NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE German Government published on Monday an involved and cryptic reply to President Wilson's second Note of a week before. It began by assuming that the evacuation of the occupied territories and the armistice for which it has asked were connected, whereas the President made it clear that there could be no armistice as part of a bargain. Germany, said the Note, assumed that the military advisers must decide on the pro- cedure. " The present relative strength on the fronts must be made the basis of arrangements that will safeguard and guarantee it "—which seems to mean, if it means anything, that Germany shall be free to withdraw her armies without interference and establish a new line on her frontier. The President must " create an opportunity to settle the details," and must " approve no demand that would be irreconcilable with the honour of the German people and with paving the way to a peace of justice." This is not by any means the language of a Government confessing to irremediable defeat.
