The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-11-02

>municate with their government. Ow-
ing to the fact that the Germans had
not brought any cipher, Marshal Foch
refused to allow wireless to be used
and the terms thus made public prop
erly before perusal and consideration,
and so Captain Won Helldorf was dis
Matched to German Headquarters at
Spa with copy,
General Won Wnterfeld then asked
that hostiltes might cease immedi
ately so as to avoid useless blood
shed" and, speaking in French. he
actually referred to the route-"la de-
route" the actual word used-of the
German army.
Marshal Foch, however. would not
agree to giving the enemy any breath
ing space that might allow them to
reorganize and he stated emphatcal
" that fighting should not cease until
ne terms read out had been definitely
accepted and signed
Independent discussions were
tinued during the afternoon in thu.
conference car by the various Ger
man delegates the chief matters neces
sarily being of a naval and military
nature. and during these talks the fear
full economic condition of GERMANY
was laid bare
Besides foodstufrs necessary mate
was in such short supply that the
country was very literally at its last
gasp
Another complaint of the Germa n.
was against both the blockade and
blacklist continuing after the armis-
tice was signed. and it was obvious
that both these weapons had hard hit
their country However, one of tn,
most important concessions of .he
nolA y
namely. that the allies would revictual
Germany
Night fell on that fatefui spot IN
the Compeigne forest and looking oct
of the train the fires of the bivouacs
of the sentries and guards could De
seen twinkling merrily. while away in
The distance the boom Of heavy gu. &
told of the bloody work which was still
continuing, after more than four fear
full wears. and, except for a written
paper of agreements, sent over by the
Germans. Saturday passed without any
visible program, awaiting the message
of the German government
II was suggested that the allies
should occupy Helgoland but the Ger
man delegates did not think that it
would be necessary
Another question that arose was the
altering of the phrase involving the
surrender" of General Won Lettow
Verbeck to evacuation"
That evening a wireless message was
received from the German government
ordering the signing of the armistce,
hut to add that Germany would be-
come a prey to bolshevism unless the
allies would undertake provisioning
There was further long discussion,
far into the night. concerning Helgo-
land. as the French and British felt
that there must be something to fall
back upon. in case the Germans were
unable 20 control their own men, the
majority of whom were almost entire
Nv out of hand
1t was finally decided. to add an ex-
ira stipulation to the agreement. rec
,mmending to the German government
that the allies occupy Helgoland IL
the government should be unable to
enforce it's commands. as If put in
stronger terms long delay would he
occasioned through having to refer
the matter to Spa. should the allies in
sist on the occupation in any event
At Q a m on Monday. November IL,
al, the delegates on both sides as
sembled for final conference
General Weygand read out the arm
.stlce agreement, article by article. and
as each was read out the French in
terpreter translated ii into German
and discussion then proceeded until the
tinai form of the article was mutually
agreed upon. though. throughout. the
Germans kept insisting that the terms
were 90 harsh they would be difficult
Of fulfillment.
However, all the articles were final
Iy read and discussed. and then Herr
Erzberger stood up and read out
statement IN German, stating that the
government would carry out the terms
as far as humanly possible.
At Sis a. m all the delegates signed
the momentous document, Marshal Foch
being the first to sign. followed by the
British Admiral Wemyss
Orders we're Immediately issued, all
over the world. for hostilities on land,
at sea and in the air to cease at II a.
m. on that day, Monday, November IL,
1918. for a period of SO days. and II Is
now a matter of history how this pc
Rod was later extended until the peace
of Versailles of 1919.
Thus ended the most important his
torical event of all time.