THE ARMISTICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1903, 16 November 1918, Page 1

THE ARMISTICE.

FULL TERMS. THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT. The following' telegram, dated London, 11th November, embodying the full terms of the armistice with Germany, has been received by the Governor-General from the Secretary of State for the Colonies: A.—CLAUSES RELATING TO THE WESTERN FRONT. (1) Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours atlei the signature of the armistice. (2) Immediate evacuation of invaded countries —Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg so ordered as to be completed within fourteen days from the signature ot the armistice. German troops which have not left the above-mentioned territories within the period fixed will become prisoners of war. Occupation by the Allied and United States forces jointly will keep pace with the evacuation in these areas. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated in accordance with a Note (Anncxure 1L (3) Repatriation, beginning at once, to be completed within fourteen days, of all inhabitants of the countries above enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial or convicted). (4) Surrender in good condition by the German armies of the following equipment: 5,000 guns (2,500 heavy, 2,500 field), 30,000 machine guns, 3,000 minemverfer, 2,000 aeroplanes (fighters, bombers, day and night bombing machines). The above to be delivered in situ to the Allied and United States troops in accordance with the detailed conditions laid down in the Note (Anil exu re I). (5) Evacuation by the German, armies of the countries on the left bank of the Rhine. These countries on the left bank of the Rhine shall be administered by the local authorities under the control ot the Allied and United Stales armies of occupation. Tin* occupation of these territories will he earned out by Allied and United Slates garrisons holding the principal crossings id! 1 he Rhine (Mayence, Coblenz, Cologne), together with bridgeheads at these points of a thirty kilometre radius on the right ha.uk and by garrisons similarly holding the strategic points of these regions. A neutral zone shall he set up on the right bank' of the Rhine between I be river and a line drawn ten kilometres distant starting from the Dutch frontier to the Swiss frontier. In the case of inhabitants no person shall be prosecuted for having taken part in any military measures previous to the signing of the armistice. No measure of a general or official character shall be ■ taken which would have as a consequence the depreciation of industrial establishments or a reduction of their personnel. Evacuation by the enemy of Rhinclands shall be so ordered as to be completed within n further period of eleven days, in all 25 days after the signature of (he armistice. All movements of evacuation and occupation will he regulated according to the Note (annex u re I). (ti) In all territory evacuated by (he enemy there shall he no evacuation of inhabitants; no damage or harm shall he done to the persons or properly of the inhabitants. No destruction of any kind to be committed. Military establishments of all kinds shall be delivered intact as well as military stores of food, munitions, equipment not removed during the periods fixed for evacuation. Stores of food of all kinds for the civil population, cattle, etc., shall be left in situ. Industrial establishments shall not be impaired in any way, and their personnel shall not be moved. (7) Roads and means of communication of every kind, railroads, waterways, main roads, bridges, telegraphs, telephones, shall be in no manner impaired. All civil and military personnel at present employed on (hem shall remain. Five thousand locomotives, 15,000 wagons, and 5,000 motor lorries in good working order, with all necessary spare parts and fittings, shall be delivered to the Associated Powers within the period fixed for the evacuation of Belgium and Luxembourg. The railways of AlsaceLorraine shall be handed over within (he same period, together with all pre-war personnel and material. Further, material necessary for the working of railways in the country on the left bank of the Rhine shall be left in situ. All stores of coal and material for upkeep of permanent way, signals, and repair shops shall be left in situ and kept as far as the means of communication are concerned in an ellkdcnt state by Germany during the whole period of the Armistice. All barges taken from the Allies shall lie restored to them. The Note appended as Aid

nexure 2 regulates the details of these measures. (8)) The German Command shall be responsible for revealing all mines or delay-action fuses disposed ou territory evacuated by the German troops, and shall assist in (heir discovery and destruction. The German Command shall also reveal ail destructive measures that may have been taken (such as poisoning or pollution of springs, wells, etc.), under penalty of reprisals. (!!) The right of requisition shall be exercised by the Allied and United States armies in all occupied territory, save for settlement of accounts with authorised persons; the upkeep of the troops in occupation in (he Rhineland (excluding AlsaceLorraine) shall be charged to the German Government. (.10) The immediate repatriation, without reciprocity, according to detailed conditions which shall be fixed, of all Allied and United States prisoners of war; the Allied Powers and the United States of America shall be able to dispose of these prisoners as (hey wish. However, the return of the German prisoners of war interned in Holland and Switzerland shall continue as heretofore. The return of German prisoners of war shall be settled at peace preliminaries. (.1) Sick and wounded who cannot be removed from evacuated territory will be cared for by German personnel who will be left on the spot with the medical material required, R. CLAUSES RELATING TO THE EASTERN FRONTIERS OF GERMANY. (12) All German troops at present in any territory, which before the war belonged to Russia, Rumania or Turkey, shall withdraw within the frontiers of Germany, as (bey existed on Ist August, It)! 1. And ail German troops at present in territories which before the war formed pari of Russia must likewise return to within (lie frontiers of Germany as above* defined as soon as (he Allies shall think the moment suitable having regard to the internal situation of these territories. (13) Eva dial ion by German troops to begin at once: and all German instructors, prisoners, and civilian as well as military agents, now on the territory of Russia (as defined on Ist August, 1011) to be recalled. (14) German troops to cease at once all recpiisilions and seizures, and any other Undertaking with a view to obtaining supplies intended for Germany in Rumania and Russia, as defined on Ist August, H 1.14. (15) Abandonment of Hie Treaties of Bucharest and Brest-Lit - ovsk and of (he supplementary Treaties. (Hi) The Allies shall have free access to tin,' territories evacuated by the Germans on their eastern frontier, either through Danzig, or by the Vielula, in.order to convey supplies to the population of (hose territories or for the purpose of maintaining order, C.—CLAUSE RELATING TO EAST AFRICA. (17)) Unconditional evacuation of all German forces operating in East Africa within one month. D. GENERAL CLAUSES. (IS) Repatriation, without reciprocity, within a maximum period of one month, in accordance with detailed conditions hereafter to be fixed, of all civilians Interned or deported who may be citizens of other Allied or Associated States than those mentioned in Clause (3). (19) With the reservation that any future claims and demands of the Allies and United Slates of America remain unaffected, the following financial conditions are required; Reparation for damage done. While the armistice lasts no public securities shall be removed by the enemy which can serve as a pledge to the Allies for the recovery or reparation for wav losses. Immediately restitution of (he cash deposit in the National Bank of Belgium and in general, immediate return of all documents, specie, stock, shares, paper money, together with plant for the issue thereof, touching public of private interests in the invaded countries. Restitution of the Russian and Rumanian gold yield to Germany or taken by that Power, This gold to be delivered in trust to the .Allies until tiie signature of peace. E. NAVA L CONDITIONS. (20) Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to tiie location and movements of all Germanships. Notification to be given to neutrals that freedom of navigation in territorial waters is given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all questions of neutrality being waived. (21) All naval and mercantile

marine prisoners o!' war of (ho Allio.l ami.associated Powers in Gerinnii hands io ho relumed, wit limit reciprocity. (22) In order to ineel our wishes, liie loxl will 1)0 modified as follows : Handing over to the Allies and the United Stales of all submarines (including all submarine cruisers and minelayers) which are present at the moment with full complement in (he ports specified by the Allies and the United States. Those that cannot pul to sea to bo deprived of crews and supplies, and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. Submarines ready to put to sea shall be prepared to leave (lemma ports immediately on receipt of wireless order to sail to the port of surrender. the remainder to follow as early as possible. The conditions of Ibis Article shall be carried out within fourteen days after the signing of the armistice. (2.‘1) The following (lerman surface warships, which shall he designated by the Allies and the United States of America, shall forthwith he disarmed and thereafter interned in neutral ports, or, failing them, Allied tporls, to he designated by (he Allies and the United Slates of America. and placed under the surveillance of lite Allies and the United Slates of America, only caretakers being left on board, namely: six battle cruisers, ten battleships, eight light cruisers, including two minelayers, 50 destroyers of the most modern types. All other surface warships (including river craft), are to he■ concent rated in Dorman naval bases to he designated by I lie Allies and (lie United Slates of America, and are to he paid oft and completely disarmed and placed under the supervision of the .Mlics and the United Slates of America. All vessels of the auxiliary licet (trawlers, motor vessels, etc.) are to he disarmed. All vessels specified for internment shell lie ready to leave Derma a ports seven days after (he signing of the armisliee. Directions for voyage will he given by wireless. [Note.—A deelaration has been signed by the Aided delegates and handed to the (.lerman delegates (■<, the effeet that in the event of ships not being handed over owing to the mutimms slate of the Heei, the .Mlies reserve the rigid to occupy Heligoland ns an advanced base (o enable I hem to enforce (lie terms of armistice. Tin; (lerman delegates ! have on their pari signed a deelaration Inal they will recommend the Uhauecllor to accept this.] (21) The Allies ami the United Slates of America shall have the right to sweep up all minefields and obstructions laid by Germany outside German territorial waters, and the positions of these are to he iudiea I ed. (25) freedom of access to and from I Ite Bailie to he given to (he naval and mercantile marines of (he Allied and Assoeia I ed Lowers. To secure this the Allies and (lie United Stales of America shall he empowered to occupy all German ports, fortifications, batteries, and defence works of all kinds in all the ; ntranees from the ('attegat into the Bailie, and lo sweep np all, mines and obstructions within ami without German territorial waters without any questions of neutrality being raised, and the positions of all stit'li mines and obstructions are to he indicate)!. (2(i) The existing blockade conditions set up by the Allied and Associated Powers are to remain unchanged, and all German merchant ships found at sea are to remain liable lo capture. The Allies and United Slates contemplate the provisioning of Germany during the armistice a.s shall he found necessary. (27)) All naval aircraft are to he concentrated and demobilised in German bases to he specified by the Allies and the United States of America. (28) In evacuating Belgian eoa-ts and ports, Germany shall a - handou all merchant ships, (uus, lighter-, cranes, and all other harbour materials, all materials for inland navigation, ail aircraft and air materials and stores, all arms and armaments, and all stores and apparatus of all kinds, (2d) A.ll Black Sea ports are to he evacuated by Germany; all Itnssian warships of 1 1J descriptions seized by Germany in the Black Sea are to he handed over to the Allies and the f luted States of America; all neutral merchant ships seized are to he released; all warlike and oilier materials of all kinds seized in those ports are lo he returned and German materials as speeilied in Clause 28 are to he abandoned. (dO) All merchant ships in German hands belonging to the Allies and Associated Powers are to be restored in ports to he speeilied by the Allies and the United States of America without reciprocity. (31) No destruction of ships or materials to he permitted before evacuation, surrender or restoration. (32) X’he German Government shall formally notify (lie neutral Governments of the world, and particularly the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Holland, that all restrictions placed on (he trading of their vessels with the Allied and Associated countries, whether by the German Government or by private German interests, and whether in return for specific concessions such a.s the export of shinbuilding materials or not, are immediately cancelled. (33) No transfers of German merchant shipping of any description to any neutral Hag are to take

place after signature of the armistice. F.—'DURATION OF ARMISTICE. (34) The duration of the Armistice is to he thirty-six days, with option to extend. During this period, on failure of execution of any of the above clauses, the Armistice may he denounced by one of the contracting parties, on thirty-eight hours’ previous notice. G. —TIME LIMIT FOR REPLY. (35) This .Armisliee to he accepted or refused by Germany within seventy-two hours of notiJication.