THE ARMISTICE CONDITIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1387, 20 November 1918, Page 5

THE ARMISTICE CONDITIONS

HUN CURS STILL WHINING. - WANT TERMS MODIFIED. | LONDON, Nov. 18. A wireless German Government message has been sent to the Allies and America protesting that the conditions of the armistice seriously menace economic conditions on the left bank of the Rhine and its relations with German territory on the right bans and declaring that if the conditions are not alleviated existence will hecome impossible and Bolsehevism hecome inevitable. In order to obviate this the German Government requests a policy of following normal intercourse on the left' hank of the Rhine completely and normal economic communications between tho left hank and the remainder of Germany and foreign countries even during the military occupation; the German owners to exploit as heretofore the coal potash and ore from the mines on the left bank of the Rhine within tho old territory of the Empire, with permission for transportation up, down and across the Rhine to the right bank.

They also request a general free use of the Rhine for transports within the old boundary of the German Empire; free navigation via Rotterdam and the coast for provisioning Germany via the North Sea and Baltic coasts with coal potash and food supplies for the continuation of the industries on the left bank of the Rhine for the use of the remainder of Germany. They also request free railway traffic in the occupied territory, the furnishing of electric power from the left to tho right bank of the Rhine. They also request that discharged men liable to military service on the left bank of the Rhine should not be made prisoners of war, even if they are in uniform; also that all the civil and military organisations on the left bank of the Rhine should be allowed to continue to work. Further they suggest that there shall be no requisitioning in the occupied territories unless absolutely necessary for the maintenance of the troops in occupation.

HUNS WANT MORE FREEDOM. U-BOATS TO BE GIVEN UP. Received November 20, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 18. In the German protest against the Allies' conditions for the armistice they request freedom of telephonic, telegraphic and postal traffic; in the occupied territories, with tho right bank of the Rhine and neutrals, permission to bring food and fodder from the left t<J tho right bank of tho Rhine, that the old. frontier of tho Empire, including Luxemburg, shall be regarded as the Customs boundary, and that dues shall be leviable by German officials on behalf of the Empire, and that the German prohibitions regarding export; transit, and import shall be handled by German officials. The message decla.res most emphatically that the surrender of 50C0 locomotives and 150,000 waggons makes it impossible to supply tho towns with food, even for a week. Tho whole Empire will be stricken with hunger. Finally tiio protest says the continuation of the blockade, especially in the East, renders- it impossible to transport iron and other minerals from the north for

German industries, also German coal for Scandinavia. Being dependent upon Germany the Scandinavian industries will be brought to a standstill, and tho North Sea and Baltio fisheries will also be paralysed. The German representatives of Spa were instructed to these urgent wishes with tho Allies' representatives, but, were unsuccessful because the Allied representatives had not full powers of action. A wireless German official message states that a meeting of all boat crews at Wilhelmshaven on November 15 carried a resolution that they would render the Father, land the last and heaviest service of taking all the U-boats where they were ordered, according to the terms of the armistice. THE EVACUATED TERR!TORIES. ALLIED ARMIES TAKING CHARGE. Received November 20, 9.45 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 13. A Belgian communique states: Continuing our advance, .'wo reached tho line of Baisrodo, cast of Termonde. In order to keep tho general security a cavalry brigade reinforces tho artillery. Cyclists and carbineers have been sent to Brussels, and a cavalry regiment has been sent to Malines. Munitions depots exploded at Brussels sot firo to tho North and South Schaelbeck stations.

A French communique states the advance has continued. The enemy abandoned enormous quantities of material, including locomotives, parks of automobiles and magazines. Thousands of French, AngloItalian and Russian prisoners are entering our lines in a state of indescribable misery. We solemnly entered Saarbrucken, Drcuze and Morchango. We aro nearing the Rhino between Neufbrisach and the Swiss frontier. An American oflicial message states : The Third Army occupied Virton and passed Spincourt, Longuyon and Conflans, entered tho fortress of Longy and occupied Briey. BROKEN ARMISTICE CONDITIONS. TROUBLE ANTICIPATED AT ANTWERP. ROTTERDAM., Nov. 18. When tho German .soldiers were demobilising large numbers abandoned their arms or sold their rifles, machine guns and grenades to Belgian civilians and similarly at Brussels. An enormous quantity of arms and ammunition is now in the hands of Belgian labourers. The Soldiers' Council lias ordered the civilians to surrender their arms but there is practically no response and serious trouble is apprehended at Antwerp when the last German soldiers leave. d . [The armistice conditions .required the surrender of both arms and ammunition to the Allies.] HUN AGENTS ACTIVE. WASHINGTON, Nov. IS. The State Department has warned the public that there is every evidence that German agents in tho _ United States are. endeavouring to bias the American mind in favour of easy peace terms for Germany when tho peace conference resumes its sitting. Many organisations of a pacilist and pro-Ger-man nature are apparently endeavour ing to bring pressure to bear on the peoplo's representatives, to _ seek to modify the Allies' determination. ANOTHER AMERICAN REMINDER. LONDON Nov. IS. A- wireless American official message, replying to the German Government's recent appeals for the mitigation of the terms of the armistice, requests the German Government in future io address such communications to all the associated Governments, through tho usual diplomatic channels, and not only to America. NO MEED TO HEED THEM. SYDNEY, Nov. 19. The Governor in a speech declared that there was no need to heed the Geruiuu wuu'es addressed to America