AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1918, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN COMMENTS.

Melbourne, Oct.. 14. Commenting on Germany's acceptance of President Wilson's terms, General Pan said the feeling that peace was imminent was not justified. General Pau added: "We must not fall into German traps. The only real solution is to get the Germans on the other, side of the Riliine." Mr. Pearce described the offer as the' acceptance by the enemy o£ the inevitable, and that could be regarded only with caution, and as an indication of the trend of events.

The morning papers accept the note as an admission that the Germans are beaten in the field, but urge the need for the strictest caution and most binding guarantees before considering any peace preliminaries. They express grave doubt about accepting the word of any German statesman.

The Herald says: No Allied country will trust, the Germans to give back the annexed territories to France or make good the damage to Belgium and France, if their army is allowed to return home without further molestation and take its aim with it.

The Telegraph declares that Germany will ihave only itself and its past actions to blame if President Wilson should reply that the acceptance of his terms by the German Government, even with the endorsement of the Reichstag, cannot be deemed sufficient, because the German Government has exhibited bad faith on previous occasions and therefore cannot now be trusted.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, THE HAND OF ESAU. London, Oct. 13. The language of the German reply suggests that the demoeratisation of the Gevernment is complete, but authoritative quarters regard Dr. Solf's professions to speak in the name of the German people with suspicion. They point out that it is unlikely that the Kaiser, tho court, and the militarists have given up their power without a struggle, They probably hope to deceits America by keeping in the background the free Reichstag elected by universal suffrage, with power to appoint its own Ministers, which would alone be able to speak in the name of the German people.—Aus. | N.Z. Cable Assoc. DEMAND FOR SURRENDER OF SUBMARINES. London, Oct. 12. Mr, Pollen, the naval writer, points out that while President Wilson requires the evacuation of territory as the preliminary to the discussion of an armistice, no stipulation is made as regards the very weapon which brought America into the war. President Wilson should demand the surrender of tAe submarines as a further preliminary.— Aus. Cable Assoc.