“But it seems to me,” said Frank, “that if Germany wants peace she should be made to ask it on the field of battle.”

And that is exactly what happened, for when the armistice negotiations were finally begun it was at a conference between Marshal Foch, commander-in-chief of all the allied forces, and a commission of German officers.

It was on November 8, that news of the armistice conference was flashed to the Grand Fleet.

“Armistice commission will meet November 10 at Hirson, France,” read the message, flashed to every vessel in the fleet.

All that day and the next, every man in the fleet waited anxiously for further word of the approaching armistice conference.  None came.  Neither had any word been received on the evening of November 10.

“Must have been a hitch some place,” said Frank, as they sat in the latter’s cabin that night.

“Not necessarily,” replied Jack, “You know these things take time.  A matter 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 impose on the foe.”

“They’ll be stringent enough, don’t you worry,” said Jack.  “He’ll impose terms harsh enough to make sure that Germany doesn’t renew the struggle while 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 will insist that a large share of the ships be turned over to the allies, including their most powerful submarines and battleships and cruisers.  But you can’t expect them to give up the whole business, particularly when the entire 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 a hitch in the armistice proceedings.”

“Seems to me,” said Frank, “that by this time we should have had some word of the proceedings at Hirson to-day.”

“It would seem so, that’s a fact.  However, I guess we will get the information 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 of the armistice delegates was flashed to the fleet.  This, however, did not bring much jubilation, for the announcement simply said that the German delegates had refused the terms offered by Marshal Foch and had returned to their own lines for further instructions.

“Told you so!” exclaimed Frank.  “This war is not over yet.”