Germany rejects peace deal, and change at Raglan Castle

­— Will Germany sign?

BERLIN, Thursday.– The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung learns from a reliable source that the imperial minister of the interior, Herr Preuss, yesterday again emphasised the fact that the imperial government could not on any account accept the Peace Treaty in its present form.

Should the peace negotiations break down, he declared, he anticipated an intensified blockade and a recurrence of great disturbances, but if the Treaty was signed in its present form, Herr Preuss added, much greater chaos would arise, since millions of Germans would become breadless owing to the ruin of their industry and trade.

The effect of signing peace would, therefore, not differ from that of not signing it. He further declared that the Entente would derive no advantage from the Independent Socialists' accession to power, which would only mean the entry of Bolshevism into Germany.

Following a great demonstration against the Allies' peace terms in the Koenigsplatz yesterday, a big crown went to the Imperial Chancellery, where a deputation of representatives of the regions threatened under the Peace treaty waited on the Premier, Herr Scheidermann, and expressed to him their confidence in the government, promising him absolute loyalty whatever might happen.

­— Duke's gift to the nation

HIS grace the Duke of Beaufort has decided to hand over the guardianship of the interesting old monument, Raglan Castle, to HM commissioner of works, under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Act 1913.

Raglan Castle is deservedly recognised as being the most beautiful military ruin in the country. It is really more a castellated house than a stronghold. Its extent was most spacious, the grounds within the walls were upwards of four acres, and though a fortress, it was one of the most splendid homes in England, and well worthy to rank – as it actually did for a long time – as the residence of one of England's kings.

Even now, dismantled and in decay, as it has been for ages, it is, by reasons of its very ruins, full of picturesque loveliness beyond description. These ruins are still very considerable. Churchyard, who wrote in the reign of Elizabeth, says:–

Majestic Raglan! Harvests wave

Where thundering hosts the watchword gave

No smoke ascends, the busy hum is heard no more;

No rolling drum: no high-toned clarion sounds alarm.

No banner wakes the pride of arms;

But ivy, creeping year by year,

Of growth enormous, triumphs here!

The castle dates from the time of Henry V. During the Civil War the king made several visits here, and was entertained with great magnificence.

On one occasion Charles was apprehensive lest the stores should be exhausted by his suite, and he empowered the Marquis of Worcester to exact from the country such provisions as were necessary for his remuneration.

"I humbly thank your majesty, but my castle would not long stand if it leaned upon the country. I had rather be brought a morsel of bread than that any morsel of bread be exacted from others," a reply worth remembering.