The New York Times/1918/11/11/War Ends at 6 O'Clock This Morning
WAR ENDS AT 6 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING
The State Department in Washington Made the Announcement at 2:45 o'Clock.
ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED IN FRANCE AT MIDNIGHT
Terms Include Withdrawal from Alsace-Lorraine, Disarming and Demobilization of Army and Navy, and Occupation of Strategic Naval and Military Points.
By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Monday, Nov. 11, 2:45 A.M.—The armistice between Germany, on the one hand, and the allied Governments and the United States, on the other, has been signed.
The State Department announced at 2:45 o'clock this morning that Germany had signed.
The department's announcement simply said: "The armistice has been signed."
The world war will end this morning at 6 o'clock, Washington time, 11 o'clock Paris time.
The armistice was signed by the German representatives at midnight.
This announcement was made by the State Department at 2:50 o'clock this morning.
The announcement was made verbally by an official of the State Department in this form:
"The armistice has been signed. It was signed at 5 o'clock A.M., Paris time, [midnight, New York time,] and hostilities will cease at 11 o'clock this morning, Paris time, [6 o'clock, New York time.]
The terms of the armistice, it was announced, will not be made public until later. Military men here, however, regard it as certain that they will include:
Immediate retirement of the German military forces from France, Belgium, and Alsace-Lorraine.
Disarming and demobilization of the German armies.
Occupation by the allied and American forces of such strategic points in Germany as will make impossible a renewal of hostilities.
Delivery of part of the German High Seas Fleet and a certain number of submarines to the allied and American naval forces.
Disarmament of all other German warships
under supervision of the allied and American Navies, which will guard them.
Occupation of the principal German naval bases by sea forces of the victorious nations.
Release of allied and American soldiers, sailors, and civilians held prisoners in Germany without such reciprocal action by the associated Governments.
There was no information as to the circumstances under which the armistice was signed, but since the German courier did not reach German military headquarters until 10 o'clock yesterday morning, French time, it was generally assumed here that the German envoys within the French lines had been instructed by wireless to sign the terms.
Forty-seven hours had been required for the courier to reach the German headquarters, and unquestionable several hours were necessary for the examination of the terms and a decision.
It was regarded as possible, however, that the decision may have been made at Berlin and instructions transmitted from there by the new German Government.
Germany had until 11 o'clock this morning, French time, (6 o'clock, Washington time,) to accept. So hostilities will end at the hour set by Marshal Foch for a decision by Germany for peace or for continuation of the war.
The momentous news that the armistice had been signed was telephoned to the White House for transmission to the President a few minutes before it was given to the newspaper correspondents.
Later it was said that there would be no statement from the White House at this time.