June 1919

Germany wavers, the accepts peace terms

June 6

U.S. And Britain Support Some Hun Proposals

While it would be too much to say that the Allied diplomatic front has been broken by the German counterproposals to the proposed peace treaty terms, the fact is the Germans are stronger than at any time since the armistice, several of their counterproposals having won support from both American and British delegations.

Four main features characterize the German answer to the Allied peace terms. The first is on the demand that reparations be fixed definitively at 35 billion dollars which is precisely the sum originally figured out in advance by British and American experts.

The second is for a plebiscite for Silesia, which the Germans say was never Polish, and should not be awarded to Poland. The third point is to protest against sovereignty other than German over the Saar Valley, and the fourth for immediate admission of Germany to the League of Nations.

When the Germans are handed the Allied reply to their counterproposals they will be informed that the discussion has been finally closed and will be given no less than three or more than five days in which to accept or reject the conditions. If Germany refuses to sign the treaty, Allied forces are prepared to resume their march into the interior of Germany.

June 13

French Against Reducing Demands On Huns

Little progress was made this week by the peace council to formulate the reply to the Germans’ counterproposals. The French and the English were as far apart at the close of the week as they were at the opening. The French are steadfast in refusing to reduce any of their initial demands on the Germans.

It has been pointed out to both the French and English delegates that virtually as much time has been taken by the Allies in preparing an answer to the German counterproposals as was allowed the Germans to consider the treaty after its presentation, and it has been urged upon them to affect an agreement as soon as possible.

There was general movement, however, to accept Germany’s counterproposal to be admitted to the League of Nations in order to avoid the possibility of the formation of another group composed of rival powers that would embrace Germany, Russia and the old Teutonic groups.

Evidence has reached the conference leaders of late that the influences at work in Germany and Russia to establish relations as a basis for combination of powers not in the League is actively underway. While not regarded as immediate, it was felt that the danger of such a combination would always be present while Germany was outside the League and admission to Germany, therefore, was recommended as a means of subjecting her to the same obligations as the Allies under the League of Nations. One Allied diplomat stated: "We can deal with Germany better when inside than outside of the League. Outside she would be able to go her own way, inside she must conform to the same obligations as the Allies."

Allies Ready To Help White Russians

The five great Powers have informed the head of the All-Russian government that the Allies stand by their offer to furnish supplies and munitions to their army to help crush Bolshevism and restore peace in the nation.

Admiral Koichak, head of the All-Russian government, commonly referred to as White Russians, declared that he did not propose to retain power longer than required by the interest of the country. He affirmed his intention to call elections for a constitutional assembly as soon as the Bolsheviks had been crushed.

According to the Admiral’s reply, "the government over which I preside has been happy to learn that the policy of the Allied and associated powers in regard to Russia is in perfect accordance with the task which the All-Russian government itself has undertaken, the government has been anxious above all things to reestablish peace in the country and to assure the Russian people the right to decide their own destiny in freedom by means of a constitutional assembly."

"All my efforts are aimed at concluding the civil war as soon as possible by crushing Bolshevism, in order to put the Russian people in a position to express its free will. Any prolongation of the struggle would only postpone that moment. The government, however, does not consider itself authorized to substitute for the inalienable rights of free and legal elections. It is through the legal elections alone which my government will do its utmost to invoke properly."

"We are in agreement with the creation of a new Polish state and are disposed to the recognition of the de facto government of Finland as an independent nation as well. We are also fully disposed to recognize the establishment of states for the nationalities of the Latvians, Lithuanians, Esthonians, as well as the nationalities that occupy the Caucasus and who have a right to self-government."

June 20

German Government Falls

The German government has fallen. News of the event was confirmed by military advances. The downfall of the German government was made known to the American delegation to the Peace Conference.

It is believed to assure the signing of the peace treaty by Germany, the Premier, who was understood to be the chief opponent to the peace terms, agreed to step down following a vote in the German National Assembly, whereby four-fifths majority, members voted in favor of signing the treaty of peace. It is believed that the National Assembly, which is responsible for forming a new government, is favorable to the signing of the treaty.

Following the fall of the government, the Germans asked for a further extension of the time limit with which to act on the peace treaty. The fall of the German cabinet was not expected by officials here, who said that they had information that a coalition cabinet of Socialists and Independent Socialists was to be formed, who would take responsibility for accepting the terms of the peace treaty.

The German Government fell the day after the new Allied peace terms were delivered to the German Cabinet. The initial German response was that of depression. No one will talk for publication, but every official and every member of the Foreign Office available expressed the deepest pessimism and resentment at the alleged cruelty of the terms.

Commenting on the Allies’ reply to the German counterproposals, the Frankfort Gazette said: "Whatever we do will be terrible. Germany is in no position to refuse to sign the treaty. Let us resign ourselves to the inevitable and hope for a better future."

In concluding a violent denunciation of the treatment given Germany by the Allies the paper continued: "If the Allies’ note describe the war as the greatest crime against humanity, it is certain there is yet another and greater crime against humanity-that is the so-called peace, which we predict, will lead to a second, and much more violent and deadly world war once Germany regains its footing."

While the Allies have not granted all the concessions the Germans have suggested, they may have gone far enough to make it possible for the Germans to climb down gracefully and accept such concessions as they have obtained.

It is thought that concessions on the first two points are sufficient to permit the Germans to swallow these sections of the treaty, though with a wry face, and that the grand of a plebiscite in Silesia, but not in West Prussia or Danzig, may ultimately be scoped on the principles of half a loaf is better than no bread.

Prior to the fall of the German government, a canvas of official quarters qualified to speak for the old government stated bluntly, that unless the revised proposals of the Allied nations contain the radical modifications in spirit and letter, Germany would not sign a peace treaty.

Armies To March, Blockade At Once, If Huns Declined

If the German reply to the revised peace terms is in the negative, the Allied armies will start to march into Germany the following day, and a new blockade will begin immediately. If the Germans expressed their willingness to sign the document, the ceremony will probably take place Monday in the hall of mirrors at Versailles.

The majority of the members of the Peace Conference believe that Germany will not sign the peace treaty, but instead, peace would have to be imposed by force upon Germany, and orders will have been given to the Allied force of 600,000 men supported with heavy artillery to begin their advance on the morning of June 24. Once the troops begin to move, it is believed that the German government would then decide to sign the treaty.

The German armies, without airplanes, without material and without food supplies, would be unable to make any efficient resistance. The Belgians are within a day’s march of Essen, and the British would move forward and occupy the mining regions. The American Army would occupy Frankfurt, and the French would move into the interior of Germany.

Divisions of the U. S. Third Army, after being away from the battlefield and war scenes for seven months, have again been plunged into the stirring activities which generally precede the actual thunder of war. An army, un-perturbed by the work of the Peace Conference and thinking much at home, has suddenly been galvanized into the life of soldiers known before the armistice and endowed with renewed vigor. It is today moving forward towards the edge of the great semicircle, which marks the dividing line between the occupied areas and the neutral sections of Germany.

This was a most stirring day at the Third Army’s headquarters and among the First and Second Divisions holding the east bank of the Rhine since the Americans moved in, about six months ago. Late yesterday orders were flashed from headquarters ordering them to prepare to march into the zone of concentration. Within a short time the orders were transmitted to officers commanding companies and soon not commissioned officers were routing their superiors out of their billets and clubs and relaying their orders that had come from Marshall Foch.

While the civilians in the small towns looked upon the military activities with little concern, the soldiers rushed to finish their packing and to find their helmets, rifles and gas masks, which have been issued previously.

The Second Division was the first to move, getting underway early. All day clouds of dust followed the movement of the tractors and guns of the 17th Field Artillery, which moved out to the edge of the bridgehead, where they faced east towards Berlin.

Tonight, the American soldiers are sleeping beneath the sky and the open fields while the country is dotted with smoldering fires, which the soldiers’ hurried suppers have been prepared upon. With the infantry or engineers were sanitary trains and signal Corpsmen, who strung wires as they went ahead. Even observation balloons moved up to get a better peek into Germany if the Allied peace terms are not accepted. Officers said the "Doughboys wanted Germany to sign and after that, to go home, but, if the Germans did not sign – look out Germany."

The latest confidential reports from the German Peace delegates in Versailles are definitively more optimistic regarding the chances of the German signature on the treaty. The leading German statesmen have abandoned earlier attitude of uncompromising refusal to sign the terms unless radically altered, and are no longer saying: "We won’t sign unless ---", but a far milder and more reasonable: "we will sign if ---"

June 27

Huns Sink Interned Warships

German officers and sailors, forming the complements of the German ships interned at Scapa Flow, sank most of their fleet Sunday morning. All the big ships, the battleships and the battle cruisers and numerous smaller crafts were sunk.

The wholesale sinking of the German ships, which were surrendered under the terms of the armistice, was carefully arranged by officers and crews. All explosives had been removed, and therefore, the only means of destroying the fleet was by the opening of the seacocks. The ships went down slowly, with a German flag, which the crews hoisted, showing at the masthead.

There were from 150 to 200 men on the big ships and from 10 to 20 onboard destroyers. The crews, composed entirely of Germans, under the terms of the armistice, which did not permit British guards aboard, took to the boats when the vessels began to settle. While making for the shore, the boats were challenged and called upon to surrender. Some of them ignored the summons and were fired upon.

The sinking of the German ships apparently was an entire surprise and the first news reaching London through a correspondent who was informed by farmers in the neighborhood that they had seen the Germans’ ship sinking, with their flags aloft.

When the German High Seas Fleet surrendered last November and was taken to Scapa Flow, it was comprised of nine battleships, five battle cruisers, seven light cruisers and 50 destroyers. As far as is known, all those ships are still in Scapa Flow, albeit now on the bottom of the Flow.

Admiral Von Reuter, Commander of the surrendered German fleet, says he issued the order to sink the ships, and did so because at the beginning of the war the German Emperor directed that no German warship should fall into the enemy’s hands. He says he believed from newspaper reports that the armistice had ended and fully expected British sailors to attempt to take the ships.

The Admiral had visited Germany some weeks ago and it is believed that at that time he circulated the order to sink the German ships. He evaded the censorship by making signals to the various vessels, an act which the close proximity of the German ships made quite easy.

From the behavior of the ships, it was evident that seacocks have been opened and in a surprisingly short time, the vessels, big and small, began to settle down. Every effort was made by the British naval craft to beach the sinking ships, and in the case of the destroyers, considerable success was achieved. By one o’clock in the afternoon, however, where an hour before had been a stately fleet riding calmly at anchor, was an array of reeling, rocking battleships, the doom of which was written in their movements.

Germany Signs Peace Terms Unconditionally

On Monday, the new German government in Weimar formally communicated its willingness to sign the peace terms unconditionally. The Germans had initially requested a 48-hour extension to offer counterproposals, but when that request was rejected by the Allies, the Germans formally notified the Allies of their willingness to accept the terms of peace.

The signing of the peace treaty formally brings to a close the world’s greatest work. Although technical termination of the war will come to each nation only when the treaty is approved by the ratifying power of that nation, to all intents and purposes the conflict that began in August, 1914, ended in the historical Hall of Mirrors with the accredited peace commissioners of the Allied and associated powers and of Germany fixing their signatures to the treaty. Likewise, it brought to an end the armistice granted Germany last November and ends the period of uncertainty and doubt to the final outcome of the peace.

The epochal meeting in a Hall of Mirrors began at 3:10 as the German delegates, the first to sign, affixed their signatures. They were followed by the American delegates, headed by President Wilson and then by the representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan. The representatives of the minor powers signed in alphabetical order.

At 3:44 cannons began to boom announcing the completion of the ceremony of signing. The signatures had not, however, as a matter of fact been completed, for at that time the smaller nations are still signing in alphabetical order. The proceedings were formerly closed at 3:49.

All eyes now turn to the negotiations that will take place over the next few weeks between the Allies and Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Hungary. Only when treaties of peace are formalized with those nations will the great war formally be over.

As word of the signing of the peace treaty with Germany was received in Washington, Sen. Borsh of Idaho remarked that the harshness of the terms of the treaty did nothing more than "guarantee of the future, a more deadly second world war."

Read past editions of News Reports From the Front