CRIPPLING GERMANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17947, 14 November 1918, Page 4

CRIPPLING GERMANY.

Thbbe is an impression in some quarters that the terms of the armistice granted to Germany are in some way an index to the shape of the terms that will finally he imposed on her. But the idea has no certain basia of truth. The Germans asked for a cessation of bio's* tilities in order that thoy mifeht formally open peace negotiations, and Marshal Pooh presented to them the document prepared by the Versailles Council, embodying the conditions wider •which hostilities might cense. Tho theory is that the request for an armistice was evidenco of an earnest anxiety for "immediate peace. The | Allies read it, also, as a confession of defeat, and imposed such conditions as would secure absolutely tho military .and naval superiority of tho Allies and assure subsequent Gorman compliance with whatever terms might ho imposed. The Germans are to retire forthwith to tho right bank of the .Rhine, and the Allies are to occupy and control three great bridgeheads, at Cologno, Coblentz and Mainz. Along tho left bank of the river, except for these bridgeheads, there is to he a neutral belt. Following the stipulations of the armistices granted to Turkey and Austria this one insists on the surrender of a large proportion of tho artillery, equipment and military stores of tho German •rmies. It will insist on immediate demobilisation. ' More than seventy warships are to he disarmed at once. All .aubmarines at sea or ready to put to sea are to ho surrendered, and Heligoland is to he occupied by Allied forces. It will be seen that-all tho Conditions aim at the same general purpose, that «f building up tho military strength jof tho Allies and destroying that of s tho enemy. The present demands ere of a preliminary nature only, and . as the armistice is for five weeks only •its conditions may he subject to modifications when ah extension is sought. What action is taken then, of course, will depend on the extent to which tho conditions imposed have been carried out, hut it is highly probable that December will see Allied troops crossing 'the Rhine to occupy strategic points jftst of tho river.