MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

THE AUSTRIAN ARMISTICE. t DRASTIC TERMS. . ggg-fc CLOSING IN ON THE GERMANS. BY CONVERGING ALLIED ATTACK. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 5. In the House of Commons Sir George Cave stated that Germany had ratified the agreement tor the erchange of prisoners. Mr. Lloyd George announced that the armistice terms included: The evacuation of all territory that Austria had occupied during t'lie war. The Allies are to have entirely free movement on the roads, railways, and waterways of Austria Hungary. Austria is to surrender her subma;rines and a number of battleships. United States troops are to occupy the evacuated territories. Received Nov. 0. f1.5 p.m. London, Nov. n. Mr. Lloyd George also announced that the armistice provided for the Allied occupation of the Austrian peninsula, the Tyrol, and the south Brenner pass. All the Allied forces would now be used against Germany in a great converging attack on all fronts under Marshal Foch. There were demonstrative scenes m the House at the announcement of the terms, synchronising with similar statements in the Frenchi and Italian Chambers.

Mr. Lloyd George added that- the Versailles Conference requested President Wilson to intimate to Germany that ■She' could obtain the. conditions of armistice from Marshal foeh or the British naval representative.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

FURTHER DETAILS, Received Nov. fi, 0.25 p.m. London, Nov. 5: The Press Bureau reports that the following are the armistice conditions with Austria-Hungary. The military clauses are: 1. The immediate cessation of hostilities by land, sea and air. 2. The total demobilisation of the Aus-tro-Hungarian Army, and the immediate withdrawal of all Austro-Hungarian forces operating on the front from the North Sea to Switzerland, within AustroHungarian territory, limited as in clause 3 below. There shall be maintained, as an organised military force, a maximum of twenty divisions, reduced to pre-war peace effectives. Half the divisional corps and army artillery equipment shall be collected at points to be indicated by the Allies and the United States of America, for delivery to them, beginning with all such material as exists in the territories to be evacuated. 3. The evacuation of all territories invaded- by Austria-Hungary since the beginning of the war, and the withdrawal, within such periods as may be determined by the Commander-in-Ohief of the Allied Forces, on cadi front of the Austro-Hungarian Armies, behind lines fixed as follows: From Pizumbrail to north of St. Elvio it will follow the crest of the Rhetian Alps to the sources of the Adige and Eisach, passing thence by Mounts Reischen and Brenner and the heights of Oltz and Ziller, The line thence turns south, crossing the mount to Black, meeting the present frontier of the Carnic Alps. It follows this frontier to Mount Tarvis, and, after Tarvis, the watershed of the Julian Alps, by Col Predil, Mount Mangart, the Tricorno and the watershed of the Cols to Podberdo, Podlaniscam and Idria. From this point the line turns south-east towards Schnecberg, excluding the whole basin of the Save and its tributaries. From Schnecberg it descends towards the coast, in such a way as to include Castua, Mattaglia, and V'olosoa, in the evacuated territories. It also follows the administrative limits of the present province of Dalmatia, including to the north, Idcarioa and Trivania, and to the south, tlie territory limited by the line from the shore of Cape Planoa to the summits of the watershed —eastwards, so as to include, in the evacuated area, all the valleys and watercourses flowing towards Sebeneco, such as the Cicola Iverka, Butianica and their tributaries. It also includes all islands north and west of DalrmTtia from Selve, Ulboi, Scherda, Maon Pago, Patadura, up to Meleda; .in the south, embracing Santandrea, Busi, Lissa, Losina, Tercola, Curzola, Cazza, Lagosta and Pela\osa, only excepting the islands Great and Small Zirona, Beta] Solta and Brazza. All territories thus evacuated shall be occupied by troops of the Allies and the United States. All military and railway equipment, including coal, within these territories to be left in situ, and surrendered to the Allies, according to the special orders by the Commander-in-chief of the associated Powers on the different fronts. No new destruction, pillage or requisition shall ba done by enemy troops in the territories to be evacuated and occupied by the associated Powers.

4. The Allies are to be entitled to free movement over all roads, railways and waterways in Austro-Hungarian territory and the use, if necessary, of AustroHungarian means of transportation. The armies of the associated Powers shall occupy such strategic points in AustriaHungary, at such times as they deem necessary for the conduct of military operations or the maintenance of order. They hi'.ve the right to requisition on payment, for troops of the associated Powers, wherever they may be. 5. Complete evacuation by all German troops, within fifteen days, from the Italian and Balkan fronts; also from all Austro-Hungarian territory, and the internment of all German troops which have not left Austria-Hungary within that date. 0. The administration of the evacuated territories of Austria-Hungary shall be entrusted to the local authorities, under the control of the armies of ocr'lpation. 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. S. The sick and wounded who cannot be removed from the evacuated territory will be cared for by Austro-Hungarian personnel, who will be left on the spot with the medical material required.

NAVAL CONDITIONS. The naval conditions are as follow: 1. Immediate cessation of all hostilities a,t sea. Definite information shall bo given concerning the location and movements of all Austro-Hungarian ihipa. Netifiwttoa stall ba node to neu-

trals that the freedom of navigation in ■ill territorial waters is given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allies and associated Powers, all questions of neutrality being waived. 2. The surrender to the Allies and United States of fifteen Austro-Him-garian submarines completed between 1!I10 and 1918, and all German submarines now >v>, or hereafter entering, Aiis-tro-Hungarian territorial voters. All other Austro-Hungarian submarines shall be paid off, completely disarmed, and remain under the supervision of the Allies and America. 3. The surrender to the Allies and the United States, with complete armament and equipment, of three battleships, three light cruisers, nine destroyers, twelve torpedo-boats, one mine-layer, and six Danube monitors to be designated by the Allies and the United States. All other surface warships, including river craft, shall be concentrated in Austro-Huiigarian naval bases, to be designated by the Allies and America, and shall be paid off, completely disarmed, and placed under the supervision o| the Allies and the United States, Free navigation to all warships and merchant ships of the Allied and associated Powers s'liall be given in the Adriatic and Danube, and territories in territorial waters, and territory of Austro-Himgary. The Allies and associated Powers shall be entitled to sweep up all mine-fiekls and obstructions, and the positions of these must be indicated. In order to ensure freedom of navigation of the Danube the Allies and the United States are empowered to occupy or dismantle all fortifications and defence works.

The existing blockade conditions established by the Allies and associates shall regain unchanged. All AustroHungariau merchant s'hips found at sea will remain liable to capture, s.'ive exceptions which may be made by a commission nominated by the Allies and the United States. All naval aircraft shall be concentrated and immobilised in AustroHungarian bases designated by the Allies aud the United States. The evacuation of all Italian coasts and parts occupied by Austria-Hun-gary outside their national territory, and t'iie abandonment of all floating craft, naval material, equipment, and materials for inland purposes of all kinds. The Allies and United States shall occupy Mud and sea fortifications, and the islands forming the defem-ps, and the dockyards and arsenal at Pota. Austria-Hungary shall return nil merchant vessels belonging to the Allies and associated Powers. No destruction of ships or materials shall be permitted before evacuation, surrender, or restoration. All naval and mercantile marine prisoners of war of the Allies and associated Powers in Austro-Hun-garian hands shall be returned, without reciprocity.—Aug. N.Z. Cabje Assoc. SUMMARY OF TERMS,. , Wellington, La.'st Night. The High Commissioner reports from London, uuder date November 5, 7.43 p.m.: The Austrian armistice conditions include total demmobilisation, excepting 20 divisions; the delivery of Oialf the artillery and equipment to the Allies; evacuation of all invaded territories and the surrender of the military and railway equipment therein; the Alließ to have the right of free movement over Austro-Hungarian territory, and the occupation of strategic points; evacuation of German troops within 15 days; surrender of three battleships, three cruisers, nine destroyers, twelve tor-pedo-boats, fifteen submarines and nil the German submarines, and the disarmament of all other warships; dismantlement of fortifications; blockade conditions to continue; aircraft to be immobilised; return of captured merchant vessels to the Allies. DISPOSAL OF GERMAN COLONIES. SIR RIDER HAGGARD'S VIEWS. BINDING GOVERNMENT DECLARATION URGED Received Nov. 6, 9.30 p.m. London. Nov. 5. Sir H. Rider Haggard, in a letter to The Times, says Mr. Balfour's statement of October 23 leaves the disposal of the German colonies undetermined. A Government declaration, which cannot subsequently be explained away, was needed urgently. He 'had learned during his tour of the Dominions that any weakness in policy would be bitterly resented; indeed, it would shake the Empire. The security of Australasia would be impossible if the Germans were permitted to swarm the Pacific with sijcrctly constructed submarines and flocks of aircraft ready to attack at a moment's notice. The Germans would undoubtedly create a gigantic native army if they returned to Africa. After four years' fighting there had been shown the formidalileness of the possibilities of such an army, and it would be vain to suppose that a league, of nations would obviate the risks. Tiie Germans will not undergo a sudden repentance—Times Service.