SIGNING THE ARMISTICE.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 November 1918, Page 6

SIGNING THE ARMISTICE.

" NIGHT OF ARGUMENT. SCENE IN FRENCH CHAMBER. .- LONDON, Nov 12. Tile armistice agreement was signed on behalf of the Allies by Marshal Foch and Admiral Sir Rlosslyn Wemyss, First Sea Lord of the British Admiralty. The "Times" ■ correspondent at Paris says that Herr Erzberger, leader of the Centre Pi'-'ty, ia tin Rsichstag, one of the German parlementaires to Marshal Foch, signed the armistice terms calmly.. General von Winterfeld, however, was unable to restrain lis tears. The delegates argued all night, and Herr Erzberger appealed,before sigauvj, for reorganisation and sympathy, - Marshal Foch, Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, and. the',German- delegates hegan their discussion at one o'clock, and it ended at five o'clock The Germans sought concessions and a score of minor amendments, drawing a harrowing picture of the desperate food situation in Germany. The Allies agreed to provision Germany on condition that its merchant fleet was placed at the disposal of the Inljer- K Allied Transport Council in London. Herr Erzberger protested against I the surrender of rolling stock, saying that it would affect the speeuy demobilisation of the troops, and asked the Allies to assist to get the army across ' the Rhine in order to save the internal fabric of Germany. Marshal Foch granted a reduction of the neutral zone east of the Rhine. The Germans Tecognised the four financial clauses as those of the armistice treaty between France and Germany in 1871. There were unforgettable scenes in the French Chamber of Deputies when M. Clemenceau, the Premier, read the terms of the armistice. The Premier's speech was punctuated by .the firing of guns, the cheers of the members, and the frantic applause from the public galleries. After reading the terms in a voice broken with emotion, the Premier greeted France, Alsace-Lorraine, the fallen, and the army. The whole Chamber then rose and thundered out the "Marseillaise." The members were almost delirious with joy, and there were tears in all eyes.