Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-28
HOW WORLD WAR
ENDED TOLD BY
CAPT. RECOULY

reply, Il have no terms from
Marshal Foch to ErZberger and the
other plenipotentiaries. according
TO Raymond Recouly Captain X,
French biographer of Foch and
Joffre, in an article entitled What
Foch Really Said which will be
published in the May issue of Scrib-
ner's Magazine, out tomorrow,
Captain Recouly. describing the
historic scene of the morning of
simo of the allied forces, attended
by a few members of his staff.
signed the document in a railway
dining car in forest near Reth-
onde, a town between Compiegne
and scissors, declared the sight
of butter seemed to fill the German
ENJOYS with Joy"
Foch Receives First Request.
The radio from the Germans ask
ing for "a cessation of hostilities
in the name of humanity was re-
ceived by Foch shortly after mid
night on the eth and at 1925 a. m.
on the Sth Foch sent back his
answer: The German plenipoten-
tldl les Will nave " So " lllt uul-
post on the main road from Maui
beuge-la Capelle- Guise." From this
point they We're brought by delay
ed stages to Rethonde. which they
reached about 7 O'Clock in the
morning. Two hours later they
were in the presence of the COM
mander of the conquering allied
armies.
"There was a cold salute" says
Captain Recouly, "a bow in return;
no presentations. The Germans
took their places at the table in the
dining car, where their names We're
written, and remained standing.
The officers seemed embarras sed
and upset. Not so the civilians,
who did not seem to care at all.
They talked familiarly together; it
was impossible to believe that their
country's fate was hanging in the
balance, and that they were there
TO sign the most 'kolossal capitu
lation the world had ever seen"
Foch's piercing eyes, gruff voice
and curt manner were impressive.
"To whom have ] the honor of
speaking?" he asked. The Ger
mans replied. What is the object
of your visit?" he asked. Then
followed this dialogue:
"Erzburger: We have come to
inquire into the terms of an armis-
tice, to be concluded on land, on
sea and in the air"
"Foch: I have no terms to sub
NIT to you"
Count Oberndorf. the diplomatist
in the German party, interceded:
IF the marshal prefers, we may
say that we are here to learn the
conditions on which the allies
would be willing to grant us an
armistice."
"Foch l have no terms
Erzberger, drawing forth a
greasy paper: president Wilson
has Informed our government that
Marshal Foch has been invested
with the power of submitting the
allies conditions to the German
plenipotentiaries."
"Foch: I will let you know the
allies conditions when you have
asked for an armistice. Do you
ask for an armistice?"
"Ja!" exclaimed Oberndorf and
Erzeberger together
Armistice Terms Read.
"Foch: In that case / will read
Won the terms drawn up by the
allied governments" He sat down
and the reading began. 1t lasted
an hour, for the document had to
be translated. The Germans plead
= r.. = =, ~, -, o,Itota cncnpn Sim Of
hostilities and for time to permit
the Berlin government to examine
the terms. Foch again spoke:
"I am but the mouthpiece of the
allied governments. 1t is those
governments that have drawn up
the conditions of the armistice
limiting the delay to seventy-two
hours duration. I have, therefore,
no power TO suspend hostilities
without their authorization"
The Germans at once dispatched
q messenger to Spa, with creden-
tails and the request that his jour-
nev to Berlin be Facilitated.
When the messenger reached the
German outposts, II is related, the
troops were so demorallZed that
they fired upon his white flag. Pro,
miscuous volley firing continued
and the emissary was unable 10
reach his destination until the
next day. Meanwhile the German
ENJOYS had notified Foch of their
difficulty and Foch agreed to per-
nit them to send German cfflcer
to Berlin by air. A plane was
equipped and ready for the flight
when word was received that the
messenger had reached Berlin.
Radio Message Intercepted.
CAPTAIN Recouly declares the
armistice was signed because Foch
and his staff were convinced Ger.
many was already in the throes OF
q revolution The armistice ENJOYS
painted "black picture OF con-
ditions. While the German gov
eminent was Analysing the terms
the plenipotentiaries remained
near Foch In the forest at Reth-
onde. They were permitted 10
leave their train and. guarded by
armed soldiers. exercise in the open
air. On the afternoon of the lotn
Foch informed ErZberger, the mead
Of the delegation, that hostllities
would be resumed at II a. m. the
next day. At o'clock on the
night of November 10 the follow
ing radio message was intercepted
by the French:
"German government to German
plenipotentiaries The plenipoten-
tiaries are authorized to sign the
armistice. (SignedD the Cnan-
cellor of the Empire" Three ciph-
cred figures at the end Of the mes
sage proved its authenticity. More
than twelve hours of elaboration
and debate over the "harsh" terms
followed. Foch granted some con-
cessions and refused the others.
Subsequently the wearied ENG
fish, French and Germans append
ed their signatures to the docu-
ment and, by prearrangement. six
hours after the signing, at IL a. m.
of the morning of the 18th. opera