Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-02
DESCRIBES SIGNING
|. OF THE ARM|ST|CE
French Biographer Describes
Momentus Finis to Great
War Drama.
TEUToNs BEG FOR TERMS
Germany's Enjoys Painted
Black Picture of Threatening
Revolution at Home.
TEUToNs BEG FOR TERMS

NEW YORK. May 1.--Germany's
appeal for an armistice on November
q. 1918. met with the laconic reply,
u have no terms" from Marshal
Foch TO Erzbcrger and the other
plcnipotentiarics. according to Ray
vnond Recouly Captain NJ. French
biographcr OF Foch. and Jonre, in an
article entitled What Foch Really
Said" which is published in the May
out.
Captain Rccouly. describing the
historic scene of the morning of No
Eember !. when the generallssimo of
the allied forces. attended by a few
| ment in railway dining car in
forest near Rcthonde, "A town be-
tween CompieGne and Scissors. de-
Gi1red the sight of butter seemed to
MI the German ENJOYS with joy"
The radio from the Germans ask
ing Tor "a cessation OF hostilities in
the name Of humanity" was received
by Foch shortly after midnight on
the 1th and AT Les 4. NJ. on the sth
; Foch sen; back his answer: The
herman picnipotentiaries Will have
70 go to the outpost on the main road
from Maubcuse la -Capeile Guisc."
! From this point they were brought
by delayed stages TO Rethonde which
they reached about o'clock in tho
morning. Two hours later they were
in the presence of the commander OF
the conquerins allied armies.
There was cold salute" says
, Captain Rccouiy. "a bow in return:
no presentations. The Germans took
ing-car. where their names were
written, and remained standing. The
officers seemed embarrassed and up
set. Not SO the civilians who did not
seem TO care "a, all. They talked ia
military together: il was impossible
to believe that their country's fate
was hanging in the balance. and that
kolossar capitulat!on the world had
ever seen
Teutons BcE for Tcrmx.
Eochs piercing eyes. Grun voice
and curt manner were impressive.
! To whom have the honor OF speak
ing? he asked. The Germans re-
| Piled. What is the object OF your
visi,?" lie asked. Then followed this
dialogue:
Erzberger: I'VE have come to in
, quire into the terms OF an armisttcc.
to be concluded OH land on sea and
Foch; II have no terms to submit
! to you" -----.--.rs+:tyss-<-ss4s
| Count Oberndorf, the diplomntist
the Marshal prefers. we may say that
we are here to learn the conditions
on which the allies would be willing
10 grant us an armistic."
Erzberger, drawing forth greasy
paper: president Wilson has in
formed our government that Marshal
power Of submitting the allies con-
dltions TO the German pleni2otentI-
allies conditions when You have
asked for an armis,icc. Do you ask
| for an armistice?" "a
ia" exclaimed oberndorf and
Erzbcrger together.
Foch: In that case. l will read
you the terms drawn UP by the al
| lied governments" He sat down.
and the reading began It lasted an
translated The Germans pleaded
for an immediate suspension of hos
tilities and for time to permit the
Berlin government to examine the
! terms. Again Foch spoke
| 81 am but the mouthpiecc of the
allied governments. 1t is those gov
conditions of the armistice limiting
/ the delay to sevcnty-two hours dura-
ton. 1 have. therefore. no power TO
/ suspend hostilitics without their au-
! thor;zation."
The Germans at once dispatched
messenger to Spa. with credentials
and the request that his tourney to
Berlin be "faeiliLated" When the
! posts, il is related. the troops were
so >dcmoralized that they fred upon
| his white flag. Promscuous volley
firing continued. and the emissary
| was unable to reach his destination
! until the next day. Meanwhile. the
German ENJOYS had notified Foch OF
permit them to send a German ofiicer
eau Pee" an ~ ready for ' ihe n Mas
when word was received that the
messenger had rcarncd Berlin.
Blnck Picture Painted.
Captain Rccouly declares the arm
istice was signed because Foch and
his STAFF were GO. convinced WINGED. Germany
volution. The armisticc ENJOYS
painted black picture" OF condi-
i Observation-Disclosures remained near Foch
in The forest at Rethonde. They
were permitted TO leave their train
and. guarded by armed soldiers. en-
ercisc in the open air
On tho afternoon of the 10th, Foch
Informed ErZberser. The head OF the
! delegation. that hostilities would be
! Der 10 the following radio message
was Intercepted by the French:
German government TO German
plenipoicntiaries: The pienipotentiar-
les are authorized to sign the arms i
ticc. tSigned) Tie Chancellor of the
the end of the message proved its
authenticity. More than twelve
hours of deliberation and debate over
the harsh" terms followed. Foch
granted some concessions and re-
fused the others.
Subsequently the wearied French.
English and Germans appended their
signatures to the document. and, by
Encouragement, six hours' after the
signing, or l1''A. NJ. OF the morning
Of the 18th. operations ceased along
all the fronts. Four years of war
fare which had cost more than 9.OOO,- !
900 lives. was at an end.
o,sn~N ..r, +, 49,,