GERMANY AND PEACE

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13893, 19 October 1918, Page 5

GERMANY AND PEACE

REICHSTAG TO CONSIDER REPLY TO MR WILSON. FURTHER CLIMB DOWN BUT NOT FULL CAPITULATION ANTICIPATED. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 18, 5.5 p.m. , LONDON, October 17. The Reichstag on Friday will consider its reply to President Wilson. It is believed in reliable quarters that while Germany's reply will pro - balt»y constitute a further climb down, it is improbable that the Central Powers will for the present fully capitulate, without making a further attempt to secure some modifications. GERMAN PAPERS PROTEST AT HARSHNESS OF MR WILSON'S TERMS. (Australian ami New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 18, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, October 17. Although the German newspapers protest against the harshness of Mr Wilson's terms, none dare advise the Government to reject them point blank. GERMANY BENDING, BUT STILL FAR FROM BROKEN. , (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 18, 5.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, October 17. Mr Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, said to-day that Germany was bending, but was far from broken. The war was not yet over, and every man and gun still counter!, while it was still necessary to keep all war industries going at full speed. THURSDAY'S RUMOURS CAUSE A SENSATION IN LONDON. EXCITEMENT ALLAYED LATER BY OFFICIAL DENTAL. BELGIAN FLAGS FLOWN IN BRUSSELS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 18, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, October 17. The prevalence of reports of the capitulation of Germany and the Kaiser's abdication caused a sensation in London last evening. The papors sold like wildfire. There was no unusual demonstration, but groups assembled at various centres anticipating a definite announcement. The fact that the meeting of the Reichstag was postponed, coupled with the menacing advance of the Allies, created a general disposition to the belief that Germany would accept President Wilson's terms. There was an air of great expectancy in the Parliamentary lobbies, where a report was current that the Government had already received Germany's reply to Mr Wilson, and that a statement would be made in the course of the evening. The position really-was that some of the current rumours had reached Government circles from other than newspaper sources, their place of origin entailing more than casiul attention. The official denial, made late in the evening, allayed the excitement. ROTTERDAM, October 17. The report of the German surrender reached Brussels on Wednesday. The Germans did not interfere when Bulgian flags were hoisted on private houses. DEMAND FOR ARMISTICE FORCED BY THE STRATEGIC POSITION. GERMAN FORCES BETWEEN THE OI3E AND THE AISNE IN DANGER OF BEING CUT OFF. Received October 18, 7.30 p.m. j LONDON, October 17. Reuter's correspondent with the French Army, writing on Wednesday, says that Germany's appeal for an armistice was due to military necessity. It is proved by a captured document that the Germans since July 15 have lost a third of their guns on the West front and a quarter of their enti/e artillery. They are also gravely short of horses. Moreover, the difficulty of their strategic position is due to the break up of the vast railway system by the general advance of the Allies. Their lateral railways are out by gunfire, and when the two main lines to Hirson and Mezieres come within range the retreat of the German forces between the Oise and the Aisne will be cat off if any of them are left. DEMAND FOR ARMISTICE INSPIRED BY MILITARY AUTHORITIES. ALLIES' CONDITIONS WILL EFFECTUALLY PRECLUDE RESUMPTION OF HOSTILITIES. (The Times.) Received October 18, 7.30 p.m. LONDON. October 17. The latest diplomatic information confirms the statement that Hindenburg and the military authorities inspired the armistice demand, hoping lo save the army from destruction. Should Germany accept Mr Wilson's terms it is regarded as certain that the conditions will be framed by the Allied end American naval and military authorities, and will effectually preclude llio resumption of hostilities by the German forces. GERMAN ARMIES ORDERED TO CEASE ALL DEVASTATIONS. (Reuter'3 Telegrams.) Received October 18, 10.55 p.m. AMSTEDARM, October 17. The RoUerdamsche Courant announces that the German press to-night publishes a communique stating that the Army Command has brought military measures into accord with the peace steps, and the armies have been ordered to cease all devastation unless absolutely compelled for defensive reasons. WIDESPREAD DEMAND FOR STRINGENT PEACE TERMS. (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 18, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, October 17. Public speakers and letters in the newspapers endorse the widespread popular demand that German prisoners be employed in coal mines, the publication of the names of the Germans accused of brutalities on land and sea, the destruction of town for town, the peace conditions to include the compelling of the German army under Allied guards to rebuild the destroyed towns in Flanders and elsewhere, trial by Allied courl-martial of Germans accused of brutality since the beginning of the war, insistence in every direction upon punishment being more urgent since the brutalities increased upon the German withdrawal. ENEMY'S LINE STILL UNBROKEN AND ARMIES MORE OR LESS INTACT. NO MILITARY REASON FOR UNCONDITIONAL CAPITULATION. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 18, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, October 17. As regards the enemy's strength, it is pointed out in responsible quarters that lm has still altogether 200 divisions, and although he ha« lost 300.000 prisoners and 4000 guns on the West front in the past three months, his line on the West is still unbroken, and his armies are more or less intact. There is no general demoralisation, hence it is still possible for the Germans to protract the war for some months. The point is that there is no actual military reason at the moment why the enemy should capitulate unconditionally. THE GERMAN BALANCE MAY SWING ANY WAY AT ANY TIME. CHOICE LIES BETWEEN PEACE AND THE HOIIENZOLLERNS. GERMAN PRESS UNANIMOUS IN CRITICISING MR WILSON'S TERMS. (United Service.) Received October 18, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, October 17. The situation remains doubtful —the German balance may swing either way at any moment, as a severe crisis is being fought out in her innermost councils. British newspapers think that the Dutch reports arc probably only slightly ahead of the facts. The Manchester Guardian says: "The world is on tiptoe awaiting Germany's choice between peace and the Hohenzollerns. The astonishing change in the German position cannot be due to military defeats alone, therefore cool students expect an internal explosion at any moment." The leading German newspapers show a striking unanimity in criticising Mr Wilson's terms, even the Tageblatt, Yorwaerts and Frankfurter Zeitunj;' declaring them unreasonable, and asserting that Wilson has dropped the role of mediator and become dictatorial and ruthless. Pan-German organs violently demand a military dictatorship. The Kreuz Zeitung says: "Mr Wilson wants to annihilate us. Let us rally round the Kaiser and defend him against his enemies at home and abroad." AUSTRIA CONVINCED THAT OPENING OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS IS NEAR (Reuter's Telegrams.) Received October 18, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, Oclober 17. Renter's Amsterdam correspondent says that reports from Vienna state that. Baron Burian declared, after a careful examination of President Wilson's reply, that he was convinced that the cessation of hostilities and the opening of peace negotiations are near. Count Burian indicated thai the German reply went, far to meet President Wilson's points. ITALY DEMANDS THAT ARMISTICE MUST BE DOUBLY SAFEGUARDED. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October 18, 11.50 p.m. Ru.ME, October 17. Italian opinion is daily more strongly determined to insist that any armistice must be doubly safeguarded, suggesting that the Austrians retreat to their frontier, Italy occupying Trent, Franzenfest, Pola and Cattaro as guarantees. A PEACE MINISTRY FORMED IN TURKEY. (Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.) Received October IS, 11.50 p.m. ROME. October 17. A new Turkish Ministry, with Izzet Pasha as Grand Vizier, and including Djavid Bey, has been formed to bring peace.