The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-06-01
WIN Marshal Foch Said to Germans
Almost as Important as What
One Governor Said to An
other.
HE HAD NO TERMS
Sc II Was Up TO the Germans 10 ASK
for Them, Which They Did AS-
cordina to the Core
spondent

Iaconic reply, Il have no terms, rom
Marshal Foch TO Erzberger and the
other plenipotentiaries, according 70
RAYMOND Recouly captain 4), Tencn
hiograuher of Foch and Johre, in an
article entitled What Foch Really
said" which viii be published IN the
Nay issae OF scribner's magazine ou
tomorrow.
CAPTAIN RecouIy, describing the his
toric scene Of the morning OF NoVen-
Der III. when the generalissimo OF tns
allied forces attended By few mem
beers OF his staff. signed the document
In 4 railway dining car IN forest
near Rethonde, town between COM
piegne and scissors, declared the
sight OF butter seemed TO Till the Ger
man ENJOYS with joy.
The radio from the Germans asking
for "a cessation of hostifties In the
name of humanity" was received by
Foch shortly after midnight On the
5th and al i:25 a. N. on the sth Foch
sen. back his answer: Inc GERMAN
plenipotentiaries viii have 10 go 10
the outpost On the mann roao from
Naubeuge-la-Cape From TINS
point they were brought by delayed
stages TO Rethonde, which they reach
ed about O'Clock in the morning
Two hours later they were In the pres
enee of the commander OF the con-
quering allied armies.
There was cold salute, says cap
tain Recouly, "a bow n return; no
presentations The German, TOOK
their places at the table N the dining
car. where their names were written
and remained standing The ofhcers
seemed embarrassed and upset Not
"a The civilians, who did not seem 10
care at all. They talked faniliariy
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 'KoiossaP CAPT
tnIafion the world had ever seen
Foch is impressive.
Foch's piercing eyes, gruf voice
and curt manner were impressive. o
whom have / the honor of speak
ingpo he asked. The Germans re-
piled. What is the object Of your
VISIT" he asked. Then followed this
dialogue:
Erzberger-~We have come TO In
oufre into the terms of An armistice,
TO be concluded on land, on sea and
in the air"
Foch-'T have no terms to submit
to you"
Count Oberndorf, the diplomatist in
the German party, fnterceded: III
the marshal prefers, we may say thar
we are here to learn the conditions
on which the allies would be willing
to grant us an armistice.
Foch-"I have no terms.
Erzberger, drawing forth a greasy
naner: president Wilson has in
formed our government that Marshal
Foch has been invested with the pow
er of submitting the allies conditions
to the German plenipotentiaries."
Foch: Il will let you know the
allies conditions when you have asked
for an armistice. DO you ask for an
armistice?"
"Ja." exclaimed Oberndorf and
Erzberger together.
Foch: I'm that case I viii read
YOU the terms drawn up by the allied
governments" He sat down and the
reading began 1t lasted for an hour
for the document had to be translated
The Germans pleaded for an immed-
late suspension of hostii!ties and for
time to permit the Berlin government
to examine the terms. Again Foch
spoke:
'T am but the mouthpiece Of the al
lied governments. II Is those gov
ernments that have drawn up the con
ditions of the armistice limiting the de
Law to seventy-two hours duration
have, therefore, no power TO suspend
hostilities without their authorize
ton"
Il g Mt p cd
messenger to Spa, with credentials
and the request that his journey &c
Berlin be Facilitated. When the mes
senger reached the German outposts
II ia related. the troops were so demon
allied that they fired upon his white
flag. Promiscuous yolley firing con
tjuued and the emissary was unable
to reach his destination until the next
dav. Meanwhile the German ENJOYS
had notified Foch of their difficulty
and Foch agreed to permit them to
send a Geran officer to Berlin by air
A plane was equipped and ready for the
fight when word was received that
the messenger had reached Berlin
Why Armistice Was Signed.
Captain Recouly declares the arm
igtice was signed because FoCh and
his staff were convinced Germany was
already in the, throes OF a reyo
tuition. The armistice ENJOYS painted
black picture" of conditions. While
the German government was anaIyz
ing the terms the plenipOtentiarles re-
manned near Foch in the forest at
Rethonde. They were permitted to
leave their train and, guarded by
armed soldiers, exercise in the open
air. On the afternoon OF the Tenth,
Foch informed ErZberger. the head OF
the delegation, that hostilitaries would
be resumed at II a. m. the next day.
At Z o'clock on the night OF November
Tenth the following radio message
was intercepted by the French: