ARMISTICE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1919, Page 5

ARMISTICE

A SERIOUS SITUATION. GERMANY DISCONTINUES DEMOBILISATION. London, Feb. 10. . A reliable French statement regarding the armistice position says that the French military authorities regard it as serious. The German plenipotentiaries recently ignored Marshal Foch's invitation to a meeting, Foeh being compelled to use threats. The attitude of the German plenipo- ' tentiaries-daring the last fortnight has changed. Formerly they argued that it would bt in the Entente's interests to enable Germany to ren* a stable element of the European equ.ubrium. They now say that Germany will not accept terms implying defeat, declaring that it is only Germany's economic and domestic situation, and the failing of her Allies, vhich has compelled her to cease fighting. The bMt reason exists for believing • that Gjvmany is not continuing to d?jnobilise. Germany has concentrated i> division on the eastern front, .and is keeping others nnder arms on the pretext i of economic pressure. It is believed in , •ome quarters that Germany has sufficient mileriftl to arm three millions. • The i\'lied military authorities con- ; •ider that the time has arrived to reduct Germany to such conditions that she Will not be able to resist the Allies' terms of pWe, whereas Germany aims it maintaining sufficient military strength . to enable her to resist unfavorable terms. The whole French nation will support , the Government in preventing Germany from escaping the consequences of defeat. The French nation in this respect jvill refuse the compromise. The view of a competent British authority was obtained on the foregoing French view. He confirmed it, adding that Marshal Foch had made a somewhat serious declaration to the Supreme War Council. Marshal Foch feels that the Germans are beginning to forget that they have been beaten. In addition to the delay in surrendering material, Gwmany has discontinued demobilising. whereas the Allies are demobilising fast. The Allies must face the possibility of Germany possessing more troops than they themselves do. The Supreme War Council has taken up the question of demobilisation. The technical advisers ■jfavor taking additional measures to ensure being able to dictate the terms of peacs AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, Feb. 9. ' M. Picnon, interviewed, stated that the War Council had not yet decided to acquire further territory, owing to noncompliance with the armistice demands. He did not think there was any necessity to al*.er the demobilisation plans.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. MORE STRINGENT CONDITIONS. AMERICANS AVERSE TO PROPOSAL. FOCH'S STRONG CASE Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 10. It is understood that the American delegate? are disinclined for further stringent armistice conditions, and consider the original terms a binding contract. In any case Germany, they say, is no longer militarily formidable. French opinion is greatly disturbed, but it is anticipated that a compromise will be reached whereby Germany will be required forthwith to give guarantees for the complete fulfilment of the original terms, otherwise new terms will be imposed. It is reported tho latter will include the surrender of all artillery Some censored passages in the Paris newspapers' report of yesterday's War Council occasioned a rumor that Marshal Foeh had made a strong statement in regard to Germany's attitude, which it was undesirable to make public, and that he warmly opposed President Wilson's pacific optimism regarding the situation. Marshal Foch cited instances in which he had asked the German armistice commission to meet him. They utterly failed to comply, and, only after strong pressure on his part did the meeting eventually take place. He desires that . the new armistice terms shall be such that it will be practically impossible to have a renewal of war.—Aus. NX Cable Assoc. SUGGESTED NEW CONDITIONS. TO BE IMPOSED ON GERMANY. Received Feb. 11, 11.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 10. ft is suggested that the ntw armistice Conditions should include the handing over of the whole of the German artillery, the compulsory reduction of the army to twenty-five divisions v'ith ma-chine-guns for policing Germany intersally, and the occupation of the Ruhr district, including Essen; also that the Allies should reinsist on the original conditions regarding the handing over of transport. —Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. REMOVING MILITARISM FROM EUROPE. THE BRITISH VIEW Received Feb. 12, 1 *.m. London, Feb. 11. The Supreme War Council is still disTOssing the armistice terms. It is believed the British view is that it is now most important to remove militarism from Europe, and therefore it It essential that Germany should forthwith abandon conscription. It is hoped to secure in the renewal of the armistice something like the condition of affairs that will appear in the (Mace treaty. Otherwise it will be impossible to carry out demobilisation in the Allied countries. It is recognised, however, that it is not legally sound to introduce peace terms into the armistice. The American attitude is that the armistice terms Bhould not be extended. In this view there is apparent a disregard of the fact that Germany has not obeyed the original terms, for which some sort of penalty should be enforced in the ihape of drastic demands. There are two ways of dealing with the matter—(a) prescribing the peace force which Germany will lie allowed to maintain; (b) prescribing how much war material Germany is to hand over. In regard to the latter there is considerable doubt as to the exact quantity she possesses. Tho British point is areasonable sized army for Germany, and the destruction of all materiel beyond what is necessary for its equipment.—'Aus.-and .N.ZACable. Atane.