WHEN GERMANY LEARNED THE TRUTH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15836, 5 June 1919, Page 7

WHEN GERMANY LEARNED THE TRUTH.

HINDENBURG’S COMMAND TO SURRENDER, TRAGIC MEETING OF LEADERS. What follows is a hitherto unwritten chapter in the history of Germany’s defeat and ultimate collapse (says the Rotterdam correspondent of the Daily Chronicle). It will he femembered that in his speech of defence in the National Assembly, Erzberger stated that on November 10th a telegram was received from the Great Headquarters telling the German Armistice Commission, that, whilst seeking amelioration, they must in any event assent to whatever conditions Marshal Foch wished to impose—in effect, that Germany must surrender on terms. What Erzberger did not say —and what has up to now not been publicly disclosed —is that Hindenburg gave practically the same dread command—and in peremptory form—as long previously as September 28th, DRAMATIC GATHERING. In the early morning hours of that day six members of the Reichstag each received a Government telegram dispatched in the course of the previous night. This telegram instructed them to appear at 9 o'clock the same morning at the Home Ministry in order to receive a confidential communication from the Government. At the appointed hour there were present in a waiting-room of the Home Ministry, Count Westarp (of the Conservatives), Stressmann (National Liberals), Groeber (Centrum), Ebert (Majority Socialists), and Haase (Independents). Ail were equally and greatly surprised at finding themselves in such an exclusive assembly as party leaders. In a room laden with this atmosphere of suspense there came one of the State Secretaries, who, after an embarrassed pause, exclaimed, “It is terrible!” Although none knew exactly what the words implied, one of the party leaders said; “But it had to come, and could only be a question of time.” “What do yen mean?” asked the Secretary. “Why,” was the reply, the defection, of Austria.” “If it were only that!” said the Secretary, and, sighing, left the room. SIX TERRIFIED MEN. Just afterwards the six now terrified men were summoned into Lis private room by von Payer, the Vice-Chancellor. They seated themselves around the table, and then the Vice-Chancellor, with an expression of deathly, seriousness, and in sombre, almost solemn-sounding tones, said; “Gentlemen,.l have an extremely painful communication bo make to you. The Army Command last evening informed the Government by telephone that it has come to the conviction that the war can no longer be won, and that-we must as speedily as possible—in fact, without the least delay—ask for an armistice.” The effect of these words was crushing. One of the leaders then remarked faintly: “The Alsace-Lorraine is gone?” “Yes, it is gone,” affirmed the ViceChancellor. “And probably Posen also?” queried another. “Also to that thought must we try to reconcile ourselves,” answered von Payer.