The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-10-31
WHEN SHOE WAS
ON OTHER FOOT
AND GERMANY DICTATED THE
Z. TERMS OF AN ARMIsTIcE
DISARMAMENT WAS DEMANDED
Bismarck Exaeted Ransom, Took
Over the Forts, Seized AIsace.
Lorraine, and HumiIiated
The French People.

Speaking of armistices, it depends
after all upon whose OK is gored, how
far the goring process has proceeded,
and the psychological attitudes of the
respective owners OF the animals en-
gagged Germany today is asking for an
armistice, with what good grace, in
ternational JUNCTION and diplomatic f.
nesse, the world outside of Germany is
taking due note OF and setting down
its observations. In 1871, France, or at
least its capital, then very much
gorcd OK, really bled white, was asking
an a,mistice and Germany, with its ar
mics at her gates, was the power in
whose hands lay by the granting OF il.
Let us look back moment in passing,
at the history OF those days and see
what views Germany, through her mill.
tary and diplomatic experts, Bismarck
Room and Won Moltke, then held ON
the subject OF armistices. Precedents,
while not arbitrary guides, are always
valuable from the, standpoint of sug-
gestion.
September 1, 1870, Sedan, with its
army and the Emperor of France. sur
rendered to the Germans. October q
Bazaine gave UP another immense
French army at Metz. Gladly would
France have made peace but for the
avowcd intentions OF the German gov.
eminent to demand indemnities and
the cession Of its territories. Septem.
Der 4 the Assembly had declared the
deposition of Napoleon and a procla-
nation was issued announcing the Re
public. Jules Fayre asked the German
emperor il he meant to furnish the
Nineteenth Century with the spectacle
of two nations destroying one another
and heaping the dead upon the dead
and ruin upon ruin. '.iiet il it is a chal-
lenge," he said, I'VE accept-not an
inch of our territory, not stone of
our fortresses, will we cede."
Began Siege Of Paris.
But the German armies moved re-
lentlessly forward and began the siege
of Paris, and France made up her
mind to fight TO the bitter end, Outside
of Paris she had a scattered and de-
moralized army of one-halt million
men. Inside Paris, she had the national
amounting 70 about four hundred
guards and newly recruited civilians.
thousand men. With the armies re.
leased from Sedan and Metz Germany
cncircled Paris and began the mem
orable siege At first there was no
bombardment there were some
among the German leaders who want.
ed to save the beautiful city" Bis
narck and Room chafed against this
sentimental restriction. THE Paris
ians have too much to eat and too lit
tie TO digest" wrote Room in Ncvem-
Der, when the situation in Paris was
fast approaching the starvation stage.
iron pills, namely, of which too few
have been employed. Though certain
intrieues stand in our way here, |
hope that theyr-7the pills will take
effect: IL would be 600 great shame
to let all the glory of the war go to
the devil in this way" 10"
Meanwhile from court to court, Thi.
crs Travelled vainly seeking TO effect a
trucc--"thc French goycrnpcnt was
as yet too unstable to deal witn," was
all the assurance he could get. BY the
middle of November the situation OF
the besieged of Paris had grown ap.
palling. Horse meat scared in price
beyond all reach. Rats, selling at sixty
centimes apiece. were being eagerly
dcyoured, Infants, were dying BY the
thousands for want of milk and the
whole death rate had trebled in few
months. A bitter. unusual winter was
setting in. And just about this time.
the Germans having settled their aes-
thetical differences in the matter of
tho bombardment, began throwing oy.
er Rooms iron pills" Some lifty.six
thousand shots were fired into the
city, and at last after 132 days OF star
walton and appalling scenes of misery
and death, Jules Fayre was sent forth
from Paris to ask an armistice.
Bismarck Wrote Proposals.
Favre met Bismarck at Versailles
After the first salutations, an eyewit.
ness of the negotiations records. Favre
said he had come to renew the nego-
tiations for truce. Bismarck inter.
rupted him to say The situation has
changed. II you are still going to say
mot an inch. not a stones we may
break off at once. My time is valuable
and yours also"
Then after a little more talk he
added: after all, why should treat
with your WV should ! give your ir-
regular republic 4 appearance, OF lie.
gality by signing an armistice with its !
representa-, % What are you but reb.
els? Your emperor il he came back,
would have the right TO shoot every |
one OF you" After few outbursts of
this kind. Bismarck settled down to
business. He asked Favre % write
down such conditions of peace as
seemed to him reasonable and that
they would discuss them the next day