The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29
GERMANS INSISTENT
ON MILITARY HONORS
They Nearly Broke Up Peace
at Last Moment.

VERSAILLES. June 2s.-The world war,
which lasted Just thirty-seven days less
than 1--WE years. was formally ended
here to-day when representatives Of
Germany and the allied and associated
Powers signed the peace terms. The
signatures were affixed in the same Hall
Of Mirrors where the Germans so ig-
Of the Franco Prussian war forty-eight
Years ago. The day OF peace, through
q curious coincidence. was the fifth an
niversary of tho. murder at serajevo Of
Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria
whose killing was the immediate cause
of the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia
which precipitated the struggle.
!. In. CONTRAST to the peace session in
fs71 In the same hall, there were pre-
ent to-day grizzled French veterans OF
Gravelotte and Sedan. They took the
places OF the German guardsmen at
the former ceremony and watched the
historic scene with = grim satisfaction
which they made no effort to conceal
There was an almost utter lack OF
al pageantry. The diplomats and the
other members Of the various delesa tons
wore sombre civilian clothing for the
most part The regal splendors OF the
middle ages. whose traditions and prac-
t,ces were so sternly condemned in the
meat seal covered documents signed to-
day. were conspicuous by their absence
Almost the only dash of color came from
de red, white and blue uniforms OF tho
French Guards, who stood sternly erect
lut triumphantly happy. beneath their
ed plumed silver helmets.
Protest by the Germans.
1.-THE day brought forth three unex-
1ected incidents. The first was the fall
0re of the Chinese representatives to
ink their signatures to the document !:
Secondly, Gen Jan Christian SHUTS. all
though he put his name to the treaty.
protested that the peace was an unsatis-
factory one, aud, thirdly. although Il was
Unknown 10 the general public. the Ger
man delegates protested against tne pro-
sramme arranged for the ceremony.
I AS soon as they had seen II Herr Won
Haimhauser went directly TO COL HehrS'
the French Iiaison offlcer.
I'VE cannot admit that the German
delegates should enter the han by diner
ent doors than the Entente delegates or
that military honors should be withheld,
said he Had va known earlier there
you'd be such arrangements our dele
gates would not nave oone'
A hurried conference was held with
the French Foreign Ministry, at which
Il was decided as compromises to render
military honors az the Gerufans left
DE place. with this exception however,
the programme was not changed.
An hour before the time for the ceie-
rnony arrived those IN the hall were
urged to take the seats which had been
provided for them. But they were so
eager to catch every detail of the scene
10 be enacted that they refused and
crowded forward toward the centre of
the hall. which was 80 long as to pre-
vent many OF them from obtaining n
good view even with opera glasses,
None OF the seats was elevated. and
there was consequently a general Sc am
BILE for standing room.
II was AS o'clock when Secretary
Lansing. the first Of tho American dele
CATION, arrived at the palace. He was
followed by Premier Clemenceau and