GERMANY WAVES THE WHITE FLAG

KAISER ABDICATES REVOLUTION IN BERLIN ARMISTICE TALKS UNDER WAY DELEGATES BLINDFOLDED AND TAKEN TO FOCH This way: German peace delegates are led through the lines blindfolded. Below, they fly a white flag as they arrive by motor-car

THE four German envoys sent to ask the Allies’ terms arrived under a white flag at Marshal Foch’s headquarters on Friday morning.

Thus the Huns, who dealt so harshly with romania and russia in their hour of defeat, have themselves to surrender with the customary ceremonial.

It was one of the greatest days of the war and of all history, and it marks the triumph of the just cause of the Allies.

It was about 11 o’clock on Thursday morning when orders were given to cease firing. Soon after, enemy bugles sounded repeatedly. Soldiers in the French lines who came dubiously out of cover saw numerous white flags waving from positions on the edge of the Bois de Montreuil and at an outpost near Haudroy.

BUGLER CROSSES LINES

At noon a German major with an NCO and a bugler appeared. The NCO held a large white flag. The bugler blew frequent blasts.

The French major whose battalion was occupying the line received the enemy major with military etiquette. The German said he had come for instructions as to how parlementaires should proceed, and asked for confirmation that firing would be stopped until the passage had been safely made.

The French major issued full instructions, in accordance with his orders from headquarters, and the Hun major returned to his lines.

The German soldiers who saw the white flag go and come through No Man’s Land drew their own conclusions. In the afternoon two or three hundred of them came forward in full sight of the French, and broke their rifles by jamming the butt into the soft ground, holding the barrel tightly and stamping at the breech with heavily booted feet.

They came over to the French empty-handed with a friendly air. They hailed their enemies as comrades, not the familiar ‘Kamerad’ of surrender, but as men of the same metier coming in friendly fashion after years of bitter competition.

The French were cheerful but in no mood for fraternising. The Huns protested, ‘Armistice! The war is over!’ The French compromised by accepting the lot of them as prisoners. The Germans did not seem to mind.

It was after eight in the evening when troops in the line saw the extraordinary spectacle of blazing headlights approaching from the enemy positions.

The headlights approached irregularly over the rough ground, often stopping for several minutes. When they came nearer, German soldiers could be distinguished in the light, filling in holes on the road to make passage possible for the motor-cars.

At the outpost, French soldiers under command of a high officer approached, and the papers and identities of the envoys were carefully verified. The principal envoys were Herr Erzberger (a government minister), Count Oberndorff, General von Gundell, General von Winterfeldt, and Admiral Ernst Vanselow. Five other delegates were subordinate officials.

Their eyes were bandaged and the procession started for their resting place for the night. The German navvies sent with them to repair the roads were not allowed to cross the line. The German delegates were driven to the Chateau of Francport, in Compiegne Forest, where refreshments were served, the French officers with the party supping apart. The Germans were awakened early the next morning and taken by car and rail to Foch’s headquarters, a further three hours’ journey away. Marshal Wemyss and General Weygand received the Germans.

Erzberger, who wore a soft Tyrolean hat, headed the delegation, the military members of which saluted stiffly. The civilians bowed.

‘ Who are you?’ Foch demanded, according to the etiquette of such occasions. ‘We are representatives of the German government come to demand an armistice,’ replied Erzberger. He presented his companions one by one to the Allied representatives.

UNHAPPY AT TERMS

The formality of checking the delegates’ credentials was entrusted to Foch’s aide-de-camp. Meanwhile, a breakfast of chocolate, milk, coffee, bread and butter was served for the party.

Their papers having been found in order, the delegates were again brought into the room, where Foch, in a loud, clear voice, read to them the Allies’ armistice terms.

The Germans appeared to be profoundly impressed by the severity of the conditions. They at once demanded a suspension of hostilities during their deliberations. ‘Impossible!’ was Foch’s reply.

Erzberger then asked permission to send a courier to German headquarters with the text of the armistice, as, in his view, certain clauses could be accepted only by the German government. Permission was given, and Spa was advised by wireless from the Eiffel Tower that Captain Heldorf was being despatched.

His departure was delayed because at the moment he attempted to cross the lines an enemy munition dump blew up, leading to the belief that the Huns were shelling him. Arrangements were made to send Heldorf to Spa in a French aeroplane, but a wireless message having cleared up the mystery, the German courier was able to travel by road.

While awaiting the courier’s return, the German delegates were given comfortable quarters in a

special train. Later, a second group of delegates consisting of technical experts left Berlin to join erzberger’s party. Their names are Majors Dusterburg, Bruckmann, Kriebel, and von Botlicher, and the Councillor of Legations, Baron von Leisneer.

The Kaiser’s abdication on Saturday raises fresh obstacles to the rapid conclusion of peace on ordinary military or diplomatic lines. There is much scepticism here concerning the genuineness of this overthrow.

If no government exists strong enough to sign peace and impose its will on the country, so much the worse for Germany. The Allies’ victorious armies will continue to advance and will dictate peace at Berlin if necessary.

Some surprise has been caused here by the substitution of erzberger for the former foreign minister and naval hero Paul von hintze in the armistice party. Two theories are suggested for the change.

One is that hintze’s authority is necessary at home in attempting to suppress the naval mutiny; the other, more generally accepted, is that internal conditions in Germany are so desperate that the government has placed a civilian Secretary of State at the head of the deputations because he alone would have the necessary powers to sign an immediate armistice which, it is hoped, may calm the anger of the enraged German people.

PRINCE MAX’S TRICKS

The appearance of the word plenipotentiaries in the German wireless messages announcing the arrival of the armistice delegates has caused no little astonishment here. Full-fledged ambassadors with plenary powers are not necessary in demanding terms of truce, and especially terms which the enemy has been plainly told are not open to discussion, but must be taken or left.

A general with an aide-decamp, preceded by a bugler with a white flag, is the only delegate required for this simple mission. Max, however, in spite of all warnings, probably still imagines that he can succeed in mixing up peace negotiations with the armistice parley. The attempt, if it is made, will fail.

Nevertheless, it remains the hope that the armistice will come into force today.