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78 The armistice bears the signatures of Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch of the French Army and Admiral Sir R. E. Wemyss of the British Navy on the one side, and on the other Mathias Erzberger, Count Alfred von Oberndorff, General H. K. A. Winterfeldt and Naval Captain von Salow. Admiral Sims was present unofficially at the first meeting.

The German plenipotentiaries, coming from La Capelle, arrived at the French front at nine o'clock of November 7, and their automobiles with the curtains drawn were escorted to the Châuteau-Francfort, where the delegation spent the night. Next morning they were taken to Rethondes in the forest of Compiègne, where Foch awaited them in his special train. The leader of the delegation, Dr. Erzberger, speaking in French, announced that the German Government had been advised by President Wilson that Marshal Foch was qualified to communicate the Allies' conditions. The Marshal then read the terms slowly in a loud voice. Erzberger asked to be allowed to send the terms by courier to Spa, and that until a reply was received hostilities be suspended in the interests of humanity. Foch granted the former request but refused the latter.

The courier on his return was delayed by the continuation of the bombardment and did not reach the German Headquarters at Spa until ten