dis turbed the peace of the world. As to Austria Hungary. Germany has no interest therein and the President will reply directly. In single page the whole poor scaffolding of the German great general staff is over thrown. The armistice and peace are not to be means of delaying a dis aster and of preparing for revenge. On the main question Itself the reply must be yes or mol If 1t is no, war will continue. as 1t has gone on for the last three months, by allied vic tories. If it is yes. the military capit- ulation must be immediate and ccm- plete by the acceptance pure and simple of terms which will be fixed by the military advisers of the allies alone.
 This time the Germans understand. As Colonel Heye of the German gen eral staff will say few days later. on October IT, One realizes that Ii Is question of to be or not to be-" and the military shrink back/fearful Of the consequences of their pressing insistence on October l. As soon as Mir. Wilson's answer is known. Gen. eral Ludendorff has telegraphed to hasten the return of troops from the Near East-the usefulness of which had seemed to him questionable on the ninth-and has suggested that an appeal should be made to the German people-the outcome of which he had declared, on the same day, would be ridiculous. On the seventeenth, he arrives in Berlin and appears before the government. The chancellor re- minds Ludendorff. rather sharply that Is days previously he had been obliged. much against his will. to do the generals bidding and demands an explanation. Ludendorff becomes overbearing.
 T have. already said to you. MT. 1 Chancellor, that I consider a br, ak through possible, but not probable. 1T you question me can consci- entiously only give you this reply. Il oc AANe ACoA e Oicdk tilTOugn. IT ] Ill given reinforcements look upon the future with confidence. If the army holds for four weeks and winter ar- rives. We shall be out of difficulty. The offensive strength of our ene- mics has recently been very weak. If our battalions were at normal strength. the situation would oe saved. Neither aviation nor tanks alarm me. If the armistice negot.a. tions gre to begin. the undertakln.. to evacuate occupied territory would alone and in itself constitute a real agRravltion of our military situation Already the mere fact thatfit ,s spoken of has had untoward conss. quences. Yesterday and tn. day be- fore the enemy has made little prog ress. We oughs to say to our enc. mics before accepting conditiony which are too hard. Come and take them by force"