midnight
`` An armistice ! '' he cried disgustedly . His eye glanced rapidly over the page . '' _ To the Major-General commanding the First Division of Artillery , Army of the Meuse : _ `` An armistice has been declared , to commence at midnight , pending negotiations for peace . You will see that no acts of hostility occur until you receive notice that war is to be resumed . `` VON HELMUTH , `` Imperial Commissioner for War . '' The officers broke into exclamations of impatience as the general crumpled the missive in his hand and cast it upon the floor . ''