TEN YEARS AGO.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 13

TEN YEARS AGO.

WAR'S FINAL PHASE. MARSHAL FOCH MEETS THE GERMAN DELEGATES. . "YOU HAVE COME TO BEG." SIGNING OF THE ARMISTICE. The war ended at eleven o'clock on Monday, November 11, 191S, ten years ago to-morrow, when . the armistice, which was imposed upon Germany by the Allies and .the United States, was signed by the German plenipotentiaries. The conclusion of the armistice followed within three weeks after the dispatch of a Note from the German Government to President Wilson, in which it was affirmed that a fundamental change had been made in the German Government in "complete accord with the principle of the representation of the people based on equal, universal, secret, direct franchise," with the further announcement that orders had been issued to suV marine commanders precluding the torpedoing of passenger ships, and asking that steps be taken to arrange an armistice which would contain no "demand which would be irreconcilable with the honour of the CJerman people and with the opening of the way to a peace of justice." This note was dispatched on October 21, 1918. -. . .

President Wilson replied by agreeing to take up with the Allies the question of an armistice, but said the only armistice which he would submit for consideration would be one that would leave the Allies in a position to enforce any arrangement entered into and make a renewal of hostilities Germany impossible, with the significant addition that if the Government of the United States "must deal with the military masters and the monarchical autocrats of Germany now, or if it is likely to have to deal with them later in regard to the obligations of the German Empire, it must demand, not peace negotiations,, but surrender." The' German War Cabinet- considered the reply of the President, .and the Note was discussed in sectional meetings of the Reichstag members. It was at this juncture that «the first mutterings of serious discontent with the Government reached the outside world.

Austria's Complete Surrender. . On October 2S matters were advanced by receipt of a Note from the Austrian Government declaring. that all the con- , ditions laid down,by .the President for ; ' the entry 'into • negotiations .for an armistice was accepted. This Note was followed on. the 29th by another! from ; the Austrian Government .urging that the negotiations for ah armistice be hurried, thus indicating Austria's complete ' surrender had been decided upon.'- ;;. . Further negotiations ensued, and the last phase of the war began onNovem-* her 8, when the German .delegates arrived .in the French lines and were given quarters, in the chateau of the Marquis de Francport, near Ohoisy a'u Bac. On the following morning they presented themselves at the 'train in the''Forest of- ComprcgneV. whicji; contained. Marshal Foch. and Sir Rosslyn Wemyss.- The . Enrich.marshal asked:"Qu'est ce que vous desirez, messieurs?"' and- they: replied -that they had come to receive- the Allied proposals for' an armistice. ■-; To :' this' Marshal '-Foci answered-that-the Allies were not seeking any. armistice,/ but .were content to finish the war in the field. The Germans looked nonplussed (relates Mr. John Buchan) and stammered some-thing.-about, the -urgent, need for the cessation of hostilities. .:"'-,.'. ■■':-■■[ , "Ah," said Marshal Footi, "I understand—ybuj have! come to' beg for an.armistice." The! German- delegates , admitted: .the., correction' and explicitly begged for an'armistice. They-were "then, presented • .with , the - Allied- terms 'and' withdrew: to :Cbnsider them, after ' .being, informed that they must 'be ac.cepted or ■ refused- witHin' 74 hours— that ia. to say,'before eleven o'clock on the morning of.;. Monday, the eleventh.. They asked 'for a provisional' suspension of hostilities, it/ request which • Fooh .curtly refused.-; - . ~\'~,. V \ ■ Severe Terms. The delegates declared they were astonished' at the severity of the. terms, and sought -permission' to communicate with Berlin. A courier bearir-g a text of 'the armaeiiee was" dispatched to Main Headquarters at Spa, and the German Command was' informed by wireless of his coming. He jvas ,to cross the French, lines'that night'between, six. and eight o'clock.'.Thp French, fire ceased according to arrangement, but the unfortunate messenger had to waita-long: time before the German.barrage stopped and it was riot until the following day that he could enter the German zone. Once there, he found everything -iii chaos." The retreating armies had made such havoc of roads and-bridges that his car could not sproceed, and he did-not reach Spa until ten o'clock on the: Sunday morning., ; - ■ .' -•■•;-':■ The terms were immediately telephoned to' Berlin, and a conferericeof the new Government was held, that morning. TheThours of grace were fast slipping away, and Foch was adamant about the time limit. The delegates,' were in.structed to accept, and after \ a protest they, submitted to the • inevitable. At five o'clock on the morning of Monday, November 11, the armistice was signed, and >Foci ' telegraphed, his .' generals: "Hostilities will cease on the whole front as from> November : 11 at- eleven o'clock. The'Allied'troop's will not, until a further order, go beyond the'line reached on that date and at that hour." - • •< The terms were so framed as to give full effects'. to' the victory on land arid sea/which'the Allies ..had won. -The duration of the armistice.was fixed: at 36 days With- anoptiori to extend.' :If Germany failed to carry out any of the clauses, the agreement,could be annulled on forty-eight-hours' notice. .The acceptance, of such; terms meant'the surrender of Germany to the will of the Allies, for they stripped - from' her the power of continuing, or of renewing the war. .:;, ■-"/'.'"<:■' '"." '■!.■' ..'". It was nineteen-hours afterthe German courier reached German headquarters-V at'five o'clock aim., Paristim'e, November' 11—that the armistice was signed.' Hostilities ceased at eleven o'clock, and the" long war for freedom.had been, won. <-:'.;•'- " tvA '"- •■'-'• ■•'-:-'■-"'■••:■' - : i'.'~ ;-;;.' V