Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-11
German car entering
Canadian lines under
white flag.
q Underwood 6 Underwood.
Q Underwood & Underwood.

the leadership of the secretary of state,
Erzberger'
A second German radio few minutes
later informed the marshal that the
German troops on the first line had
been ordered to cease firing at 3 that
afternoon, in order to allow the passage
of the German delegation, and that this
delegation would be accompanied from
the German outposts to the French by
company of road workmen, who would
repair the La Capelle road, which was
destroyed, sufficiently to let the motors
pass.
After lunch, Erzberger and the mis-
sion left Spa about noon in five motors
Hardly had the cars left the town, be-
fore that in which Erzberger was riding
took curve too sharply. ran into the
side of a house and was telescoped by
the car following it. Erzberger and
Count Oderndorff. who was with him,
were not injured, but the two cars were
so damaged that they had to be aban-
doned, ther occupants transferring to
one of the other cars.
It was not till near dusk, about in
the evening, that the mission reached
Chimay, where Erzberger was informed
that it would be impossible for him to
continue his journey that night. The
roads from this point had been blocked
by telling trees across them to protect
the retreat of the German Army and
we're also mined at points, which made
them far from safe. Erzberger, how
ever, insisted on continuing the journey
and after getting into telephone COM
munication with the nearest German
general staff, which was at Trelon was
authorized to do So
After various delaying incidents in
which at times the cars had to be lifted
by man power over the tree trunks
blocking the road, the mission reached
Trelon about half past Z. The chief
of staff at this place had in the mean
time made all arrangements for passing
the mission through the German front
lines and had sent out a company of
engineers, which had removed the OBJ
Stacles and mines from the roads, so
that the passage was clear This general
knew nothing of the events of the pre-
ceding days in Berlin and Kiel, and on
learning of them, requested Erzeberger
not to mention them to his officers or
men.
Before going through the German
lines about $50 pm. the cars were
halted and large white flags raised over
them, while trumpeter took his place
on the running board of the first car.
Just as the mission was about to pass
through the last line of sentinels, Err
berger tells u.s. Suabian sentinel. very
much astonished at their passage asked
him: Where are you going?" He re-
piled: I'VE are going to conclude an
armistice." The simple minded Sua-
bian said, still more astonished: "Ah!
You are going to do all that You tWo!'
After crossing the German lines, the
cars moved forward very slowly the
trumpeter sounding repeated calls At
about 800 feet from the German line,
the first French soldiers were met, and
a few feet farther on, a young French
captain appeared.
VERY early this morning of the
7th, special advance guard, con-
sisting of a battalion of the 10Th Foot
Chasseurs under Maj. Ducornez had
been placed on this road to the north
of La Capelle. During the afternoon
staff officer, with an air of Importance,
had come to the major and announced
to him that German plenipotentiaries
seeking an armistice would present
themselves at his advance posts, some
time after that evening and ordered
him ito take all measures necessary
to facilitate their passage of the French
lines
AS the major had not the slightest
idea that an armistice was even being
considered, this news was "a clap of
thunder and nothing can describe the
mingled emotion, JOY and surprise of
such a movement" Apparently he did
not keep the secret we'll. At all events
it was known in a few minutes when