THE ARMISTICE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 117, 11 February 1919, Page 5

THE ARMISTICE

RENEWAL CONSIDERED BY SUPREME WAR COUNCIL COMBATIVE SPIRIT GROWING IN GERMANY By Telegraph-Press Associntion-Copyriirlit Paris, February 8. Great interest centres in the meetings of the Supreme War Council for the renewal of the armistice. The chief question, it i? increasingly felt, is that Germany's growing spirit of defiance calls for strong action. By a coincidence, the meeting of the War Council and the inauguration. of the German National Assembly at Weimar are simultaneous. Weimar was indeed the scene of a demonstration much more like that of a .victorious than of a defeated combatant, Hags, bands," and guns were used to decorate the sunroundings, and 'although Herr Eliert's opening speech admitted that Germany had lost the war, it also called oh the nations of the world to see justice done, and not allow Hie economic destruction of Germany. That is to some , extent Germany's case; but-it explains little of Germany's recent' attituro of arrogance and iil-will. Germany is in arms against Poland, and shciias categorically refused to obey the Allies' request to cease hostilities. She has- not fulfilled the armistice .conditions in important particulars, such as handing over merchant ships, while all over the country the old combative spirit is manifesting itself, and German territorial claims are being advanced, with the accompaniment of threats and warnings, just when demobilisation of the Allied armies is being hastened. It is to this bravado that the War Oounctfl now addresses itself. The French'-in • particular are urging'> the Pcaco-Conference to devote less consideration to. territorial problems and more to spirited action towards Germant.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' SEVERER MEASURES NECESSARY TO BEING GERMANY TO HER SENSES. • Paris, February 8. The Allied War Council is considering the terms for the prolongation of the armistice. It is generally recognised that severer measures are necessity to bring Germany to her senses and compel her to abandon her policy of obstruction and delay in carrying out the terms of-ithe existing armistice, especially ■in the matter of handing over ships, railway rolling stock, and agricultural implements, and also her opposition to the Allies sending food to Poiand through Ge™any,. _ .Probably the demobilisation of the Allied armies will be slackened, as the- Germans are not demobilising. It is suggested, that Germany is preparing to reject the peacej conditions entirely which the Allies draw up. It, is probable that the new armistice conditions will demand an extensive surrender- of arms, and the limiting l of the German Army to thirty divisions—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.- . ■ WARNING FROMMARSHAL FOCH GERMANY'S MILITARY STRENGTH. (Rec. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February D. Marshal Foch has warned the counoil of the possibility of a renewal- of the German aggrcss.ive spirit. He. estimated that sho was 'capable of placing three, millions of men in the field in two months. The Allies, at the present rate of demobilisation, could only oppo->e 1,800,000 effectives ou April I.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assri. -. , THE FAILURE TO CARRY OPT THE ARMISTICE TERMS. (Rcc. February 10, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, February 9. It is understood that Marshal Foch submitted important matters to the War Council in regpl to the failure of the Germans to carry out,the .strict terms of the armistice. The disclosures may cause the Allies to make further de-mands.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. February 10, 10.20 p.m.) Paris, February 9. Germany continues to delay the fulfilment of the armistice conditions. She lias surrendered only 13S1 out of 2000 locomotives, and 44,971 out of 70,000 cars and wagons.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SPEED OF ALUEDTEMOBILISATION MAKING GERMANY CONSTANTLY ; STRONGER. (Rec. February 10, 8.10 p.m.) Paris, February 8. . The "Temps" declares that Germany is being strengthened by the growth of the national sentiment and the actual military danger. The "Temps" fears that the departure of President Wilson, Mr. IJoyd George, and Signer Orlando will lead to slow peace progress, whilst the increasing speed of the Allied demobilisation is making Germany constantly stronger. The French do not oppose the feeding of Germany and Austria. Indeed, the heartrending accounts which arc reaching Paris about the utter famine -in Vienna and in part? of Germany have stimulated general action. The people ?vre dying in Hie streets of Vienna, women and children fainting as they try-to work to earn a high-priced crust;— United Service. - '