About Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1918)
tTlic Atlanta mi'Wtt'Mj) Souraal VOLUME XX. FRENCH ARMY ADVANCES PAST LAON Wilson Studies German Note GREAT NEW DRIVE OPENED IN FUMEBS ' BY ALLIED FORCES Haig's Forces Are Within Sev en Miles of Valenciennes. Americans Stop Determined Argonne Counter Attack WITH THE ALLIED ARMIES IN FLANDERS. Oct. 14- —<By thr Associat ed Press.)—(l:3o P- M.)—British, Bel gian and French forces attacked at dawn this morning on a wide front tn Flanders. The allied roops are driving In the general direction of Ghent and Courrat The attack seems to be genera’, from Comines to the northward. The troops of the three nations went over the top after a “crash” bombardment only. There was no preliminary bombardment. It undoubtedly tactically surprised the *s enemv. Tn the British formations were some •f Great Britain’s best troops and the forces of the French were of famous fighting organizations. The Germans appear perhaps prepared to retire to the Ghent line. Ry the fury with which the attack was launched it is evident that the fighting armies are not paying the slightest attention tc the “peace talk.” They smashed forward with all the dash characterising the recent operations. MOS IS ABANDONED BY FOE; FRENCH BEYOND NEW YORK. Oct. 14. —(By the Asso ciated Press.) —German forces have abandoned Laon and the whole St. Go bain region The French, after reoccu pying Laoa, have pressed on until their Tine now runs from the Oisd river above La Fere to the eastern end of Chemln «jes-Dame’ When the Germans began to fall back •at of the bag into which they were be ing slowly caught by the rapid advance of the allies on each side they went with such speed that the change in the battle line in that section of the front during a few hours was astonishing Not until the French reached the Laon jua Fere railroad did they encounter any troops participated in the ad nance and are now engaged on the hius north of the Ailette river. At this point the German lines have been pressed back or have been withdrawn so that a sharp angle has been created. \Vith the exception of the area norm o , Douai, there appears to have been a slowing down of the allied advance dur ing the past couple of days. At no point have the British and Americans sgept ahead as they did on Thursday and Friday last week. This rr.av indicate that , the Germans have reached what is known as the Hun ding. or Brunhild line. This position, while much less formidable, so far as known, than the Hindenburg system, is «till strong enough to retard pursuit by the allies and perhaps hold them up lor some time. The Hunding line runs from Antwerp to Ghent and thence to Tournai. Londe, Valenciennes. Solesmes. Vouxiers Dun-Sur.-Meuse and then down the base of the St Mihigl salient to the Moselle where it joins the 9 ld , 1 f ro ". t ning through Lorraine and the Vosges to the Swiss frontier. French and British forces have vir tually reached this line east of Cambrai and St. Quentin. British units are re ported at Solesmes, while the French, farther south, were.within four miles of Guise. On the Champagne front Gen era! Berthelot is less than five miles from Bethel. while farther east General Gouraud has taken Vouziers. but has not penetrated much north of that place. (Continued on Page 3. Column S) The Subscription Price of The Semi-Weekly Journal Is Now 75c a Year; We Do Not Know How Soon That Price May Be Advanced — SO RENEW NOW! T>ew te nee thing the tr.tted Htatee gortn- ' meet te aNriatelr tlctenniaed to de. aed that k WT.X THE WAB. The War Industrie* board has turned its at -1 cation to the publishing business. The postage rates were materially inrreased on newspaper. Jul» let, and the •endit-g of free exchange end riving of ntnpie copie, ba* been forbidden. Now the rutting down ot ibe number of page:' a daily newspaper ean publish in any one issue i* being coeaiderrd. And the reductions men tioned range from 10 per rent to 00 per -ent. lb .-onnecttw: with this proposal ruling the fii :«g of v mioitntni retail pri-r u s “ cents to the -ut»«cril»*rs is U-ing And if the War Industrie* Bc«rd this** it neer<vory t«» fir th* price of dally newspapers, why it may also fi- t!»e price of semi-weekly »n<) weekly pas lieattoc*. The s-rnt W>'-->ly Joccal is still T6e a year, ami a* sincerely Imp* that pei-e will no' hare t» n* advanced, but we do not Imo when we bare to aniiouace that the price has been I'VT-ased. by order of the -oTernment, to $1.50 or S-. cr even mor- Semi Weekly Journal. Atlanta. Ga : find 53.35, far whit* aend The Semi- Weekly Jenrnr'. 1 year eaeh to tbe following t Xaace • Address * For my trouble seed me The "-xi -Weekly Journal 1 year. Our regular prices for single subscriptions nre one year 75c; two jrart 91-25, and three years 91-50. Only Six More Days to Buy Liberty Bonds! Don’t Wait! Full Associated Press Service HUN SURRENDER IS DEMAND OF LODGE IN A RESOLUTION WASHINGTON, Oct. 14.—Republican Leader Lodge today introduced a reso lution to declare it the sense of the senate that ho further communication be had with the German government I on the subject of an and that no communication be had With that gov ernment except on the question of un conditional surrender. Senator Lodge made no comment on the resolution at the time of its Intro duction. The resolution went to the table. Sen ator Lodge did not indicate when he would call it up for consideration. Acceptance by Germany of the de mands of the allies for reparatioA. resti tution and guarantees, in addition to the fourteen principles of President Wilson, before any agreement is en tered into for discussion of an armis tice, is demanded in a resolution intro duced today in the senate by Senator Thomas, of Colorado. Senators Brandegee, Connecticut; New, Indiana, and McCumber, North Dakota, emphasised that the only way to insure a real victory was by a crushing defeat of the German armies. “An armistice today would mean los ing the war," said Senator Brandegee. “I am in favor of conducting the war to a complete victory on the battlefield.’’ “Nothing short of absolute, complete and unconditional surrender, carrying with it full reparation tor damage wrought will be accepted or be toler ated, said New. “It is my belief that anything that even has the appearance of willingness to accept anything less will be taken as a failure to carry out the purposes tor which we entered the war ana will be resented with an unan imity and «wi emphasis that will permit of no misunderstanding.” “For four years Germany has run amuck among na’tions.” said New. “She has wrought the greatest havoc the world has ever seen, in that time she has desolated Belgium, devastated France, strangled Serbia, wrecked Poland and made a shamble ot" Russia, bhe has. violated the most sacred rights of the United States by destroying women and children on the high seas Mid finally forced us to take up arms in the defense ot the most sacred of human rights. “In ail that this government has since done in the prosecution of the war .the president has had the support.Of both the great political parties and of the whole people to a degree never before accorded a president either in peaca oi ■ * “For four years Germany has* drench ed a continent in blood without con science or She has spared neither the property, the the souls of men and women who stood in her path and wherever the German heel has trod the ruin has been com- P1 “At -this stage they see the turning of the tide and in order to save them selves whole they say to the president, •let us cease fighting where we are amt from this time forth carry on the war by correspondence.’ ■ “I do not believe that the people of ’ this country or our allies will ***. momentarily content to barter with the Hun ” New objected to the third article of the president’s principles, providing for 1 “the" removal as far as possible or a.l , economic barriers and the establishment of a neutrality of trade conditions. i Such action is “more serious in linan ' cial consequences than those inflicted by I the war itself.” he declared. 1 Declaring that he had “no confidence ; in Germany or in her promises.” Senator • Chamberlain, chairman ot the military committee, said the German note should be rejected. "Whether reply amounts to a promise of unconditional surrender, or not, I am in doubt and there should be no doubt in any mind, said Senator Chamberlain. “Reading between the lines of the note. I feel that it is a suggestion of ne gotiations rather than a promise to sur render. and so feeling. I am not in favor of its acceptance. approved of the president s note to Ormany because I felt that it was a diplomatic demand for an uncondi tional surrender. The president ought to insist that Germany’s reply to his note should be positive and unequivocal and that there be no room for negotiation or compromise. Congress and the Ameri can people will sustain him in the course outlined.” AnJ for thia reason we think it the right ' thing for us to adviae you that these posaibil- I it lee stare >ia In the face. We can and trill now accept anbscriptious at the rate of 75e a year and will post up the ex piration dale of all subscribera sending in re newals now. This will b* a good thing for ail Hemi-Weekly Journal readers to do now, too. for w» will sead the paper to all until the- full lesp'ratleu of date at the old price, it matters not how much the rates for future subsenp t>vt>« may be advanced. Now, here's-an opportunity for you readers ! of Th* Semi-Weekly to get an extra year's sub • itien without cost to yourself. Send us the hswes of three yearly su''scribeni on the blank together with 52.25 for the tiaras sut>- > e<-r'ptlons. and w- will mark your subscription > up for another year. Thare are three of your neighbor? who will I be giad to give you 73c ti» have The Setni- I WeAily Journal sent them for a year each, and you will find it no trouble to get tills extra j year’s subscription without •mat to }ourself. GREAT ATTENDANCE BROUGHT ID FAIR BY FINE WEATHER Monday Proves to Be Real Grand Opening Day—Exhib its in Place —Races and Oth er Events Unsurpassed » weather conditions brought out huge crowds to the South eastern fair on Monday, when the big exposition really began in dead earnest. Saturday saw the formal opening of the fair, with almost 10,000 people swarming over the grounds, but Monday proved to be the real grand, but Monday exposition that has annually attracted exhibitors and visitors from all over the southeast. The exhibits in every department were all in on. Monday morning and hundreds of progressive farmers from all over Georgia and the adjoin ing states visited the big cattle barns, where fine-blooded stock were quartered to compete for the various prizes. Cattle, swine, sheep and horses are on exhibition in greater numbers than ever before in the history of the fair and the visitors are paying special at tention to this feature. The liberal arts exhibit, with the gov ernment’s great display of war equip ment and relics from overseas attract ed hosts of spectators Monday, the news having gone out since Saturday that the exhibit was one of the most comprehensive ever attempted in this country. This feature is under the di rection of the national committee on public information and no efforts have been spared make it complete in ev ery detail. The demonstration given Monday morning and afternoon by convalescent soldiers from Fort McPherson proved to be one of the most striking features of the fair. These wounded heroes from overseas, torn by bullets and shrapnel, are giving daily exhibitions of their skill in various trades, even though they may have lost an arm. or hand. The reclama tion hospital at Fort McPherson, under the direction of Major J. L. Riley, is doing a wonderful work in re-educating these wounded soldiers and the demon stration they give every morning and afternoon in the big liberal arts build ing is attracting hosts of visitors. Flower Exhibit Another feature of Monday’s pro gram was the dahlia show in which Hower culturistS competed for prizes tor the best and largest collections of dif ferent types of dahlias. This depart ment is in charge of Mrs. T. O. Plun kett. . The harness racing in the afternoon filled the grandstand to its capacity. The Grand Circuit racing program fqr the' Southeastern fair is qne of the best presented in many seasons., some of the most famous horses on the American ♦urf being entered in the various events. Monday afternoon saw the Coca-Cola stake hung up as the principal feature, and lovers of harness racing had their fill of sensational contests on the well graded and carefully conditioned •mile track. , . . The free circus attractions presented on ihe large open-air platform in front of the grandstand provided wholesome amusement for thousands of specta tors. the various acts being put on be tween racing events and constituting a welcome diversion. Many famous acro batic and aerihl acts are on Ihe pro gram this year and the offerings in this department of the exposition are being highly commended. Along the midway in Larkland the Johnny J. Jones attractions amused huge crowds of visitors Monday, with shows, riding devices and entertain ment features of all kinds fathered from all sections of the country. The Southeastern fair seems ko have been the mecca for a number of new and unique attractions this year and the midway constitutes one of the most popular phases of the exposition. Fair officials Monday expressed their belief that attendance records this year would break all previous figures. They based thia conclusion on the statistics for the opening day, Saturday, when 9.825 persons passed through the turn stiles. Last year 3,564 people visited the fa!t> grounds, on the opening day, showing that this year s crowd was al most three times as large as in 1917. Airplane Machine Gun Wounds U. S. Soldiers NEW YORK, Oct. 14.—Soldiers at Camp Mills, L. 1., received tragic fore taste of war today when a machine gun attached to an airplane in flight accidentally went oft, sending bullets among the men of a sanitary corps. One soldier was Yatally wounded and two others hurt seriously. • Kaiser’s Abdication Officially Denied BERNE, Switz., oct. 14. —The Wolff News Agency, of Berlin, today issued an official dneial of the report which had be come current in Germany that Emperor William intended to abdicate. STOMACH TROUBLE OR TAPEWORM BANISHED Man?* persons who suffer from stom ach trouble really have a tapeworm and don’t know it. A guaranteed remecty which lias proven to be remarkably ef fective in expelling tapeworm and giv ing quick relief in all forms of stom ach trouble is being sent on free trial by the Schoenherr Co., Dept. 55, Mil waukee, Wis. They guarantee it to re move, in less than one hour, any tape worm with its head—no pain, no diet ing. no danger; also to relieve any form of a stomach trouble or it costs nothing. Take advantage of their free trial offer. Write them today.—(Advt. > ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1918. PRESS OF U. S. FOR TOTAL SURRENDER WITH GUARANTEES WASHINGTON, Oct. 14. —Comment of American newspapers on Germany’s re ply to President Wijson follows: The Montgomery, Ala.. Advertiser sayls: The only terms allbwed Bulgaria were unconditional surrender. Germany is entitled to less rather than more consideration. If the German reply were an offer of unconditional sur render, which it is riot, Germany could secure the peace : site so sorely needs. , . . Let us have an end to the diplo matic sparrings and negotiations. . . . -Germany lias all to gain and nothing to lose in them. Now. having received ariswers to the questions he asked, says the Memphis Commercial-Appeal. President Wilson should notify Gerrfiany . . . the only proposition the allies can consider is unconditional surrender. Gathering around a conference table with the German army intact is danger ous. The German army must be destroy ed and Germany's capacity for another world war destrefred. That can be ac complished only by dethroning the Ho henzollerns and displacing kultur with democracy. g The Houston (Texas) Post says: The proposal of an armistice will have to be cautiously approached. We must not sacrifice in diplomacy or negotiation what our gallant ariiues have • so nobly won on the battlefield. San Antonio (Texas) Express asks: What is the difference between the “present rulers of Germany” with whom the president hasJdeclared there can be no bargaining, and the “present govern ment” referred td in Dr. Solf’s note. That is the btg question. It is safe, with the president; f's '■ The note seems, to be an amazing con fession of weakness, says the Birming ham Age-Herald. V . . It has created astonishment, suspicion and incredulity, vet it must be acknowledged - as a sweep ing diplomatic victory for President Wil son . . ■ Peace may be in sight, but In the meantime there must be no relax ation of the' fighting spirit either at home or in France. Nashville Tennessean: The Ger* man acceptance”.- appears to contain mor6 than one joker. Instead of a sin cere acceptance, it appears to be a play for time, and the basis of a harangue to the German people to "arise in their might and resist the invader. The American people demand nothing heort of unconditional surrender. Wait On President Louisville Courier-Journal: The man fn the White House must draft the program of civilization in its future dealings with the despoiler. That he and nis colleagues of the allied gov ernments will permit the Hun to re tire to his bloody lair still a belliger ent is unthinkable. The arms of Ger many and Austria must be stacked on the battle line. . . . Wait for him (the president) before you talk or even think peace. . « . ’ New Haven (Conn.) Journal-Courier. The reply from the beast, of Berlin warrants" no further exchanges with him or his official representatives. It is the same old game, played with In creased dexterity. An armistice means the recovery* of her strength. She can not have it. . „ . Detroit Free Press: It is far from being an unconditional surrender. There is no certainty that Berlin is not more immediately eager for an armistice American people demand nothing short than it is for peace. But the chancel lor is making a plain plea for armistice pending evacuation. Such excession is not to be thought of in dealing with so disreputable and perfidious an enemy as Germany. Suggest This Reply Pittsburg Times: Surrender to Foch and z enter a conference with all the al lies’ points conceded, is the .message that should be flashed to Berlin. Baltimore American: There is just this phase of the evolved situation upon which to base expectations of a near peace—of peace, say within six months. This is in the possibility that Germany will quickly accept the inevitable, and the inevitable is unconditional sur render. This is the one and only con dition that can be accepted preliminary to an armistice. Philadelphia North American: We do not pretend to deny that Germany’s answer io President Wilson’s queries makes an early peace possible. . . . But if there is any sanctity in the world-wide demand for a peace of jus tice and permanency, if there is any need for the final overthrow of autoc cracy and the destruction of its mili tary power, then civilization was never nearer to the abyss of disaster than it is at this hour. Baltimore Sun: If Germany is act ing in good faith in its answer to Pres-: ident Wilson, then, as Secretary Mc- Adoo says, her acceptance of the pres ident's demands amounts to uncondi tional surrender. If so, the. war is won. It is not worth while to go on fighting for something that we already possess. Obviously the thing to do in these circumstances is to find out whether she is acting in good faith, if what she means by acceptance of the president’s terms, and what we mean by it, are one and the same thing. Mo Security Offered New York World: “Coming from any honest, and respectable government, such a reply as Germany has made to President* Wilson's inquiries might safe ly be accepted as an unconditional sur render. Coming from the German gov ernment ... it must be accepted for what it is . . . an offer of a surrender without . . . security whatsoever for compliance with . any provisions or promise.” .New York Herald: “If the American people have any 'say ’ . . . the German plea for an armistice will be granted as to Bulgaria. There must be immediate transfer to the armies of the victorious allies of all German arms and munitions of war. . . . Uncon ditional surrender . . . must be followed by the punishment demanded by justice.” New York Tribune: “Victory in this war ... is but a means to jus tice, and by justice we mean death to the kaiser and to the authors of all t>at unspeakable criminality committed in his name. . . . If this be not the verdict of the American people, we do not known them.” New York Sun: “What are the cre dentials of the voice now speaking? A satisfactory credential would be the an nouncement of the kaiser’s abdication. . . . Unless the president has in- formation through other channels we can readily imagine what his answer must be. . . . The one thing certain is that the German will for peace is growing by geometrical progression.” BREWERTON’S BILLBOARD Ymaker : & * /fit 1 — < Q - More W ' SPAN ISH. 4 if; r ‘ Bono’ . V 1 EVERYBODY * I .SHOULD: b. WEAR THIS. Wf W' "GAUZE-MASK-" .rj rjT Au2_ J-, , PR ESSED’UP AND SGML I * GERMAN REPLY IS ONE OF EVASIONS, SAYSNORTHCLIFFE * V LONDON, Oct. 13.—“ The speed of the German reply is .Indicative of the. anxiety the Germans feel for the safety of their rapidly retreating army,” said Viscount Northcliffe to an Associ ated Press representative tonight. ‘You will remember at the time they were being questioned about the Lusi tania, they played for delay, delay, de lay,” he continued. "Now they are fighting to gain days, even hours. As I read their reply, it is neither candid nor straightforward. It consists of eva sions. These evasions are made for the purpose of unbalancing the minds ot simple folks in allied countries and for the purpose of convincing the discon tented section of the German people that the allies will not accept what is declared by tJiem to look like a reason able offer of peace. “The character of the answer shows the atmosphere of equivocation in which the German government lives and moves. German?, in fact, only ‘deciares’ herself ready to comply. She does not comply. She has not accepted the presi dent’s terms. She only says—untruly— that those tei»ms have been accepted. “You will remember that in 1870. the Germans, when they had the great French army enveloped at Sedan, de clined to give an armistice. Bismarck said: “ ‘Germany desires to promote the re establishment of peace. The best means of assuring it is to deprive' France ot her army.’ “If my American friends will look at the maps of their newspapers today the?’ will see that Marshal Foch is rap idl?> driving the Germans into a gigantic Sedan, not the Sedan of the 1870 tj'pe, for the number of retreating Germans represent hundreds as compared to tens of Marshal MacMahon's army in 1870. “If we grant an armistice we shall be providing material for a great pro longation of the war. If we leave the matter to Marshal Foch he will end the war. Bulgaria is out. Turke?’ is going out. Austria-Hungary is on the verge of a revolution. ‘The combined efforts of Americans, associated with the armies of France, Great Britaon, Italy «nd Belgium, will end this struggle and put a stop to any posible recrudescence of the war. BAKER CALLS FOR FULL WAR SPEED, PEACE OR NO PEACE WASHINGTON. Oet. 14.—" Whatever the result of the peace proposals the war department must proceed at lull speed with men and supplies, and the people must support the army until the boys are back with the fruits of vic tory safe and assured.” Secretary of War Baker, home from a seven weeks' intensive study of the western battle line, brought the above tidings to a nation discussing the Teu ton eace reply. That there must be no let-up in the unending tide of men, guns and supplies on the false assumption that all is over, was the plain warning of the secretary and military men surrounding him. In other words, as Secretary Baker put it, “the Liberty Loan must go over the top.” Victor?’ for American-allied arms in a few short months, regardless of what >s lone about diplomatic maneuvers w-as predicted b?’ Secretary Baker’s associ ates, provided the loan is overwhelm ingly supported. The?’ talked of six months as a limit, and some evfcn discussed the chance or peace b?’ Christmas, but with one ac cord they said that there must be no wavering of Ameriean support of its men at this time. Such a weakening, they declared, would be fatal, robbing the gallant armies of backing at the most critical period of the struggle. “The people at home have a solemn responsibilit?' for their share in the final result,’’ said Secretary Baker, add ing that the loan must be oversub scribed. He came out of the fpg of the At lantic yesterday forenoon just as the sun was lifting this hiding screen lantic vesterda?’ forenoon just as the sun was lifting this hiding screen around big fast vessel. The correspondent ft was still more than a dozen miles out of an Atlantic port. Swinging onto the big craft, while a group of wounded or convalescents "kidded” the party’s maneuvering with a rope ladder, the cor respondents were ushered with a degree of secrecy to a perch on the bridge where the secretary was peering out for the shores of America. Secretary Baker seemed worn and weary from the strain of work and from (Continued on Page 3, Column 7.) NUMBER 110. PRESIDENT CONFERS. WITH HOUSE. BAKER AND OTHER OFFICIALS i Turkey Submits Peace Propos al Similar to Germany’s. • World Opinion Demands Un conditional Surrender / WILSON WILL NOT WEAKEN SUCCESS OF ALLIED ARMIES WASHINGTON. Oct. 14.—Senator- . . Ashurt, of Arizona, after conferring with President Wilson today, said: “The president will take no action that will weaken in the smallest de gree the successes of the American 1 and allied armies in the field.* •“On the contrary.” Senator Ashurt added, “what he will do will rather strengthen the military situation.” This was the first statement by any body who has talked with the presi dent. The senator said that the country should not be worried; that, of course, the president knew the views of Clemenceau and Lloyd George and was prepare 1 to take the proper step in accord with the allies. WASHINGTON. Oct. 14.—Great events were moving swiftly today be hind the veil of diplomatic secrecy to ward the formulation of President Wil- * son’s next move tn answer to Germany's peace plea. There was st&l no official indication to guide the public mind toward what the president is considering, but the J idea that there could be no armistice without guarantees which in themselves would constitute an unconditional sur render gained strength everywhere. Apparently it reflected the state oi mind of the country and there* were un mistakable signs that the foreign officer of Great Britain. France and Italy had determined that there must be no devel- I opment which will give the German armies a oreathu spell. President before noon, received the official text of the German ■reply to ius inquiries to Chancellor Maximilian. He already had been lu 4 conference with Becretary Lansing, Sec retary Baker, Secretary Daniels and Coi onei E. M. House, his personal friend ana confidante. Later, and just about the time Asso ciate Press dispatches irom Condon re ported Great Britain inclined io demand salisiyuig guarantees, luc.udmg uotn ‘ military ami naval provisions, as «.ne prerequisite to an armistice, if there snouiu be one. Counsellor folk, of in» stale department, nurneu to tne British embassy. bio announcement of the purpose of bis Hail was, made but it seemed likety that if he did not go to acquaint the embassy with President Wilson’s intend ed answer, it was to set up a quick and cuimdential means oi conference witn Lioya George. The promise that whatever action la taken will t>e without delay still held good today. There will be very little suspense while the people withhold their judgment, as they nave been re quested to do by tne government. The movements now under way are very rapidly taking form and soon will be made Known to the German govern ment and the world. Official Text Arrives Germany’s reply to President Wilson reached tne Swiss legation m official iorm by caole this morning, it was in German text, a translation oi which was .uentical with that received by wireless oaturda ynight. . Instead of taking the note directly to .tie White House as he did Prince Mevi milian’s peace plea, Frederick Oederlin owiss charge, communicated with the state department. He was asked to pre sent it to Secretary Lansing at 11 is o’clock. ’ a The Swiss charge appeared at the state department shortly after the ap pointed time and delivered the note without comment. Colonel House was in Secretary Lansing's office at the time. A few minutes later the note was in the hands of the president. A state < department messenger took it to the White House as soon as Secretary Lansing had read the document and found it did not differ from the wireless version. Lansing and Baker Called In the meantime President Wilson had called Secretaries Lansing and Baker to the White House for a con- fl ference. The president and Mr. Lansinx had been considering the German com munication sinees Saturday night when the unofficial text reached them, and Secretary Baker, just back from France, was prepared to give first-hand - L information about the situation at the battle froi’+ which has brought about the German eagerness for peace, the president last night on his return from the New York Liberty Loan trip, joined in the conference. Secretary Daniels joined the White House conference. The president and his. advisers were together for nearly two hours, then the cabinet officers and Colonel House walked over to the state, war and navy building, leaving the president alone in his study, where nearly all of his notes and utterances have been drafted. The only official intimation that has come regarding the probable course of the president is that he is sure to act quickly and positively. Everywhere in Washington, however, the confident be lief prevailed that whatever might be the f&.-m of that action, it would not contemplate a cessation of hostilities nor negotiations for peace with the tier man government except upon conditions amounting to unconditional surrender. Last night the government asked the American people to suspend judgment upon the German note until the presl* (Continued on Page 3, Column 3.)
