R. P. P. Rowe

“ But France shall have no liability for German debt in respect of Alsace-Lorraine.
The value of German Government property in ceded territory will normally be credited to Germany on account of reparation; but no credit will be given for any German Government property in Alsace-Lorraine; nor will Mandatory Powers either assume any portion of Germany's pre-war debts or give any credits for German Government property.
Germany is required to pay the total cost of the Armies of Occupation from the date of the Armistice for so long as they are [304] maintained on German territory. ”

“ Germany is prohibited from manufacturing armaments and munitions for foreign countries and from importing them from abroad. Germany must not maintain or construct any fortifications situated on German territory less than fifty kilometres east of the Rhine, and in the above area no armed forces either permanent or temporary may be maintained. The status quo is to be reserved in respect of the fortifications on the original southern and eastern frontiers of the German Empire. No military manœuvres may be held nor any permanent works kept for the purposes of helping mobilisation. ”

“ All German troops at present in any territory which before the war formed part of Austria-Hungary, Roumania, or Turkey, shall withdraw within the frontiers of Germany as they existed on August 1, 1914, and all German troops at present in territories which before the war formed part of Russia must likewise return to within the frontiers of Germany as above defined, as soon as the Allies shall think the moment suitable, having regard to the internal situation of these territories. ”

“ Material arising from the breaking-up of German warships may not be used except for industrial purposes, and may not be sold to foreign countries. Except under specified conditions for replacement, Germany is forbidden to construct or acquire any warships, and the construction or acquisition of any submarines whatever is prohibited. Vessels of war are only to have a fixed allowance of arms, munitions, and war material. All excess of arms, munitions and war material is to be surrendered, and no stocks or reserves are allowed. ”

“ There is fierce fighting on the Messines Ridge, where the British 9th Division repulses strong enemy attacks; below Armentières the Germans rapidly deepen and widen the salient they have created; they capture Armentières and Merville, and force back the British to a line behind Ploegsteert, Steenwerck, and Estaires; German attacks on the lines covering Béthune are repulsed with heavy loss; the Germans claim 20,000 prisoners and over 200 guns in this battle to date. ”

“ The Royal Government also agree to remove from military service all such persons as the judicial inquiry may have proved to be guilty of acts directed against the integrity of the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and they expect the Imperial and Royal Government to communicate to them at a later date the names and the acts of these officers and officials for the purpose of the proceedings which are to be taken against them. ”

“ The Battle of the Masurian Lakes (see Sept. 6) ends in the defeat and further retreat of the Russians: East Prussia is cleared of the invader.
Sept. 13 (Sun.)
The Battle of the Aisne begins (see Sept. 28) ; the British force the passage of the river. Soissons and Amiens are reoccupied by the French.
Galicia:—The Battle of Grodek (see Sept. 6) ends in a complete Russian victory.
The German light cruiser Hela is sunk off Heligoland by the British submarine E9 (the first successful submarine attack by the British) . ”

“ MILITARY CONVENTION REGULATING THE CONDITIONS OF THE SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE ALLIED POWERS AND BULGARIA, WHICH CAME INTO FORCE AT 12.00 HOURS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1918.
1. Immediate evacuation, in accordance with a scheme to be evolved, of all the occupied territories in Greece and Serbia. From this territory neither cattle, grain, nor supplies of any sort will be removed. No damage will be caused upon evacuation. The Bulgarian authorities will continue to administer those parts of Bulgaria actually in the occupation of the Allies. ”

“ The Bulgarian troops which are now west of the longitude of Uskub, and belong to the XIth German Army, will lay down their arms and will be considered until further orders as prisoners of war. Officers will retain their arms.
6. The employment until the conclusion of peace of Bulgarian prisoners of war in the East without the reciprocal rights as regards prisoners of war belonging to the Allied forces. These latter will be handed over without delay to the Allied authorities and deported civilians will be absolutely free to return to their homes. ”

“ The Royal Government are all the less responsible, in view of the fact that at the time of the solution of a series of questions which arose between Serbia and Austria-Hungary they gave proof of a great readiness to oblige, and thus succeeded in settling the majority of these questions to the advantage of the two neighbouring countries. ”

“ The great majority of places which the war has brought into prominence are villages so small that they are marked only in maps of an exceptionally large scale. What is required, therefore, for adequate study of the topography of the war, is either a moderate number of maps of great size or a far larger and confusing number less bulky but each covering only a small area. ”

“ Total demobilisation of the Austro-Hungarian Army and immediate withdrawal of all Austro-Hungarian forces operating on the front from the North Sea to Switzerland. Within Austro-Hungarian territory, limited as in Clause 3 below, there shall only be maintained as an organised military force a maximum of twenty divisions, reduced to pre-war peace effectives. ”

“ Surplus war academies, and schools for officers, cadets, etc., are to be suppressed, and the number of students admitted to the schools retained for the recruitment of officers is to be limited to the vacancies occurring in the establishments provided. The production of armaments, munitions, and material of war in Germany is limited to a schedule, based on the amount considered necessary for an army on the scale decided upon. ”

“ No reserves may be formed, and all existing armaments, guns, and stores above the limit fixed must be handed over to the Allies for disposal. No poisonous gas or liquid fire shall be manufactured or imported, nor any tanks nor armoured cars. The Germans are obliged to notify to the Allies for approval the names and situation of all factories manufacturing munitions, together with particulars of their output. The German Government arsenals are to be suppressed and their personnel dismissed. Munitions for use in fortified works will be limited to 1500 rounds apiece for guns of 10·5 cm. ”

“ The peace treaties concluded by the German Government are adopted by the German Reichstag.
The British fall back on new positions west and south-west of St. Quentin, 15 miles in rear of those held at the beginning of the offensive; the French enter the battle at Noyon, on the right of the British; the Germans claim 25,000 prisoners and 400 guns to date. ”

“ The German Government recognises the right of the Allied Powers to bring before military tribunals persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and customs of war and agrees to hand over such persons. ”

“ The Council (with a permanent Secretariat) shall consist of the five Great Allied Powers (the U.S.A., Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) and four other Members selected by the Assembly. Until such election take place the four additional Members of the Council shall be Belgium, Brazil, Spain, and Greece. Each Member of the Council shall have one vote and one representative. ”

“ The British transport Ballarat, carrying Australian troops, is torpedoed and sunk, but all hands are saved.
Ramsgate is shelled by German destroyers (5 casualties) .
April 28 (Sat.)
The United States Congress passes by large majorities a Bill for raising an American army by compulsory service.
The British advance east of the Vimy Ridge and astride the Scarpe: Arleux is captured.
The French offensive on the Aisne is checked.
April 29 (Sun.)
The British approach the Oppy line; they capture a mile of German trenches and 976 prisoners; fierce German counter-attacks are repulsed. ”

“ The Goeben and the Breslau make a sortie from the Dardanelles and are engaged by British naval forces: the Breslau is sunk by a mine; the Goeben also strikes a mine but escapes into the Straits, where she runs aground at Nagara Point; here she is attacked by British aeroplanes; H.M.S. Raglan (monitor) and a smaller British monitor (M28) are also sunk in the engagement.
[186]
The British armed boarding-steamer Louvain is sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean (224 lives lost) .
Two German destroyers are sunk by mines in the North Sea. ”

“ The Belgians repulse German attacks near Bixschoote and capture 700 prisoners.
The British withdraw from Wytschaete and lose Météren; a German attack on Kemmel Hill is completely repulsed by the British; French reinforcements enter the battle along the ridge south-west of Ypres. ”

“ Serbia has several times given proofs of her pacific and moderate policy during the Balkan crisis, and it is thanks to Serbia and to the sacrifice that she has made in the exclusive interest of European peace that that peace has been preserved. The Royal Government cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the Press and the peaceable [261] work of societies—manifestations which take place in nearly all countries in the ordinary course of events, and which, as a general rule, escape official control. ”

“ The turning-point which leads to complete victory: the French counter-attack on a front of 35 miles between Belleau (5 miles north-west of Château-Thierry) and Vingres (north-west of Soissons) ; on the left, under General Mangin, they reach the Mont de Paris, near Soissons; in the valley of the Crise, they advance to a depth of 8 miles and capture 5000 prisoners and 30 guns. Further south they attack in co-operation with American troops, [216] advance to a depth of 5 miles, and regain more than 20 villages; east of Rheims the French under General Gouraud recapture Prunay. ”

“ A raid by British seaplanes, convoyed by light cruisers and destroyers, on German airship sheds in Schleswig-Holstein: the British destroyer Medusa is lost by collision, and two German patrol boats are sunk in the naval action which develops. ”

“ The Allied and Associated Powers agree to repatriate German prisoners and interned civilians without delay after the coming in force of the present Treaty; the whole cost of repatriation to be borne by the German Government. ”

“ The Turkish portions of the present Ottoman Empire should be assured a secure sovereignty, but the other nationalities which are now under Turkish rule should be assured an undoubted security of life and an absolutely unmolested opportunity of autonomous development, and the Dardanelles should be permanently opened as a free passage to the ships and commerce of all nations under international guarantees. ”

“ Personnel.—The French and Belgian personnel belonging to the services of the lines of communication, whether interned or not, are to be returned to the French and Belgian Armies, during the fifteen days following the signing of the Armistice. The personnel belonging to the organisation of the Alsace-Lorraine railway system are to be maintained or reinstated in such a manner as to ensure the working of the system. ”

“ President Wilson asks Congress for a declaration that 'a state of war exists.'
The British take Holnon Wood (two miles [136] from St. Quentin) and Francilly-Selency and Selency; they also advance on a ten-mile front between Bapaume and Arras and capture Croissilles and Doignies.
The American armed liner Aztec is torpedoed off the French coast.
April 3 (Tues.)
The British gain ground south-east of Arras; the French advance between St. Quentin and La Fère.
The Germans defeat the Russians on the Stokhod; they win a bridge-head and take many prisoners. ”