General, Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 21, 3 October - 24 November 1918 - Part 12

G.O.C.
Wireless news
12-11-18.

00.19 13th November.
Advise German authorities that in execution of Article 1, annexe 
2, of the Conventions.
Armistice representatives with authority of the German Army
are to appear at 14.00, French time, on November 15th to receive
from the allied Armies instructions regarding the occupations of
railways, telegraph and telephone routes. They will proceed respectively
to BRUGES station for the Belgian Army, MONS station
for the British Army, and NANCY Station for the French and American 
Armies.
Those German representatives will bring general information
about the condition of the railways, the personnel which is employed,
indicating the principal heads of the various services,
and the demolitions which have been carried out or prepared, to
wit: those at the the zone bounded by the DUTCH-BELGIAN Frontier and
DUTCH-GERMAN Frontier; the RHINE and the Line COBLENS - MEZIERES
in the case of the delegates at BRUGES and MONS; those between
the line CHARLEROI - BONN and south of ALSACE in the case of the
delegates at NANCY.
General Staff I.
Australian Corps 

77
"C" Form.
MESSAGES AND SIGNALS.
Prefix  SW Code 0955 Words 34
Received
From Day
By CR
Service Instructions. Austn HQ.
Handed in at OBGS London Office C955  m. Received 12.38
TO Austn Corps France
31643 Following for General
Monash from 
Minister begins
I should be glad to
see you in London on
Monday or Tuesday
Next aaa wire if
You can come ends
FROM Adminaust

SPECIAL ORDER
By Lieut.-Gen. Sir John MONASH,
K.C.B., V.D.,
Commanding AUSTRALIAN Corps.
HEADQUARTERS,
November 14, 1918.
Congratulatory. - The following message is published for the
information of all ranks:-
To Lieut-General Sir JOHN MONASH, K.C.B., V.D.,
Commanding AUSTRALIAN CORPS
From the Right Honorable W. M. HUGHES,
Prime Minister of AUSTRALIA:-
"The Government and the people of AUSTRALIA extend their
heartiest congratulations on the triumphant conclusion of your
great efforts. I am specially requested to convey to you their
heartfelt thanks and deep admiration for your brilliant and
great leadership and for the way in which you and the brave
men associated with you have borne the sufferings and trials
of the past four years, and in common with the troops of all
the Allied Nations brought the civilized peoples of the world
through adversity to victorious peace. On behalf of the
Government and people of the Commonwealth, l assure you, and
every Australian Soldier in the Field, that the Commonwealth
is full of pride and admiration of their endurance and sacrifice. 
The Australian Soldiers are entitled to, and shall receive, not
only the thanks of a grateful people, but that treatment which
their great services deserve."
John Monash.
Lieutenant-General.
Commanding AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
A.I.F. Printing Section. 

14/11/18
Corps Conference
at Peronne, 15/11/18
Object: - Place Div. Commanders in touch with plans for future.
& elicit questions.
Armistice - Terms - stiff -
Peace depends on Stability of German Government
Possibility of Peaceful Realization - depends on
performance of terms - every day & hour helps.
& reduces prospect of further fighting. -
Item of immediate importance = Evacuation in 15 days
Commission at Spa. -
We follow at 1 day interval

- We reach frontier by Dec 2.
Army of Occupations
(a) to comply with terms of Armistice.
(b) to ensure fulfilment of peace conditions.
Organizations
2 Armies - each 4 Corps
Ours = 4, 6, 9 & Austr Corps.
Austr Corps - 1, 2, 4 & 5 Divs
Question of 3^rd Div. later. - LXVII Corps
Approach March - 2^nd Cavalry Division
 6^th Corps on North, 9^th on South.
Organization - Brigade groups - Artillery in a group.
March by Road in 3 phases. / 16 to 18 mile front

Corps Arrangements
All 3 Divs to rail up, - about 19^th - by which
time 9^th Corps clear of La Cateau.
Possibility of 3^rd Div. joining in
Our 4 Divs. by rail - if rail to Charleroi
is mended.
Alternatively - march - behind 9^th Corps
two roads - map 

Corps Arrangements (contd)
4^th Div. on Southern road.

1^st Div. on Northern road.
Select & send at once Divisional Liaison - with car

Our groups - Pioneer with A Brigade group
Extra M.G. Co with B do.
All odd units with C do
All Arty, D.A.C & Mob. Vet with D group
Sundry Arrangements:-

No ammunition on Motor lorries - horse echelons full
Comfort of Troops is leading concern
Load of troops - cut down Ammn. 50 rds.
No tin hats or gas masks ?
still yes.
Arty. Mortars - still open

L.T.M. Batteries to go.

Censorship relaxed - as to places - units &c.
not abuse of Administration

Leave goes on
Probably no reinforcements - A.I.F. not settled.
Leave behind physically weak
P.B. men.
morally weak & bad records.
Formation of Divisional Depots - under Corps Control

fw Spare baggage  }
Sick or lame horses} near a
Derelict men            } Railway

Send England - records - spare kit - souvenirs -
lighter loads.
Two blankets - Motor Lorry requirements for baggage.
Supply questions will be difficult.
Overhaul Transport Vehicles.

Staff work to supervise movement
punctuality - not too early
Correct maps

Correct roads & guidance

rapid billeting. Blamey to read Army memo.
Bands - play; all amusements

All sport gear.
No money prizes

Our March = peace conditions - Marching in Germany
bands

Strictest march & railway discipline
early start 

Friendly Country to Frontier

Strengthen police considerably - 100 Div. police

No straffing
No blocking of roads at night - by regt. transport.

Battalion Messes

Don't overload waggons.

No irritating restrictions - put men on good
behaviour

No Communications; - importance of

notifying all H.Q. promptly.
A.I.F. - no promotions -
new criterion as to suitability of officers.
Strengthen supply & movement staffs.
Cameras may be taken

Closing of Corps School - except P & B.T Classes
& Current Signal Class

Gather in personnel from all sources.
German speakers -/except school establishments at least at every H.Q.
Clipping of horses - ruling will come.
Second Phase. Occupation. -
No definite plan yet.
Probably some tactics - Outposts &c.

much guards and sentries - on bridges

telegraphs
railway stations
munition works.
Clear orders.
Relations with population - nothing gained by oppression
leave them severely alone, so
long as they obey our orders.
Policy probably to deal leniently
Have men talked to - re loot & violence & drink.
or bullying
Ceremonial drill - lots of it
Saluting Officer - Soldierly bearing & precision
best way to earn respect of population.
Regrettable incidents & collisions likely to imperil
Satisfactory peace - sure to be magnified

as a set off to Belgium. 
[*Visit between units

Visits to places of interest*]

Demobilization Questions -
Staff being formed

Prepare to get statistics asked for promptly
Education scheme - sympathy & help.
Keeping men physically and mentally fit.
Questions by Div. Commanders.

General Matters
Thanksgiving services
Birdwood letter re Church services

Preservation of Concert Parties.
Questions by Div. Commanders.

Individual Matters
I. Hobbs re Corps

III Gellibrand re Guard 1 Cat, 4 Lieut, 205 ors

A.D.C. & Boyes.

TO ADMINAUST
LONDON

Day of Month

15
Following for Prime Minister begins AAA
Sincerest thanks from myself and from

the troops of the Australian Army Corps

for your generous message on behalf of
Government and people of AUSTRALIA AAA
After the protracted struggle it is particularly
gratifying to know that the
efforts and sacrifices made by all ranks

have met with recognition and kindly
thought AAA We are proud to have held
our place and fulfilled our part in the
great work and rejoice that we have the
privilege of sharing the glorious end to
the struggle AAA Please accept and convey
to the people of AUSTRALIA our heartfelt
good wishes AAA Ends AAA General MONASH
From AUSTRALIAN CORPS.
 

15th November, 1918.
TO
Lieut-General Sir John MONASH,
Australian Army Corps H.Q., FRANCE.
The Government and people of AUSTRALIA extend their heartiest
congratulations on the triumphant conclusion of your great efforts.
I am specially requested to convey to you their heartfelt thanks and
deep admiration for your brilliant and great leadership and for the
way in which you and the brave men associated with you have borne the
sufferings and trials of the past four years and, in common with the
troops of all the Allied Nations, brought the civilised peoples of the
world through adversity to victorious peace. On behalf of the
Government and people of the Commonwealth, I assure you and every
Australian soldier in the Field that the Commonwealth is full of
pride and admiration of their endurance and sacrifice. The
Australian soldiers are entitled to and shall receive not only the
thanks of a grateful people, but that treatment which their great
services deserve.
W. M. HUGHES. 

17/11/18
I have seen both the Adjutant General and
General WROUGHTON

I explained the purpose you required the figures

for - to explain to Mr HUGHES the position with

reference to crime of the Australian Divisions as
compared with the other divisions of the BEF.
The Adjutant General handed me the figures prepared
for you. He informed me that whilst they were
office figures for your information there were strong
objections to them being given to Mr HUGHES as
they might be passed on and political use made

of them. They might however be shown to Mr Hughes
in part if you desire.
'A' is a Table comparing the court martial
figures of each of our five divisions with the

average of the U.K. divisions of the BEF. This

shows the extraordinary variation between some of

our divisions, and that 3^rd Aust Division is the

only one that has anything approaching the
figures of the UK Divisions. This table may be
shown to Mr HUGHES.

The figures for convictions for desertion in the
AIF and BEF Jan - June 1917 were
5 Aust Divns  total 171  average per divn 34.2
57 remaining
division of the BEF.      506     8.87