Evening star., 1921-10-28

even more SO the armiStice are indis-
penSable, but as to the attitude to be
taken IN presence of the conditions
which are attached to the one and to
the other by the President of the
United States, not word that Is
clear or plain
we cannot give up German fort
resses. The demand for the evacua--
ton of Metz would be contrary to our
honor. l do not fear a catastrophe.
But 1 am anxious to save the army,
so as to be able to have it still as
means OF pressure during the peace
negotiations"
Here. perhaps, We have the true in
wardness of his thoughts. To me-
gotiatc and gain time to recuperate.
so as. if need be. TO break off after
ward. AS matter of fact. the Ger
man general staff. during this period.
sought a suspension OF arms. rather
than definite peace. On the 9th
IT still thought that it could obtain
it, Hence. its interventions in the
preparation of the reply; hence, its
attempts at equivocation and 'ruse.
The reply was sent on the 18th in the
name of Germany and of Austria
Hungary. Germany accepts the four
teen points and assumes that its al
lies will do likewise: the chancellor
in full accord with the reichstag.
speaks in the name of the govern
ment and of the German people; Ger
many is disposed to ''accede to the
proposals of cvacuation''-tha is
where the rub comes-but she thinks
they ought to be the object of pre-
liminary negotiations. and suggests
the appointment of Il mixed commits
sion to deal with this matter. lf'the
allies lend themselves to this, Ger
many is saved for the time beng.
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-shc will have the time to
rebuild an army. The ministers agree
TO this draft. But they are careful
to obtain from Marsha! HindenhurG
and Gen. Ludendorff their approEa
in writing. The maneuver. unSkliied
though it be. inspires hope iii all.
President Avoids Trap.
Then comes the thunderholt. Presi-
dent Wilson refuses to fall into the
trap and. crossing swords in earnest.
presses his attack to the utmost in
the note of october IA. y mixed COM
mission for evacuation No These
are matters which. like the armiStice
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
ly satisfactory safeguards and guar
anteeS of the maintenance OF the pres
ent military supremacy OF the armies
of the United States and of its al
lies" Besides. no ;irmiStice so long
as the armed forces of Germany con-
tinue the Illegal and inhuman prac-
ticeS which they Still persist in.
Finally. no armistice so long as the
German nation shall be in the hands
of the military power which has dis
turbed the peace of the world. AS to
Austria Hungary. Germany has no in
terest therein and the President Will
reply directly. In a single page the
whole poor Scaffolding of the German
great general staff is overthrown.
The armiStice and peace are not to be
means of delaying disaster and of
preparing revenge. ON the main
question itself the reply must be yes
or MOI If it is TO, war Will continue.
as it has gone on for the last three
months. by allied victories. If it is
yes. the military capitulation must be
immediate and complete by the ac-
ceptance pure and simple of terms
which viii be fixed by the military ad-
visers of the allies alone.
ITO BE or Not to Be-"
This time the Germans understand.
AS Col. Heye of the German general
staff will say few days later. on
q
question of ito be or not to be-" and
the military shrink back fearful of
the consequences of their pressing in
sistence on October l. AS soon as
Mr.. Wilson's answer is known. Gen.
'.udendorf has telegraphed to hasten
the return of troops from the near
eaSt-the usefulness of which had
seemed to him questionable on the
9th-and has suggested that an ap-
peal should be made to the German
people-the outcome of which he de-
Clared. on the same day. would be
ridiculous. On the 18th he arrives
IN Berlin and appears before the gov
ernment. The chancellor reminds
Ludendorff, rather sharply. that fif-
teen days previously he had been
Obliged. much aga inst his will, to do
the generals bidding. and demands
an explanation. Ludendorlf becomes
overbearing:
Il have already said to YOU. Mr..
chancellor. that 1 consider a break
through possible, but not probable
II you question me | can conscjen-
tiously only give you this reply.
40 not fear Il break through IF
am given reinforcements Iool, ,non
the future with confidence. If the
army holds for four weeks and win
Ter arrives we shall be out of diff
cultE: The offensive strength of our
enemies has recently been very weak
y our battalions We're at normal
strength the situation would he
saved Neither avia ton nor tanks