ARMISTICE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1919, Page 5

ARMISTICE

NEW TERMS SIGNED. KINDNESS ASKED FOR. Paris, Feb. 17. Marshal Foch has returned with the armistice signed. Herr Erzeberger, in a lengthy speech, protested against the severity of the terms, and urged that America should remember how Germany came to her aid in 1862 and during her economic crisis. He asked for kindness towards the Germans, who were now very poor. Admiral Browning, who accompanied Marshal Foch, reports that the naval terms are being complied with. The Germans are handing over all completed submarines and permitting those in course of construction to be destroyed under British supervision.—Aus.-N..-Cable Assn. DELAY ASKED FOR. ERZBERGER'S PLEA. Received Feb. lfl, 8.10 p.m. London, Feb. 18. Herr Erzberger tried hard to secure a day's prolongation before signing the renewal of the armistice, but Marshal Foch was adamant. Herr Erzberger declared that Germany had now only two hundred thousand troops under arms. The prolongation was creating distrust in Germany, and paving the way for Bolshevism. Germany was prepared to loyally participate in the League of Nations on the principle of political and economic equality. He admitted that Germany had committed a blunder in annexing AlsaceLorraine without consulting the population, and hoped France would not commit the same blunder.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. THE FINAL TERMS. CRIPPLING GERMANY NAVALLY. Received Feb. 19, 8.10 p.m. Paris, Feb. 17. The final working-out of the' armistice terms begins to-morrow. Probably little will be said about the naval terms, because the surrender of the German fleet under the original armistice has pretty well crippled her in that direction. There are still a few vessels to be delivered. Possibly the armistice will provide for the actual surrender of the big ships at Seapa, which up to the present have merely been interned. If this is done the vessels are likely to be destroyed. The final peace terms will undoubtedly include the destruction of the fortifications of Heligoland and make Kiel Canal free to civilian traffic. Germany will ultimately be left with a sufficient fleet for non-aggressive purposes.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMANS REMOVING MONEY AND TREASURES. THEIR VERSION OF NEW CONDITIONS. Received Feb. 19, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 18. It is reported that the Germans are conveying money and treasures to Switzerland by aeroplanes. The German' version of the new conditions states that apart from the cessation of hostilities against Poland, the old conditions have been prolonged indefinitely, but are terminable by three days' notice. The last stipulation enables the Entente to present, at three days' notice, fresh conditions, which the naval and military commission in Paris is now discussing.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. PRESS COMMENTS ON NEW TERMS. HEARTILY BY THE WORLD. Received Feb. 19, 7.50 p.m. London, Feb. 17. The Daily Mail states that the world will warmly approve of the new armistice terms imposed on the Germans. The world never forgave the submarine crimes, and it is a just penalty to cut Germany's naval claws. The British occupation of Heligoland would be cm barrassing, as the dismantlement would prevent its future use as a naval base and jujiiping-off place for submarines and aircraft. The destruction of the enemy fleet will be the best course, as the ship's are in a condition of filthy disrepair, and are unhealthy. The Allies did not vant them for military purposes.--United Service. GERMAN DELEGATE'S POWERS. '■ i CURBED BY GOVERNMENT. j Received Feb. 19, 7.40 p.m. j Paris, Feb. 17. I It is understood that Herr Erzberger's : powers on the. armistice commission "are I curbed. He is not allowed to make any | decisions, and must submit all the pro-I posal.s to the Weimar Government.—Aus. I and N.Z. Cable Assoc. I MORE WARSHIPS. TO BE SURRENDERED. Received Feb. 20, 12.30 a.m. London, Feb. 19. It is expected the armisti.e terms will insist on the surrender of eight more battleships, 8 cruisers, 42 destroyers, 50 torpedo boats; also the surrender of the Kiel tubu'ir dock and the destruction of all submarines and submarine dock", war equipment and auxiliary cruisers.--Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assoc. i . ! THE GERMAN MERCHANTMEN. i TO FLY THE LEAGUE'S FLAG. Received Feb. 20, 12.10 a.m. London, Feb. 17. In order not to prejudice their final disposal the surrendered German merchantmen will fly the League of Nations flag, consisting of three broad horizontal stripes, of which the top and bottom are white and the centre blue.—Aus. and N.Z. ' fi|We Assoc,