Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-04-28
WHAT FOCH SAID

WHAT FOCH SAID
New York, April 2s.-Gcrmany's
appeal for an armistice on November
Z, 1918, met with the laconic reply,
y nave no terms" from Marshal
Foch to Erzberger and the other plen-
ipotentiaries. according to Raymond
Recouly Captain X. French BIZ
article entitled What Foch Really
Said" which will be published in the
May issue of Scribner'si Magazine out
tomorrow.
Captain .Recouly, describing the
historic scene of the morning of Mo-
vember II. when the generalissimo of
the Allied. forces, attended by a few
members Of his stan, signed the
document in a railway dining car in
tween Compiegne and Scissors, de-
clared the sight Of butter seemed to
I'LL the German ENJOYS with JOY"
Received Message.
The radio from the Germans asking
for "a cessation Of hostilities in the
name of humanity" was received by
Foch shortly after midnight on the
7th and at 1:25 a. m. on the Sth Foch
sent back his answer: "The German
plenipotentiaries will have to go to
the outpost on the main road from
Observation-Disclosures" From
this point they were brought by de-
layed stages to Rethonde. which they
reached about Z o'clock in the morn
ing. Two hours later they were in
the presence of the commander OF the
conQuering Allied armies.
There was a cold salute" says
Captain Recouly, "a bow in return: no
presentations. The Germans took
their place at the table in the dining
car, where their names were written,
and remained standing. The officers
scenes embarrassed and upset. Not
so the civilians who did not seem to
care at all. They talked Familiarity
together; 1t was impossible TO believe
that their country's fate was hanging
IN the balance, and that they were
there to sign the most 'kolossal' ca.
pitulation the world had ever SEEM
I1 Manner Impressive.
Foch's piercing eyes, gruff voice and
curt manner were impressive. "Tc
whom have I the honor of speaking? p
he asked. The Germans replied
What is the object of your visit" hi
asked. Then followed this dialogue;
"Erzbcrgcr: We have. come t in.
quire into the terms of an armistice
to be concluded on land, on sea and
in the air"
"Foch: I have no terms to submit,
to YOU"
Count Obcrndorf, the diplomatist ir
the German party, i~nterceded: 81,
the marshal prefers. we may say tina,
we are.here to learn the conditions
on which the Allies would be willing
to grant US an armisticc."
"Foch: l have no terms" >
Erzberger, drawing forth Il greasy
paper: president Wilson has in.
Foch has been invested with the
power of submitting the Allies con
ditions to the German plenipotcn:
tiaries."
"Foch: I will let you know the
Allies conditions when you have
asked for an arnistice. Do you ask
for an armistice ?"
"Ja!" exclaimed Oberndorf and
Erzberger together.
"Foch: In thai case I will read you
the terms drawn up by the Allied
governments" He sat down and the
reading began. 1t lasted an hour, 70,
the document had to be translated
The Germans pleaded for an immedi,
ate suspension of hostilities sand fol
time to permit the Berlin government,
to examine the terms. Again Focf
spoke:
The Allies Mouthpicoc.
Il am but the mouthpiece of the
Allied governments. 1t is those gov.
ernments that have drawn up the con.
ditions of the armistice limiting the
delay to 70 hours duration. 1 have
therefore, no power to suspend hos.
tilities without their authorization"
The Germans at once dispatched
messenger to Spa, with credentials and
the request that his journey to Berlin
be Facilitated" When the messen.
ger reached the German outposts, il
is related, the troops were soNdemoral.
lied that they fired upon his white
flag. Promiscuous volley firing con.
ttnued and the emissary was unable tc
reach his destination until the mex,
day. Meanwhile the German envoy:
had notified Foch Of their difficult,
and Foch agreed to permit them tt
send a German officer to Berlin b,
air. A-plane was equipped and read,
for the flight when word was re.
ceived that the messenger had reached
Berlin.
Captain Recouly. declares the armi
stice was signed because Foch and hi.
staff were convinced Germany wa:
already in the throes of a revolution
The armistice ENJOYS painted a "blacl
picture Of conditions. While tn.
German government was analyzin,
the terms the plenipotentiaries re
manned near Foch in the forest a
Rethonde. They were permitted t.
leave their train and, guarded b,
armed soldiers, exercise in the ope1
air. On the afternoon Of the 1otl
Foch informed Erzberger, the heac
Of the delegation. that. hostilitie!
would be resumed at IL a. m. the mex
day. At 2 O'Clock on the night o
November 10 the followine radio
message was intercepted by thu
French:
German Government to German
Plenipotentiaries: The plenipoten.
tiaries are authorized to sign tn.
armistice. (Signed) The Chancellor
Of the Empire" Three ciphered figures
at the N Of the message proved it
authenticity. More than twelve hour.
Of elaboration and debate. over tn,
"harsh" terms followed. Foch granted
some concessions and refused tn,
Athore