JOY BELLS RING IN GERMANY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 26 June 1940, Page 5

JOY BELLS RING IN GERMANY

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 26th June, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, 25th June. It is revealed in Rome that at the armistice conference the French plenipotentiaries accepted all the Italian terms and made no counter-proposals. The Italian Government officially announced that the terms were offered to France on the basis that they must be accepted or rejected as a whole, thus preventing the counter-proposals. The French plenipotentiaries are returning to France by plane. A final agreement between France, Germany and Italy was discussed by the French Cabinet this morning. The French announce that this agreement will not be published till it has been ratified by all parties. At the appointed time the order to cease fire was sounded in France by the three combatants. Simultaneously the French radio at Bordeaux announced that an armistice has been signed with Germany and Italy. Most of the population have been ignorant of the German terms announced in London on Sunday. It is announced that the German and Italian terms will be published simultaneously in France, Italy and Germany to-day. The British United Press correspondent at Bordeaux says it is officially announced this morning that the French Government is leaving Bordeaux. German forces are remaining outside the city till the Government departs. Precisely at 12.35 a.m. local time drums and bugles heralded a special broadcast from the German radio. Bells were rung, after which “Deutschland Über Alles” and the Horst Wessel song were played. An announcer then said: “The nation bows with reverence before the dead heroes. All eyes in this historic hour are turned to the Fuhrer. A victory more glorious than was conceivable has been won; it is the most glorious victory in Germany history.” Hitler issued the proclamation to the people: “German people, your soldiers have ended in barely six weeks of heroic struggle the war in the west against a brave enemy. Their deeds will enter history as one of the most glorious victories of all time. In humility we thank the Almighty for His blessing, and I hereby order that flags shall be flown throughout the Reich for 1 0 days and that the church bells shall be rung for seven days.” Hitler has appointed General Heinrich Von Stuelpnagel chairman of the Armistice Commission, with headquarters at Wiesbaden, whether the French are invited to send representatives. It is not known whether Italy will be represented, or arrange a separate commission. |f The people of Berlin heard the bugle sound “Cease Fire * over the radio without extraordinary enthusiasm.