THE DECISION AT VERSAILLES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 37, 7 November 1918, Page 5

THE DECISION AT VERSAILLES

. DRASTIC TERMS FULL W OF AUSTRIAN ARISHCE CONDITIONS « / * ' FRESH VICTORIES • . IN THE WEST BRILLIANT RESULTS OF FOCH'S STRATEGY Germany is ±o 1 apply to.Marshal Foch if she desires a cessation of hostilities. This is tho decision or the Allies, as, announced by Mr. Lloyd Georgei in the House of Commons to an enthusiastic assembly. What these terms are have not been told. The decision of Versailles is being communicated to Germany \>y President Wilson. Mr. Lloyd George ia the same speeoh detailed >he terms of the Austrian-Hungarian armistice, which, 6ays Prees opinion in America, could not have been exceeded in'severity if she had actually surrendered ou the battlefield. But Austria has graver matters on her hands than bemoaning the Allies' .. termis. Thousands of returning soldier''; ireed from the bonds of discipline, are ravaging the country for food, asd -jnmmitting the wildest excesses. The latest peace suppliant is Bolshevik Russia. On the Western front the Allied armies, directed by Foch's military genius, are everywhere pursuing 'the defeated enemy, creating fresh perils for the Germans by' opening up new and dangerous salients, and threatening - the. arterial lines of communications. The general impression is that Germany is now so far. gone that she will soon accept the Allies' terms, no mat- ■ t«r how humiliating these may be.

! GERMANY REFERRED TO FOCH ARMISTICE CONDITIONS OUTLINE!) THE TERMS ON WHICH AUSTRIA ■ ..-'. ■;.••.. SURRENDERED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriglit .' . ■ '. (Rec. November 6, 0.5 a.m.) . ' London, November 5. Mr. Lloyd.George had anierithusiastic reception in the House" of- Commons when he made a statement regarding the Versailles Conference,' where the Czechoslovaks were also represented. Tho first matter dealt with was (he elimination of Turkey, .which gave the Allies command of the Black Sea, which was of the greatest importance. The Premier went on to detail tho terms .nf the Austrian armistice, but said, he would be uiutible to give the House detailed information regarding the complete agreement which the Allies had reached upon the German armistice. These conclusions had been transmitted to President Wilson, with the request that he should ultimate to Germany that if she wished lo know the conditions of the armistice .si e should make application to Marshal i'och in the ' usual military form. (Loud cheers.) A British naval. representative would be associated with Marshal Foch if such application were juade. Whatever Germany's reply might be, the Allies, awaited the issue in perfect confidence. Jlr Lloyd George 'congratulated the Czecho-Slovaks and Jugo-Slavs, who had thrown off the oppressor's yoke. These little : nations stood out in such heroism agviinst Germanic dominance that they could rest assured that the Allies would como to their aid as fast as possible. . Mr. Asquithsaid that lie tad listened to Mr. Lloyd , George's statement with . much satisfaction. The terms of the Austrian armistice would give a universal sense of security, especially ihe fact that Austria-Hungary was now. open for the operations of Allied forces. Hβ joined in tho Premier's congratulation to the Italian Army.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . ' STATEMENT BY THE FRENCH PREMIER • : ' . Paris, November 5. M. Clemenceau, French Prime Minister, has announced that the conditions of armistice for Germany are similar to those granted Bulgaria, Turkey, and Austria. The conditions include the maintenance of Allied military supremacy disarmament of the.enemy as is necessary to prevent a renewal of hosi tilities. President Wilson would eepd the Allies' armistice terms to Berlin.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ... GERMANY INFORMED OP THE ALLIES' TERMS ' NOTE FROM PRESIDENT WILSON. . Washington, November 5. President Wilson has sent a Note to Germany stating that General Foch has been authorised by the United States and the Allies to receive representatives from Germany and communicate to them tho terms of, the armistice. ■ The President adds that the Allies have accepted his Fourteen Points, with two reservations, namely, that the Allies must reserve for themselves the interpretation of President Wilson's clause concerning the freedom of tho seas, and that the Allies understand that Germany will pay the damages inflicted on Allied property, and civilians—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The second of President Wilson's Fourteen- Points sets out: "Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas outside territorial waters alike in peace and in.war, except as the seas may bo closed in whole or in part by international action for tho enforcement of international covenants."]

TON-FOBrTON COMPENSATION: , I.Eec. November G, 7.20 p.m.) _~ ....... Cape Town, November 5. The ton-for-ton principle of compensation recommended by the Navy League is finding warm support.-Aus.-N.Z. CaWe-Assn. THE ARMISTICE TERMS TO AUSTRIA DRASTIC CONDITIONS LAID DOWN (Rec. November 6, 9.25 p.m.) '' The Press Bureau reports that the following are' tho with Austria-Hungary:— Military Clauses, ■ 1. Immediate cessation of hostilities by land, sea and air 2. Total demobilisation of tho Austro-Hunguriar. Army and the immediate withdrawal of all Austro-Hungarinn forces' operating on the front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Within Austro-Hungarian territory' limited as in Clause 3 (below), there shall only be maintained as an organised military force a maximum of twenty divisions, reduced to prewar peace effectives. Half the divisional corps and army artillery equipment shall be collected at points to be indicated by the Allies and. tho United States of America for delivery to them, beginning with all such materhl as exists in the territories to be evacuated. 3 Evacuation of all territories invaded by Austria-Hungary since thfl beginning of the war, the withdrawal to bonvithin such periods as mnv be determined by the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied forces on each front of the Austro-Hungarian armies behind n lino fixed as follows-—■ ~ Prom Pizumbrail to the north of St. Elvio it will follow the crest'of the Khetinn Alps to the sources of tho Adige and the Eisacli passim: thence by Jlounts Ecsclion nud Jirenner and the heights of thp Oetz and Oilier. Xlio hnu thence turns soutu, crossing Jlount Toblach and meet ing the present frontier of the Cainic Alps. It follows this frontier to ,m"'s and ftfter Tarvis ', h - iralei ' sl '«! °f the Julian Alps by the ■' Col J'redil Mount Mangart, the Tricorrfo, and the watershed of the Cols to PodSrrdo. Podlaniscam, and Idria. Prom this point the lino turns sonili-cast towards Sclmoeberg. excluding tlie whole basin of the Save and its. tributaries. Prom Schneeber<j it descends towards the const in such i way as to include Castiia, Mattaglia, and Volosca, in evacuated territories Jt also lollows the administrative limits of the present province of Dal" matin, including, to the north Licarioa and Trivania, and to tho south the territory limited by a line from the shore of Cape Planca to the Bumgits of tho watershed eastwards, so as to include in tho evacuated ar»a all ma yalleys and watercourses flowing towards Sobeneco, such as the Cicola tne Jierka, and.the Butianica, and their tributaries. It also includes all the islands north and west of Dalmatia from Promuda, Selve Tflboi bonerda, Maon, Pago, and Patadura, in and upto Meleda in tho south em- '

"bracing Santandrea, Busi, Lissa, Losina, Teroola, Onraola, Cazza Lagostn, and Pulagosa, and only excepting tho islands of Groat and Small Zirona, Beta, Kolta, f and Brazza. All the territories thus evacuated shall bo occupied by the , troops of tho Allies and the United States. All military and railway equipment, including coal, within these territories to bo left in situ and surrendered to the Allies according to the special orders by the Commnn-der-in-Chiof of the forces of the Associated Powers on tho different fronts. No new destruction, pillage, or requisition shall be done by tho enemy's troops in tho territories to, bo evacuated and occupied by tho Associated Powers. &. The Allies to be entitled to free movement over all roads, railways, and waterways, in Austro-Hungarian territory, and the use, if necessary, of the Austro-Hungarian means of transportation. The armies of the Associated Powers shall occupy aucli strategic points in AustriaHungary a|j such times as they deem necessary for tho conduct of military operations or, the maintenance of order. They have tho right to , requisition on payment for the troops of the Associated Powers, wherever they may bo. < 5. Completo evacuation of all German troops within fifteen days from the Italian and Balkan fronts, also from all Austro-Hungarian torritory; the internment of all German troops which have not lett AustriaHungary within that date. 6. Tiie .administration of the evacuated territories of Austria-Hungary shall bo entrusted to local , authorities under control of tho armies of occupation. 7. Immediate .repatriation, without reciprocity, of all Allied prisoners of war, interned subjects, and civil populations evacuated from their homes, on conditions to be laid down by the Commander-in-Chief of the Associated Powers on the various fronts. 8. Sick and wounded, who cannot be removed from evacuated territory, will be cared for by the Austro-Hnngarian personnel, who will be left on the spot with tho medical material required. The NavaJ Conditions. ' Tho naval conditions aro as follows:— 1. Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea. Definite information shall be given concerning the locution and movements of all AustroHungarian ships. Notification shall bo rpado to neutrals that freedom of navigation in all territorial waters is givon to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all questions of neutrality being waived. 2. Surrender to tho Allies and the United States of fifteen AustroHungarian submarines completed between 1910 and. 1918, and all German sabmariuos now in or hereafter entering Austro-Hungarian territorial waters. All other Austro-Hungarian submarines shall b'e_ paid off, completely disarmed, and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies and America. • 3. Surrender to the Allies and the United States, with their complete, armament equipment, of three battleships, three light cruisers, nine ccstroyers, twelve torpedo-bonts, one mine-layer, nnd six Danube monitors, to be designated by the Allies i>nd the United States. All other surface warships, including river craft, shall be concentrated in Austro-Hunga-rian naval bases designated by tho Allies nnd America, and shall be paid off, completely disarmed, and placed under- the supervision of the Allies and tho United States. 4. Freedom of navigation to all warships and merchant ships of tho Alliod and Associated Powers shall be given in, the Adriatic and up the Danube and the territories in the territorial waters and territory of Austria-Hungary. The Allies nnd Associated Powers shall be entitled to sweep up all mine-fields and obstructions, and the positions of these must be indicated. In order to ensure freedom of navigation in the Danube tho Allies and the United States are empowered to occupy, or dismantle all fortifications and defence works. 5. The existing blockade conditions established by the Allies and the Associated Powers shall remain unchanged. All Austro-Hungarian merchant ships.found at sea shall remain liable to capture, save exceptions which may be mado by a Commission, nominated bv the Allies and the United States. • . . 6. AH naval aircraft shall be concentrated and immobilised /in Aus-ti-o-Hitfgaiian bases! designated by H-; Allies and jbhe United States,. 7. The evacuation of all Italian coast ports occupied by, AustriaHungary outsido their national territory, and the abandonment of all floating craft, naval materials, equipment, and materials for inland purposes of air kinds. : ■ 8. The Allies and the United States shall occupy the land and sea fortifications nnd islands forming , the defences and dockyards of the arsenal at Pola. 9. Austria-Hungary shall return all rae'chant vessels belonging io Iho Allies and the Associated Powers. , * 10. No destruction ofYships or materials shall bo permitted licfore evacuation, surrender, or restoration. 11. All_ naval and mercantile marine prisoners of war of the Allies and Associated Powers in Austro-Hungarian hands shall be returned without reciprocity.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ■

EMPEROE KARL REFUSED TO SIGN. Copenhagen, November 5. . Advices from Yienna state tliat the Emperor Karl refused to sign tho armistice, on the ground that the terms wore dishonourable. The Chief of Staff, von Arz, signed, and tho Emperor Landed over the supreme military command to Field-Marshal Koevess.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aasn. THE ENEMY'S LOST COLONIES , SIR RIDER HAGGARD URGES UNEQUIVOCAL DECLARATION. (Rec. November 6, 8.30 p.m.) London, November 5. Sir Rider Haggard, in a letter, says that Mr. Balfour's statement of October 23 leaves the disposal of tfw Gornsnn colonies undetermined. •".{ Government declaration, which oinnot subsequently he explained away,' is needed urgently." He had learned during iiis tour of tiie Dominions that any weakness in this policy would be bitterly resented—indeed, ii , would shake the Empire. The security of Australasia would be irapoftibio if tho Germans were permitted to swarm into the Pacific with secretly-coMtructed submarines and flocks of aircraft, ready to attack at a moment's notico. Tho Germans undoubtedly would create a gigantic native army if tiwy returned to Africa. After four years of fighting there had been shown the ftrt-nudabieness and possibilities of .such an army. It were vain to suppose that fas League of . Nations would obviate risks. The Germans would not undergo K smi'kr. repentance.—"Tho Times." I Speaking at the' -Australian and Now Zealand Clnb luncheon in London, Mr. A. J. Balfou'r (L'oreign Secretary), alluding, to the question of the German colonies, said that it was absolutely essential that tho British Empire's communications should Temain safe. If the Germau colonies were returned, what security was there that their original possessors would not use them as bases .for piratical warfare? Ho could see no other answer to this question than that [' in no circumstances was it consistent with tho safety, security, and unity of the Empire that these colonies should be returned to Germany. ' (Applause.) This was not a selfish, Imperialistic doctrine. It was one in which the interests of the world wore almost as much concerned as were the interests of the- Empire itself. If wo were to- remain a united Empire it was absolutely necessary that the ways whereby" its component parts communicated with each other should never again be at the mercy of an unscrupulous Power. (Cheers.) | PASSING OF GERMAN MILITARISM STRIKING ADMISSION BY THE CHANCELLOR. ' . , . . , Amsterdam, November 5. Iht) interview with tho German Chancellor, Prince Max, in the "Vossische Zeitung" appears to "be an authoritative admission that German militarism is finally defeated. He said: "God be praised, the old regime hns gone for good, owing to the war." This is a practical admission of tho military and Conservative leaders that their, policy has suffered shipwreck and that tho democratic elements have finally got the upper hand in Germany. The "Forwaerts" publishes a proclamation of tho Social Democrats emphasising that the old personal- regime has been abolished, that the military havo been finally subordinated to the civil authorities, and militarism deprived of its strongest auppbrt.—Reuter. ■ . i PRESIDENT WILSON'S SKILFUL DIPLOMACY UNSTINTED CREDIT ACCORDED. ... „ _~ ,„„. „ , ' Ney York, November 5. fne Aew York Times' correspondent at Washington says that unstinted credit is given President AVilson for having pbived a most skilful diplomatic hand in dealing with tho Central Powers, thus bringing about a situation which meant the ending of tho war upon terms dictated by the Allies. Even those who adversely criticised President Wilson's Note-writing to Germany and Austria have conceded his successful diplomatic manoeuvre, which does not mean that credit ,js accorded President Wilson alone because it is thoroughly understood that ho .has been in close touch with the Allies in every move ho has made.—Aiis.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PRESIDENT? MAY ATTEND THE PEACE .CONFERENCE. ,„, ~ ~ ~_, ~ , „ , New York, November 5. ihe paw York Tribunes Washington correspondent states that it is considered inereaslngly likely that President Wilson may attend tho Peace.-Confer-ence abroad. The precedent for leaving tho country was set by Mr Taft who made a. trip to Panama during his Presidency. It is probable that President Wilson will represent tie United States. Other Americans who mav attend the conference are Mr. Henry Morgenthnu (late Ambassador, to Turkey), Colonel House, and Judge Brandeis, of the Supreme Court.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn. ABSENCE OF DOMINIONS FROM VERSAILLES COMMENTED UPON. „, ~,r . _ ,„ . ~,,,,. London, November 5. ' The' Morning Post complains that the Dominions were not represented at the Versailles Conferonce.-Aus.-Iv.Z. Cable Assn. KAISER BIDDING FOR POPULARITY. (Kcc. November C, 7.20 p.m.) ,„, T , . , . , . , T . Copenhagen, November 5. The Kaiser has ordered sixty Imperial castles to bo converted into hospitals or recreation homes for invalided tooops.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu. , THE FINANCIAL BAROMETER OF EVENTS CONSOLS QUOTED AT Glf. „ „ ~, London, November 5. The tone of tho Stock Exchange is cheerful, and. business is fairly active. Consols aro quoted at £61155.-Aus.-N7;. Cable Assn.