The Little River News

PEACE HAS BEEN SIGNED:
NO CEREMONY MARKS
EPOCH-MAKING EVENT

General Smuts Announces He Is Affixing Signature Under Protest; 39 Minutes Are Required.

Teutons Are Downcast and Display Much Nervousness

Paris, June 28.--In the Hall of Mirrors, in the Palace of Versailles, where the German empire was born 48 years ago, Dr. Herman Müller and Dr. Johannes Bell, as plenipotentiaries of the German government, today affixed their signatures to the treaty of peace which puts an end forever to German dreams of world power.

The ceremony which marked the end of war and the dawn of peace consumed exactly 39 minutes. Its conclusion was announced by Premier Clemenceau in the terse statement: "The conditions of peace are now an accomplished fact; the proceedings are closed."

After Five Years.

Thus was ended the world conflagration which began just five years ago today with the assassination of the Austrian crown prince at Sarajevo and which entailed the downfall of 4 empires and a score of minor kingdoms and principalities.

Two years and two days ago, on June 26, 1917, the first American expeditionary force arrived in France. Tonight, Woodrow Wilson, president of the United States, having affixed his signature to the document which seals the peace made possible by the aid of American arms, left Paris for Brest on his way back to Washington and received the most enthusiastic ovation he has been accorded since his arrival in Europe. It was France's parting tribute to the man who showed the world the way to peace.

The charter of world peace was signed by all delegates to the peace conference with the exception of the Chinese who were absent from ceremony because they had been refused permission to make certain reservations regarding the Japanese occupation of Shantung.

General Jan Christian Smuts, member of the delegation from the Union of Africa, signed under protest. He declared his objections to certain territorial settlements and the proposal for trial of the kaiser and others responsible for the war. He also suggested that the indemnities levied on Germany were excessive and should be moderated in order to facilitate the revival of industry in Europe.

Germans Are Downcast.

The Germans were the first to sign and were followed by the Americans, British, French, Italian and Japanese in order named. Then came the smaller nations. The Germans who had entered the hall with downcast mien, and who were extremely nervous throughout the ceremony, were the first to leave. This was in line with the program.

There was no demonstration during the ceremony, but at its conclusion salvos of guns boomed the news that Mars had been deposed and peace enthroned.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon the sky had been overcast with heavy clouds, but with the sounds of the first gun, the sun, breaking through the curtain of clouds, bathed the palace and grounds in a flood of light, tinting the waters of the great fountains, now turned on for their first time in five years, with all the colors of the rainbow.

Delegates Display Emotion.

Although the ceremony in the beautiful and historic Hall of Mirrors was formal and impressive, several of the delegates betrayed evidence of deep emotion and were visibly affected when it was over.

President Wilson sat turning his gold pencil through his fingers when the delegates stepped forward to sign. His face was possibly whiter and more deeply lined than usual.