The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-01
CHAPTER XVI THE ARMISTICE SIGNED

l ceded by the words with the reser- vation that any future claims by the allies and the United States remain unaffected" This is decided. The allied governments now agreed on everything the armlstice Is to con- tain, are in position to reply to President Wilson's telegram of Octo- Der 2S. They therefore request Mir. House to communicate to the Presi- dent the conditions which have been agreed upon with two reservations. This communication Is made in the following terms;
 The allied governments have given careful consideration to the cores pondence which has passed between the President of the United States and the German government.
 Subject to the qualifications which follow they declare their willingness to make peace with the government of Germany on the terms of peace laid down in the address of the Pres ident to Congress on January 8, 1918, and the principles of settlement enun- ciated in his subsequent address.
 They must point out, however, that Clause 7, relating to what is usually described as the freedom of the seas" is open to various interpre- tations some of which they could NsSt USSSRNs AiCy must LHcTeIOT6 re- serve to themselves complete free dom on this subject when they enter ene peace conference.
 Furthermore in the conditions of peace laid down In his address to Congress on January s, 1918, the Pres ident declared that the invaded terri tories must be restored as well az evacuated and freed and that the allied governments feel that no doub. fn ho alf
 what this provision implies. By 1t they understand that compensations will be made by Germany for all damage done to the civilian popula- ton of the allies and their property by the aggression of Germany by and, by sea and from the ar. MT Wilson is at the same time asked to notify the German govern ment that 1t can send a duly &C., credited plenipotentiary to Marshal Foch who. assisted by a British Ad- miral. would be authorized to act in the name of the allied and associated governments.
 State of Mind
 In what state of mind is this de- cision to find Germany? I have al- ready shown that after her note of october 21 and the American reply Of October 23. she was bound without NNNeAbC " 6IpAAAAL bO tHG COnQlIiOnB Of the allies. The days which follow make this abundantly clear. The German great general staff contin- ues to be exasperated. Herr yon Payer, who had been there on the 18th, asserts that he. was repeatedly told, We are not beaten. We must not capitulate." It is true that to his question, What chances shall we have of making better peace if I VI un f.r,rs H~ swer, unless 1t is that Clemenceau ia in disagreement with Foch about ths c"Lditions' and that rFoch by urging moderate conditions shows the hien opinion he still has of German power Of resistance" The ministers uues ton other generals, Gallwitz Mudra. who declare themselves confident, but furnish no grounds for their hopes. Everything goes to smash. On Oc- tober 2b. Ludendorff, resigns and his resignation is accepted. On October 27, the emperor of Austria announces that he is going to make a separat. peace. On October 30 he asks for an armistice, announcing 1t is true that if the conditions are too seyere Inc will put himself at the head of his Austrian Germans On October 21, the German government had aI- ready telegraphed to President Will son that it was awaiting his pro- posals.
 Situation Grows Worse On November ,. General Groner. Ludendorff's successor, acknowledges that the military situation has grown worse. For Marshal Foch is con- ! tiila.ng his concentlic advance; the armies of the north moving towards Brussels, the British armies towards the Ardennes, the French armies to- wards Givet. the Americans towards . Nezieres and Sedan The Germans from November 4 to lose the hanks Of tRe Scneldt on a wide front and arc overwhelmed on the right bank of the Mouse. To finish them the allied high command prepares an of- fensive in Lorraine which with Sarre- bourg for its objective will hurl 2s divisions of infantry, three divisions Of cavalry. 500 tanks and an enor- nous force of artillery against five or seven mediocre German divisions