so writes By DONALD F. BIGGS. More history has been made in the year 1918 than in any year that has passed since time began. This mo- mentous twelve months’ period comes te a close with the world at peace af- ter more than four years of the most sangulnary fighting of this or any other age. During the year great nations have crumbled, new nations have Sprung fato being, thrones have tottered and fallen, monarchs who once ruled hun< dreds of millions of people with an iron hand have fled for their lives or have fallen victim to the wrath of peo- ples Intoxicated by thelr new-won freedom. The coming of peace finds America and her allies strong and fully able to meet the responsibilities that come with victory. On the other hand It finds the nations responsible for the . world cataclysm exhausted and torn by civil disorders that are born of de- feat. It finds the once great empire of Austria-Hungary in ruins from which there are already rising new free na- tions. It finds the German empire dis- rupted and threatened with dissolu- tion. The end of the war finds Russia in the throes of civil war. The world gets only fragments of news regarding the real situation in the land of the former czar, but these fragments have told a terrible story of anarchy and class strife In which thousands of persons have perished, slain in bloody riots or ruthlessly executed by the bolshevik leaders who control a large part of the once great empire. Peace finds the menace of autocratic militarism sup- planted by the menace of bolshevism, world. But, amid all the uncertainties that peace has brought, the world rejoices that the last citadel of autocracy has been swept away before the rising tide of democracy, giving assurance that the millions who died upon the field of battle did not die in vain. Brighter days for all mankind have dawned with the passing of the year 1918, The year opened with the opinion generally prevailing that war could not be brought to a conclu- sion in less than eighteen months. It was an open secret that the German high command was planning to make a supreme effort on the western front, and during the early days of 1918 it was known that many divisions of German troops, released from the Rus- sian front, were being transferred to the west front in preparation for the grand offensive, Interest during these days centereds in events that were transpiring ic Russia and in long-range peace discus- gions in which President Wilson and Chancellor von Hertling figured. On January 8 President Wilson, in an ad- dress to congress, promulgdted the famous “14 points” which he declared should form the basis of world peace. In Russia Premier Lenine and For- eign Minister Trotzky Intrenched themselves in power by dissolving the constituent assembly which met at Pe trograd January 18. On January 21 an all-Russian congress of soviets was convened to replace the constituent as. sembly. There was little activity on any front during the month, but on January 30 it was announced officially that American troops were holding front-line trenches In France, occupy- ing a sector northwest of Toul. The Americans holding this sector received their baptism of fire when they repulsed a vigorous German raid. The Americans lost two killed, four wounded and one missing. On Febru ary O the stesmer Tusesnia, carrying 2,179 American soldiers, was torpe- doed and sunk, with a loss of 150 Hyves, On February 9 the Ukraine signed a separate treaty of peace with the central powers. Conditions in Russia continued to be chaotic. The bholsheviki declared the war with Germany over but re fused to sign the peace treaty demand: ed by Germany. The Germans there- upon renewed hostilities against Rus sla, capturing Reval, Russian naval base, and advancing on Petrograd. Le nine and Trotzky then announced that Russia was forced to accept the Ger man peace terms. On March 3 the Russian delegates at Brest-Litovsk signed the peace treaty with Germany. Germans Begin Great Drive. ‘ On March 21 the long-heralded of- had advanced 47 miles from La Fere and were within six miles of Amiens. Here the advance was halted. In the meantime, on March 29, the allies, fac- ing a catastrophe, at last agreed upon a unification of command, and General Foch, the brilliant French leader, was placed in supreme command of all the allied armies, A few days after the launching of this drive, Paris was bombarded by a “mystery” gun which it was known was at least 62 miles away. On March 20, Good Friday, this long-range gun made a direct hit on a Paris church and 75 worshipers were killed. On April 10, the Germans shifted their attack and began the secand phase of their offensive—a drive against the British in Flanders with the channel ports as the objective. Here again the British were forced to give ground, but there was no break such as occurred edriler on the Somme front. The British and Portuguese were swept back along the River Lys. The Germans took the Messines ridge and threw 125000 men against the British below Ypres, Bat the Ypres defenses held firm, and in the west the Germans failed in their efforts to reach Hazebrouck. The terrific drive spent itself and the Germans had failed to threaten the channel ports seriously. On April 22 the British navy execut- ed one of the spectacular feats of the war, blocking the channel of Zee brugge, a German submarine base. Germans Renew Offensive. On May 27 the Germans renewed the offensive with a powerful attack between the Alsne and the Marne. In a day they swept over the Chemin-des- on the heights north of the Next they took Solssons and reached the Vesle. On they went to the Marne, extending thelr front on the river from Chateau-Thierry to Verneuil, and threatening Reims in their advance. The drive was halted with the Ger mans occupying a front 16 miles wide on the Marne. - In the meantime the Americans had won attention on May 28 by Cantigny on the Picardy front brilliant attack. On May 25, German U-boats began operations off the coast of the United States, sinking 11 ships, The German drive for Paris was re sumed but the turning point reached when on June 6 and 7 Ameri- ean marines were thrown across the path of the advancing army at Chateau- Thierry. The Americans not only stopped the Germans but drove them back two miles, capturing several hun- dred prisoners. in an effort to unite the Somme sall- ent with that of the Marne to provide a base for another move toward Paris, the Germans launched another heavy attack west of Noyon on June 10. They made considerable gains on a 20-mile front but the drive was halted within two days, Austrian Offensive Is Fiasco. Attention was transferred from France to Italy when on June 15 the Austrians opened an offensive on the Italian front from Asinsgo plateau to the sea. The attack proved a complete fiasco. It was repulsed at all points and the Italians pursued the fleeing Austrians gceross the Plave, taking 45, 000 prisoners. The German commanders made one last effort to break through to Paris when the crown prince's army group on July 15, the morning after the French national holiday, launched an offensive along a front from Chatean- Thierry to Massiges, 30 miles east of Reims, This fifth and Inst phase of the great offensive failed most signally, being stopped on the third day, The Ameri ean forces played a big part in this see. ond decisive battle of the Marne, East of Chateau-Thierry the Germans forced a passage across the Marne and the Americans who opposed them “were forced to fall back temporarily. Then, in a brillidint counterattack, the Amer feans drove the Germans back across the Marne, taking 1.500 prisoners, in- cluding a complete brigade staff, * Allied Offensive Opens. On July 18 General Foch assumed the offensive. He struck the crown prince's sight Sank a vital blow and on the first day the French and Americans fought their way for six miles slong the Aisne, reaching the outskirf® of Solssons, For two weeks the great counter-offensive continued. On July 20 the Americans met the crack divi slong of German guards and defeated them in # stubborn battle at Sergy. Soissons fell to the French on August 2 and by the following day the entire Sotssons-Reims salient had been wiped out. 4 The indignation of the British peo- ple, arsused by the U-boat outrages perpetrated by the Germans, was in. tensified early in July when, news was received of the sinking by a subma- rine of the hospital ship Liandovery in a nurses between Canada nnd England, tng 12 nurses, The United States cons tinned to speed up its war activities weg was announced that Americans over- seas or on the way numbered 1,019,115, The United States on July 7 agreed to allied action in Russia and prepara- tions were begun for an allied military expedition into Siberia. On the same day Count von Mirbach, German am- bassador to Russia, was slain at Mos- cow. On July 8 it was announced that the Murman coast of Russia had thrown off bolshevik rule and invited ald from the allies. During July the first reports came from Russia of the execution of the former czar by a local soviet and these reports later were confirmed. General Foch opened the second phase of his counter-offensive on Au- gust 8 when a surprise attack was launched on a 20-mile front in Picardy, the allies gaining seven miles at some points and taking 7,000 prisoners. The following day Halg’s men gained 13 miles in Picardy and the next day the French, attacking on a 20-mile front, wiped out the Montdidier salient. Foch Hammers Foe. Then followed a series of sledge hammer blows on all portions of the front, all fitting into the general scheme of attack worked out by the master mind of Foch. On August 20 Lassigny fell and the former Somme front was restored. British and French armies, aided by American units, con- tinued the smash on the Somme front and on August 830 the Germans were hurled across the Somme, The British took Bapaume and were close to Peronne., Roye fell to the French and dozens of small towns were wrested from the invaders. Further north the British smashed the Hindenburg line and forced the Germans to begin a re- treat from the Lys salient. On September 12, the First Ameri can army, under the direct command of General Pershing, began a brilliant action which wiped out the difficult St. Mihiel salient in three days, The Americans took 20000 prisoners in this action, Serbian, French and Italian forces, on September 18, launched a big drive ngainst the Bulgars in Macedonia. most simultaneously the British broke the Turk lines In the Holy Land. The Turkish army was shattered, and by September 27 had lost 45,000 men in prisoners, smashed the Hindenburg line along 22.mile front in the St. Quentin sector, ing the crumbling armies of the enemy. of the central empires came on Sep tember General commander the Bulgar im iy when of ing Serbs and French, asked for an armistice. On September 30 Bulgaria the armistice terms the allies unconditionally. Teutons Move for Peace. Turkey moved for peace on October 4 and the German people were thrown accepted pro- erumbling. Prince Max, who had now an armistice and to open peace nego tiations. President Wilson answered by asking whether he spoke for the on an acceptance of the presidents 14 peace points, the west front continued, and the Ger mans were driven from much ground The Hindenburg line was amashed at many anints. Pershing’s men broke the foe's rain line of defense west of the Meuse and after days of bitter fighting clear ed the Germans out of Argonne forest. The Germans were forced to abandon the Chemin des Dames and to retreat on & long line from Laon as far east as Argonne, Germany sent another note to Pres ident Wilson on October 12, accepting the, latter's 14 peace principles and urging the president to transmit its Prince Max assured the president that by reason of constitutional changes the existing German government spoke for the people. President Wilson re- plied two days later, rejecting the Ger. man proposals, declaring that any arm- istice must be granted by the milltacy commanders and must guarantee the continued supremacy of the allied arms. The answer of the allied armies to the German peace proposals was to deliver still harder blows at the retin ing enemy. In the vorth the Belgian army, led by King Albert, cooperat- ing with the British, began to sweep the Germans from the Belgian const. On October 17 the Germans were driv. en from Ostend and Bruges and the British occupied Lille. The whole west front was in motion. The allies swept eastward through Belgium and through the industrial regions of France. Chancellor Max, on October 21, sent another peace note to President Wil son, denying the charges that the Ger- mang had been guilty of atrocities on land and sen, and again giving assur ances that the new government repre sented the people of Germany. Preal dent Wilson replied two days later, shattered and the end In sight. Tor key surrendered unconditionally to the British and the Austrians begged for an armistice, while their armies were in full flight. The allied war council at Versallles began to prepare the terms to be submitted to the Germans. The American First army smashed the German lines at Grand Pre and advanced seven miles west of the Meuse as the enemy line cracked. Austria-Hungary, on November 8, accepted the armistice terms which provided for unconditional surrender, hostilities ceasing at three o'clock November 4, On November 5, President Wilson notified Germany to apply to Marshal Foch for terms, he having been In- formed that they had been prepared by the allied war council, German envoys were appointed and approached the allied lines but ip the meantime the allied armief did pot lessen the pressure they were exert ing on the enemy. The Americans, having inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy, clearing the whole front be- tween the Meuse and the Alsne, rapid- ly advanced toward Sedan, cutting the vital communications between Metz and the long German line extending to the north, The Germans, as a result of the American advance, faced the necessity of undertaking a general re- treat to save thelr armies from being cut off. On November 9 the kaiser abdicat ed and the crown prince renounced his claims to the throne. The govern- ment of Germany passed into the con. trol of the social democrats and Herr Ebert was made chancellor. The kaiser fled to Holand and was per- mitted to remain there by the Dutch authorities. At the same time vari ous other German princes abdicated and soldiers and workmen's councils sprang into existence at many points. Germans Sign Armistice, November 11 the German signed the armistice On on. VOys of the evacu retire Under the terms armistice Germany agreed to ate all invaded territory and behind the Rhine, the allies to follow all important crossings of The Germans agreed the greater part thousands of hea Rhine, surrender and to renew hostilities, The armistice 11 a. m. Paris the great came to an end, effective at iL war virtually technically became time, world Navewmber although with the signing the peace treaty, With the revolution Austria, Austria abdicated and ernment was set up. Field Marshal in supreme armies cessation « through Germany Emperor a people's gov spread and Hindenburg command of yon re- and began the arms fice, Carrying out the terms of the armis- tice the Germans surrendered 71 war- ships the Conditions to allies on November were very unsettled weeks of parently sharing power with the sol diers and workmen's councils, were funder discussion for the sum- determine the future character of the government but activities of the rad- jeal socialistic element under the lead- to disrupt On November 28 President announced that he would American delegation to conference and that the Rites would be Secretary Lansing. Col. E. M. House, Hefiry White, former ambassador to France, and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, head the The president, sniled for France December 4, President Wiison srrived at Brest December 18 and proceeded to Paris, where he wag given an efithusiastic re- ception. He at once entered into con ference with the allied leaders, in prep aration for the opening of the peace conference in January. British, French, American and Bel- gian armies of occupation advanced into Germany as the Germans retired in aceordance with the armistice, the allied armies reaching the Rhine dur. ing the early days of December. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS Practically every phase of American life felt the dominating influence of war throughout the year 1918, In the eld of national legislation woman's suffrage and nation-wide pro. hibition were urged as war measures, The woman's suffrage amendment was defeated in the senate October 1, after having passed the house. A nation-wide prohibition measure, to become effective June 30, 1010, was enacied by congress and approved by the president November 22. On Sep tember 6 President Wilson had ore dered the manufacture of malt liquor stopped on December 1, as a food. conservation messare. The government, early in the year, began to tighten its control over indus. try and business for the purpose of furthering war efforts and protecting Congress increased the safeguards thrown about war industries by pass ing the “sabotage” bill, carrying pen- alties of $10,000 fine and 80 years’ im- prigsonment for destruction of war ma- terials or interference with war indus- tries. President Wilson signed this measure on April 20. The governmelt also prosecuted vigorously many per- sons accused of violation of the espion- age act. On August 17, 100 members of the I. W. W. were convicted of dis loyalty in the federal court at Chicago, after a trial lasting several months Government control of the railroads was followed during this year by gov- ernment control of all telegraph and telephone lines. Congress on July 13 authorized the president to take con- trol of the wires and the government assimed control on July 81. On No- vember 17, the government also took control of all Atlantic cable lines, The first general election since the United States entered the war Was held on November 5, The Republicans won both houses of congress, the sen ate by a majority of two and the house by a margin of more than forty. During September, October and No- vember the entire country was swept by a serious epidemic of Spanish in- fluepza. Thousands of soldiers in the army camps and other thousands of civilians succumbed thereto and to pneumonia, The country was surprised on No- vember 22 by the resignation of Wil lam G. McAdoo as secretary of the treasury and director general of the railroads, Representative Carter Glass of Virginia was named to succeed Mr. McAdoo as secretary of the treasury December B. On November 28 Governor Stephens J. Mooney, convicted in with the death of ten persons from a bomb explosion in San Francisco dur rn 1616. Plan for making the United States second to that of no other coun by Rear Adm the executive committee of the general the navy December 12. FOREIGN The map of Europe was being re made as the r 1918 came 10 a The ready In the war yen Ceecho-Slovek republic existence before the close of having g 3 independent belligerent ge wen recognized as an wernment by Bod 5s 4 Britain, the coming nited States, Great and but mal establishie Italy nt of The peace Baw the for this new government at Prague up of Host, divided up Ausiria years ago 21 and sUSKIn Finland ¢ shackles placed upon Russias and out of the turmoil of civil independent subject states asserted their independ ence, Civil war conlinted new republic of China throughout the Hsu Shik 1 of the republic ber 6 and during the next few months reports indicated a possibility of an Year, Chang was euident on Septem brink of of war during the elosing weeks the year. The trouble between the nitrate war of years ago in which Chile won Taona and Arica. Dr. Bidonia Paes, president of Por tugal, was shot and killed at Lisbon, The assassin Was killed Two days later Admiral Canto XY. tro was elected president of Portugal On 16 the diet December Finnish Finland. LABOR AND INDUSTRY Labor unrest, resulting in many strikes, threatened to seriously ham per the government's war preparations early in the year but through a spirit of co-operation shown by both labor and capital the danger was averted and there was little labor trouble during the greater part of the year. During the early days of the yem disaffection appeared among the work. ers in the shipyards and by February 12 the situation had assumed a serious aspect with strikes In effect In five yards. By February 16 the strike had spread still farther In spite of an ad: vance in wages announced by the In- bor adjustment board, . On February 17, President Wilson, in a letter to William IL. Hutcheson, Bead of the United Brothsrnooad of Car penters and Joiners, concerning the ship carpenter®’ strike, denied the right of Inbor to strike at that critical june fure. “Will you cooperate or will you workmen responded to the president's appeal and the strike was declared off. At the same time Secretary of Labor Wilson announced the personne! of » nations! board of labor, to be com. and capital, On February 24 this board establishing n basis for the settlement of disputes during the war. Former President William H. Teft, chosen by employers, and Frank P. Walsh, selected by the labor organizations, al. 29, providing that all labor tively few strikes occurred during the remainder of the yeir, DISASTERS Fires, railroad accidents and explo- slons took a heavy toll of human life on land during the year 1918 while the elements combined with the torpedoes of the German U-bosts to send thou sands of Innocent persons, including women snd children, to their death at sen. Fifty-two children met death in = fire which destroyed a convent at Mon- treal, Canada, February 14. February 24 the liner Florizel, bound from St Johns, N. FPF. to New York was wrecked by a blizzard near Cape Hace and 92 lives were lost, Seventy inmates of an insane asylum at Norman, Okla, were killed in a fire which destroyed that institution April 13. On May 1 the Savannah liner City of Athens was sunk in a collision with a French cruiser off the Delaware coast snd 66 lives were lost. On May 18 nearly a hundred persons were killed by explosions in the Aetna Chemical plant near Pittsburgh, Pa. Sixty-three persons, including well known cireus performers, perished when a circus train was wrecked at Gary, Ind., June 22. Fifty persons were killed by the collapse of a bullding at Sioux City, In., June 20. A small factory explosion in England killed 50 persons July 1 and on the fol- lowing day an explosion in a munitions plant near Syracuse, N. Y., killed 186. Eighty-five merrymakers perished when an excursion boat sank in the Illinois river July 5. A hundred per two trains July 9. A tornado swept a part of Minnesota August 21, killing 50 persons at Tyler and Connors. near Nashville, Tenn. On October 6 the United States trans the Irish coast and 450 persons lost Four hundred lost British mail bost Leinster wns torpedoed and sunk October 10. their lives were when the A series of terrific explosions in a8 Morgan, N. J, on October 8 killed 8 persons and de- A the in forest shell-londing plant at stroyved a vast amount of property. severe earthquake which cauved denth of 150 persons was ref Ries October 11 fires raged in northeastern Minnesota rted Porto Grent ig October, Many towns were de ywwed and about 1.000 lives were lost, On October 25 the steamship Princess Alaskan wrecked on the mst and 343 were lost Ninety«lght persons vember 1 ff wreck Rapid Transit lines i 1.500 led No- Brooklyn On November 21, reported of German mu- i n to were ki on the a hongt Persons killed 1} ¥ the « xplosion Were trains en route from Bel the most history ases in of the Cyclops, while bound from the West Indies to an American Atlantic Announcement was April 14 that the boat, with 268 persons on board, was a month over Not a single trace of the boat prESsengers and crew wes ever gnd the fate of the vessel Is 8 mystery unusys was that ed States navy oolller disappeared at sea port complete NECROLOGY Death took a heavy toll among men women prominent in public life the year 1018 The list in 13, Jaunary United States Senator A. P. Gardner, former congress from: Massachusettes, wha re February 2. John L. Snllivan, formes Tamid, former =ultan February of Turkey: ambassador to America. March 6. John Redmond, Irizch Na lender, aut London: March 8 member and diplomat, at Boston, April 12, United Siates Senator RB. 7. Broussard of Louisiana: April 14 United States Senator William Joo Stone of Missouri, May 14, James Gordon Bennett, pro prictor of the New York Herald, at Paris. June 8. Ramon M. Valdez, president of Panama; June 4 Charles Warren Fairbanks, former vice president, at Indianapolis, July 8, Mohammed V, sultan of Tar key; Viscount Rhondda, British food contraller, and United States Sessior Benjamin R. Tillman of South Care lina : July 27. Gustav Kobbe, Amerionn auther and critic. August 8 Max Rosenthal, famous artist, at Philadelphia: Angust 12 Anns Held, famous actress, at New York: Angust 17, United States Sens. tor Jacob H. Gallinger of New Hamp shire: August 28, United States Sens tor Ollie M. James of Kentucky. Keptember 17, Cardinal John M. Far ley, archbishop of New York: Septem ber 25. John Ireland. Catholic areh- bishop of St. Paul
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers