THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1919, Page 5

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

TERMS IMPOSED ON GERMANY SOME STRINGENT PROVISIONS. Paris, March 19. The military, naval and aerial terms, as finally adopted, provide: — Within two months of the signature the German military forces must be demobilised to the extent prescribed. The total effectiveness must never exceed 100,000, including 4000 oflicers and the troops in depots. The army must be exclusively devoted to the maintenance of order within Germany and the control of her frontiers. No army staff is permitted and the General Staff must be dissolved and not reconstituted in any form. Officers, and persons in the position of officers in the War Department and Ministers, are not to exceed 300 and the civilian army administrative personnel is not to exceed onetenth of that prescribed in the 1913 Budget. Munitions must be stored at points notified to the Allies. The German Government is forbidden to establish any other stocks, depots or reserves of ammunition. The maximum stores alrounds for each gun of 10.6 centimetre many is allowed to retain will be 2500 rounds for eaih gun of 10.6 centimetre and less, and 500 rounds for the heavier guns. The manufacture of war material is restricted to factories notified to the Allies; all other war factories, arsenals and depots must be closed and their personnel dismissed within two months of signature. Superfluous munitions and war plants will be surrendered. The importation arid exportation of war material is prohibited. The use of asphyxiating poisonous gases and analogous liquids and devices and armored cars is prohibited, also their manufacture and exportation. , Within three months of signature fortified works within fifty miles of the Rhine most, be dismantled and the construction of new fortifications in the zone ia strictly forbidden. Fortified works on the southern and eastern frontiers may be maintained in their existing state. This clause is designated to safeguard against a possible Bolshevik invasion. ,

Tables set out the numbers allowed to each establishment. Corps utaffs are restricted to 30 officers and 150 men, each divisional headquarters to 25 officers and 70 men. The total of a division is to be 410 officers and 10,730 men and a cavalry division 275 officers and 5250 men.

The total number of rifles allowed is 84,000, carbines 18,000, heavy machineguns 792, light machine-guns 1134, trench mortars 252, field guns 168, howitzers 84. Four hundred rounds are allowed each rifle, 8000 for each machine-gun, 1000 for each field gun, 800 for each howitzer.

All submarines, salvage vessels, docks and the Kiel tubular dock are to be handed to the Allies. Their ultimate fate is reserved. Materials gained from breaking up warships must be used for commercial purposes, not exported. The construction of new warships is forbidden, except for replacements. These must not/ exceed 10,000 tons for armoured cruisers and 6000 tons for cruisers. Units must be replaced only every 20 years. The acquisition of submarines is forbidden. Only a fixed scale of munitions is permitted on board warships or stored.

Germany must sweep specified areas and keep them free from mines. The naval personnel must be recruited voluntarily for a period of 25 years for officers and 12 years for men. Tlie discharged personnel must not receive military or naval training. Mercantile officers and men are not permitted to undergo training in any shape. The Heligoland fdrtifications and establishment must be destroyed at German expense, with German labor. At President Wilson's suggestion, for humanitarian reasons, the question of the destruction of the Heligoland harbor was reserved, in view of fishermen's needs.

The terms provide that after two months the German warships in commission must not exceed six battleships, six light cruisers, twelve destroyers and twelve torpedoers, or than an equal number may he constructed to replace them. No submarines will be permitted. All other warships must be placed in reserve or devoted to commerce. Germany must assist in mine-sweep-ing. The total personnel of the naval forces must not exceed 15,000, and the officers must not exceed 1500. All German warships not in German ports cease to be German property. Germany must undertake the destruction of all warships now under construe ton. Auxiliary cruisers and fleet auxiliaries must be disarmed and converted into merchantmen. Certain coastal works must be destroyed and fortifications interfering with the free passage of the Baltic are forbidden. The Kiel Canal must be dismantled. Its ultimate fate is reserved. Wireless telegraphic stations must be' strictly restricted to commercial purposes. The air clauses provide that Germany's armed forces must not include any air forces, aeroplanes, or dirigibles, except a few hydroplanes for use in minesweeping. Within two months the air personnel must be reduced to 1000 officers and,men, including all flying and non-flying formations. No aerodrome must be maintained within 150 kilometres of the Rhine or the eastern and southern frontiers. Sheds there must be dismantled and the ground ploughed. The- manufacture of aeroplanes and dirigibles is forbidden until the final treaty is signed. .All existing material must be handed to the Allies. Ths remaining clauses provide for in-ter-Allied commissions charged with carrying out the terms, which will be done at Germany's expense.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST DELAYS. London, March 14. There is 9 growing chorus of criticism at the so-called dilatoriness at the Peace Conference. Many newspapers complain of the delays of last week. It is asserted that, the revolution in Hungary proves the need of expediting the peace. The question of indemnities will be formally raised in the House of Commons this week, because a section of Unionist members is dissatisfied with the Government's pronouncements.— Aus.-J/.Z. Cable Assn.