Evening star., 1898-10-08

on this short but eventful journey, quietly
| acRno wledging the vociferous plaudits of
| MS gallant troops he passed
| Il am commissioned by his majesty, the
German emperor, to ask you to meet him
| IN the village of Very, and arrange terms
! OF surrender, said Won Gossier when he
| halted.
Jerome bowed, but before he could reply
the German officer continued
| IN view OF an Immediate and peaceful
| settlement, 1 ventured to ask Gen Mont
| saioy to defer the icavalry charge he was
| conducting and which could only achieve
the useless butchery of our dennoraIized
| men,"
| Gen. Montsaley did we'll to accede to
| your humane Wishes" said Vansittart. But
cannot meet the German emperor imme-
| that you are utterly defeated 1t would be
needless cruelty to prolong the conflict
certainly, monsieur. That is why I am
| deputed by his majesty, my master to ar
| range an immediate meeting
An! Permit me to conclude. The only
! posslpie preliminary to negotiations Is the
instant surrender Of your whole force. No.
| fray DO not argue. Every moment is of
] Importance. / quite understand that you
personally cannot accept my proposal. Gen.
| MontSaioy and the members Of my staff
WI Miii i roe with you to the emperor, learn
ms decision and act in accordance with it.
| II ne Is agreeable to my suggestion these
| ohcers will convey to every French divis-
| ION my orders to cease hostilities, whilst
|
| submission and carry out the disarmament
| OF those German corps nearest to them
| rms part you must see to on your side. If
the emperor declines the battle must pro-
ceed.'
| AT the appointed hour Vansittart and the
King of France, who had reached Vansit-
| tarts camp during the battle. attended
| by brilliant suite and an escort of the
| 18th Chasseurs-if any other corps had ac-
companied Jerome there would have been a
| mutlny-approached the small chateau
| which served as the German HEADQUARTERS
They were received by Won Gossler, who
forthwith conducted them to room on the
ground floor; for the first time, Vansittart
and Wilhelm We're face to face.
The emperor stood in the center Of the
| apartment, dignified and impassive, with
his hands behind his back. His face was
rigid, and, although tanned by exposure. its
dull pallor betrayed the agonfZed hours he
had endured since the morning. Behind
him, in compliance with Vansittart's re-
quest, were ranged the division officers of
his army. and the heads of military depart
mentS. His sword and sabretache rested
obtrusively against a chair.
For an awkward moment there was ST.
lence.
Then Won Gossler spoke. This is M.
Vansittart, your majesty" he said AS an
afterthOught he added: Permit me also to
announce the King of France
The kaiser inclined his head. Il am at
loss he said with even. metallic accents,
to know whether to present my sword to
makes kings"
TO the king" said vansittart, where
upon Wilhelm handed his sword to Henri,
who gravely received it.
And now tell me your resolves, mon
sieur.' The Kaiser turned and looked Van
sittart squarey in the eyes.
Il am here for that purpose. They are
brief ard to the point. / require the prompt
capitulation OF the German forces now sta
toned west OF the Rhine, when, after the
requisite forn'aiities, all officers and men
will at once be tree to return to their
homes l also require you to sign treaty
of peace, leaving the delimitation of the
frontier between Franco and Germany to
the mayors of twelve French and German
towns, six to be nominated by you and six
by me- These gentlemen will be asked, in
addition TO devise such means as they
think fit tc prevent further trouble In re-
gard to frontier effairs, both countries bind
inS themselves to accept such recommenda-
tiCns without CaVil or complaint"
Il will no longer leave the question to
you, but to your people and parliament
The reply staggered The emperor. Such a
course of procedure meant the disappear
ance of the house. of Hohenzollern. Tae
pallor returned to his cheeks as he said:
In the name Of the saints, why mayors?'
Because it may be fairly assumed tha.
they represent the mass of the people,
without whose taxes and military service
1t would be Impossible for such as you to
plunge peacefully disposed nations into the
horrors of war;
answer. With 1ntease bitterness Of tone he
said, turning to his staff: You hear gem
tlemen. This is the first installment. The
second will doubtless deal with indemnity
Nansittart produced cigar case cut the
end off a cigar, and lit it, before he said,
with the utmost Ccolness:
There will be no indemnity. God forbid
that l should fine your unfortunate people
because of your blunders."
"You are marvellous man, M. Vansit-
tartr'
Jerome irritat ted slightly by the kaiser's
ftfulneSS, merely nodded his appreciation
o. the compliment.
Wilhelm had perforce to continue the
conversation.
Notwithstanding your last remarkable
concession. NJ. Nansittart. l cannot accent
your terms. 1t is impossible that the EN-
peror of Germany should consent to expose
any part Of mis- domnions to the barturing
Of a set of provincial mayors, excellent
though these gentlemen may be-
You forget that France likewise sub
mts to their al kitraments. l should nave
the utmost faith in their collective good
sense"
Pooh! 1t is out of the question"
The millionaire picked up his hat and
riding whip. which he had placed on q
chair.
Then further discussion is unnecessary.
he said. Have your majesty's word that
neither you nor the members of your staff
present will attempt to escape? Or must
place you under restraint"
The kaiser fared out again into anima-
ton.
1T is matterless to me what you do. NV
unbeaten troops still hold the field, in
French territory, too. I will pay the full
price Of my trsnssresslons. I abdicate in
favor Of my son. Ny brother, Prince Henry
OF Prussia, will carry on the campaign,
and mayhap yet crush your proteges and
dIsappoint your magniloquent theories"
From the German officers came murmurs
Of indignation, showing how they chafed
at the situation.
Jerome directly addressed them
So he said. you share your head
strong leaders view? You still hold your
opponents in such feeble esteem that you
believe your armies in Lorraine to be su-
perior to circumstances. Let me undeceiye
you. Today your expedition consisting
presumably Of your picked troops. was
beaten by less than half its numbers. Only
one-third of my men were in the field when
you were hopelessly crippled. You have
seen the value of the motors in action. and
1 tell you emphatically that If my demands
are not acceded to fully within the hour
all my available force will march tonight
for the frontier. Tomorrow Gen Kreuznach
will be asked to defeat~the same combina-
ton that you have already found irresist-
ible. What Will be the result?'
The two men were but a couple of PAGES
apart during this impassioned dialogue.