The Armistice Conditions

Levin Daily Chronicle, 28 November 1918, Page 3

The Armistice Conditions

A WAIL FROM ERZBERGER. COOL HUN" EFFRONTERY. LEr.ECTKIC TELEGRAPH—(COPYRIGHT.] (Per Press Association.) Received this day, 10a.ra. New York, November 27. Mr Bosch Eleurot, the New York World's correspondent, in a massage from .Berlin, via Copenhagen, states lie interviewed Erzberger, who said : "1 signed the armistice because there was not anytlhing else to do, since wo had; reached a political crisis and we could not continue the war without disaster. But even while I signed it. 1 believed it would not be possible to con lor m to the agreement, and protested to .Marshal Foch, who did not believe in the sincerity and urgency ot t>ur protest. He thought it was a German ruse designed to gain time for the preparation of a new attack, and did not seem to realise that we were forced to .sign any conditions because Germany must have peace. I do not see how we can meet the obligations without weakening the" country seriously and causing grave political results. "The evacuation of France and Bolgium by our troops in the time allowed is impossible. Common sense will dictate a further extension of time, But even so we are leaving behind Army provisions which were liarger than the food resorvas in Germany. We fear £Ee German troops furthest from the Rhine will become panicky, fearing that they will not reach the Rhine in time, and' thus will be interned;. This may result in disorder, which will have bad consequences for the young German democracy. "Germany has about 000,000 railroad cans, of which 250.000 are now in Poland, the Ukraine, Bulgaria and Rumania. These are useless and, the remainder ar© not enough, and are being put to the maximum use. The surrender of 150,000 cars within the armistice period'will make the oar situation in the interior of Germany most difficult. Our railroad equipment is sadly warworn. We are required l by the armistice to deliver only good material, and tlie dtemand for several thousand 'locomotives, when one-third of our locomotives are unworkable, is enormous. "The armistice provided for food to be fent to German} - during the armistice, but- there is not yet any sign of such food, and we need it."