CHAPTER XXVI
THE END APPROACHES
With the coming of November, it became apparent to every officer and manin the Grand Fleet--as well as the rest of the world--that the beginningof the end was at hand--that the German war machine was disintegrating andwas about to break.
This was strengthened by the announcement on November 2 that the precedingday England, France and Italy had concluded an armistice with Turkey, thusdepriving Germany of her second ally. This left only Germany and Austriato continue the struggle, and upon the same day that the armistice withTurkey was announced came word that Austria also had made overtures forpeace.
"You can take it from me," said Jack, as the destroyer Essex continued herpatrol of the North Sea, "that this war is about to end. I'm willing tobet that Germany will sue for peace within a couple of weeks."
Frank expressed his doubts.
"She's likely to continue the struggle for some time yet," he said.
"But that would be foolish," declared Jack. "She can hope to gain nothingthereby."
"Perhaps not. But if Germany sues for peace now there is likely to be suchan internal upheaval in the Empire that the French revolution will looklike a house party."
"Maybe you're right, but I stick to my opinion nevertheless."
Events proved that Jack was right.
On the morning of November 5, word reached the Grand Fleet that anarmistice had been concluded with Austria the day before.
"As I expected," said Jack. "What did I tell you, Frank?"
"Well, I anticipated that myself," said Frank. "But Germany hasn't askedfor peace yet, you know."
"True, but I can tell you something you don't know. I just got word thismorning."
"What's that?"
"Why Germany, through Chancellor Ebert, already is in negotiations withPresident Wilson."
"What?"
"Exactly. President Wilson has replied that he will stick to his originalprinciples of peace, announced some time ago. Germany is requested toannounce whether she will accept such terms."
"But it seems to me," said Frank, "that if Germany wants peace she shouldbe made to ask it on the field of battle."
And that is exactly what happened, for when the armistice negotiationswere finally begun it was at a conference between Marshal Foch,commander-in-chief of all the allied forces, and a commission of Germanofficers.
It was on November 8, that news of the armistice conference was flashed tothe Grand Fleet.
"Armistice commission will meet November 10 at Hirson, France," read themessage, flashed to every vessel in the fleet.
All that day and the next, every man in the fleet waited anxiously forfurther word of the approaching armistice conference. None came. Neitherhad any word been received on the evening of November 10.
"Must have been a hitch some place," said Frank, as they sat in thelatter's cabin that night.
"Not necessarily," replied Jack, "You know these things take time. Amatter like this can't be fixed up in an hour, or a day."
"Well," said Frank, "I'd like to know what terms Marshal Foch will imposeon the foe."
"They'll be stringent enough, don't you worry," said Jack. "He'll imposeterms harsh enough to make sure that Germany doesn't renew the strugglewhile final peace negotiations are in progress."
"I hope so. But I'll tell you one thing I hope he does."
"What's that?" Jack wanted to know.
"I hope he insists on the surrender of the whole German fleet."
"Whew!" exclaimed Jack. "You don't want much, do you?"
"Well, he should insist on it," declared Frank.
"But he probably won't," returned Jack. "I figure, however that he willinsist that a large share of the ships be turned over to the allies,including their most powerful submarines and battleships and cruisers. Butyou can't expect them to give up the whole business, particularly when theentire High Seas Fleet is practically intact."
"Maybe not; but I'm for taking all we can get."
"So am I," Jack agreed, "all that we can get without danger of causing ahitch in the armistice proceedings."
"Seems to me," said Frank, "that by this time we should have had some wordof the proceedings at Hirson to-day."
"It would seem so, that's a fact. However, I guess we will get theinformation all in good time."
"That's all right. But I'm anxious to know what's going on."
"Well, we won't know to-night; so I am in favor of turning in."
"Guess we may as well."
But early the next morning, an account of the first day's proceedings ofthe armistice delegates was flashed to the fleet. This, however, did notbring much jubilation, for the announcement simply said that the Germandelegates had refused the terms offered by Marshal Foch and had returnedto their own lines for further instructions.
"Told you so!" exclaimed Frank. "This war is not over yet."
"Don't you believe it," declared Jack. "These Germans may do a littlebluffing--I'd probably try the same thing under similar conditions--butyou mark my words, they'll accept the terms, all right."
"The conference is to be resumed some time this afternoon," said Frank."That means that we will hear nothing before morning."
"It depends," said Jack. "If the armistice is signed to-day, we'llprobably get the word immediately; but if it stretches out for a day ortwo, we probably won't"
"I guess that's about the size of it," Frank admitted.
All during the day excitement aboard the Essex, and all other vesselspatrolling the North Sea, for that matter, was at fever heat. While everyman knew that there was little likelihood of receiving news until longafter dark, each one nevertheless lived in hopes.
Nevertheless, patrol work was still being done carefully. It had become anaxiom of a British sailor that a German was not to be trusted--that whenhe appeared the least dangerous, it was time to watch him more carefully.Consequently, in spite of the impending armistice, the vigilance of theBritish fleet was not relaxed.
Six o'clock came, and seven; and still there had been no word from thescene of the armistice conference. At eight o'clock Frank said:
"I don't know what we are sitting up for. Something must have gone wrongagain. If the armistice had been signed we would know something of it bythis time."
"Hold your horses," said Jack. "I'm just as anxious as you are, but thereis no use getting excited about it."
"Well," said Frank, "if we haven't heard something by nine o'clock, I'mgoing to turn in."
But at nine o'clock no word had been received.
"I know we shall hear nothing to-night," said Frank, rising, "so I'm goingto tumble into my bunk."
"Help yourself," said Jack, looking up from a book he was reading. "I'llwait a little longer."
Frank retired to his own cabin and was soon asleep. At ten o'clock, noword having been received, Jack put down his book and rose.
"Frank may be right," he told himself. "At all events, I may as well turnin. My remaining up won't alter the facts, whatever they are."
He undressed, extinguished the light in his cabin and climbed into bed.
Aboard practically every ship in the fleet, almost the same scenes wereenacted that night. Officers and men alike remained up for hours, awaitingpossible word that the armistice had been signed. But at midnight no wordhad been received, and while the big ships moved about their patrol work,the men slept--those of them who had no duties to perform at that hour.Only the officers and members of the crew watch, and the night radiooperators, remained awake.
To Jack it seemed that he had just closed his eyes when he was aroused bythe sound of the Essex's signal whistle. It screeched and screeched. Jackleaped from his bunk and scrambled into his clothes.
"Something wrong," he muttered. "Wonder why they didn't call me?"
He hurried on deck.
Frank, in his cabin, also had been aroused by the noise. He, too, spranginto his clothes and hurried on deck.
There the first thing that his
eyes encountered was a circle of figures,with hands joined, dancing about the bridge and yelling at the top oftheir voices. Among them was Jack, who, for the moment, seemed to haveforgotten the dignity that went with his command. Also, the shrill signalwhistle continued to give long, sharp blasts. Frank looked at Jack in pureamazement.
"Must have gone crazy," he muttered.
He hurried to the bridge and standing behind the dancing figures, caughtJack by the coat as he whirled by.
"I say," he demanded. "What's the meaning of this? Have you gone mad?"
Jack stopped and broke away from the circle which danced on without him.
"Almost," said Jack, in answer to Frank's question, "and with goodreason."
"What--" began Frank.
"By George! Can't you think?" demanded Jack.
Gradually comprehension dawned on Frank.
"You mean--" he began again.
"Of course, I mean it," shouted Jack. "Why else do you think I'd bedancing around here like a whirling dervish? Come on and join the crowd.The armistice has been signed!"
"Hurrah!" shouted Frank.
A moment later he was circling madly about the bridge with the others.