Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 243, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1918 — WHAT IS AN ARMISTICE? [ARTICLE]

WHAT IS AN ARMISTICE?

SHOULD THE CENTRAL POWERS BE GRANTED AN ARMISTICE? — In writing for the New York Daily Tribune, Frank H. Simonds, dhcuMM the subject, “What An Armistice Is Not.” . He says an armistice is not a truce. A truce being the cessation of battle by agreement of the commanders of the two armies. Mr. Simonds says that an armistice has nothing to do with peace terms, but that it is the inquiry off a defeated foe as to what conditions must be met in order that further punishment may not be inflicted. -It is a military and not a political matter. It is a question to be submitted to the commanding general of the conquering army and not to the ruler or rulers of the victorious nations. The enemy asking for an armistice says to the victorious general, “You have thrashed ine thoroughly; what can I do to get you to quit?” The answer to an armistice is the imposing of such conditions upon the defeated army that there will be no doubt but that the agreements will be carried out to the very letter. An armistice would impose upon the defeated army such conditions that they would not be able to escape the entire fulfillment of all conditions imposed by the victors. Until Germany is willing to say to Marshal Foch, we are beaten and we are ready to surrender, there should be no discussion of peace terms. Courts do not pass judgments upon murderers while they are being pursued with bands drenched in crimson blood. When the criminal has been brought to the bar of justice, then and only then can his punishment be determined. has a good example fresh and up-to-date. When she meets the conditions imposed upon Bulgaria tnen she may hr.ve an armistice. Until Germany SURRENDERS UNCONDITIONALLY the discussion of peace terms, says Mr. Simonds, “is obviously infernally dangerous.” There is just one man in the world to whom, the Kaiser should be allowed to address his prayer for an armistice, and that man is Marshal Foch. When the central powers are whipped, when Marshal Foch knows he has them humbled to their knees, and when the haughty murderers surrender without condition except the prayer for mercy upon their lips, an armistice may be granted. Wisdom and discretion would say to all “hands off,” for the present duty is plain. The task before the entente allies is the whipping of Germany and not the discussion of peace terms. Leave it to Marshal Foch.