Orland Zenith, Volume 19, Number 39, Orland, Steuben County, 1 January 1919 — Page 4

THE ZENITH. ORLAND, INDIANA

BIG EVENTS HAVE MARKED YEAR 1918

the channel ports as the object!re. Here again the British were forced to give ground, but there was no break such as occurred earlier on the Somme front The British and Portuguese were swept back along the River Lya, The Germans took the Messlnes ridge and threw 125,00 men against the Britisn below Tpres. But the Tpres defenses held firm, nnd In the west the Germans failed in their efforts to reach Hnzebrouck. The terrific drive spent Itself nnd the Germans had failed to threaten the channel ports seriously. On April 22 the British navy executed one of the spectacular feats of the war. blocking the channel of Zeebrugpe. a German submarine base. On May 27 the Germans renewed the offensive with a powerful attack between the Alsue and the Marne. In a day they swept over the Chemln-des Dames on the heights north of the Alsne and crossed the river In a rush. Next they took Solssons and reached the Vesle. On they went to the M.irne, extending their front on the nver from Chateuu-Thierry to Vernenil. and threatening Helms In their advance. Tlie drive was halted with the <»ermnns occupying a front 16 miles wide on the Manic. In the meantime the Americans had won attention on May 28 by taking Cantlgny on the Picardy front in * brilliant attack.

The first decisive break In the ranks of the central empires came on September 27, when General MaliDoff, commander of the Bulgar armies which were routed before the advancing Serbs and French, asked for an armistice. On September 30 Bulgaria accepted ute armistice terms proposed by the aMies and sii"endered unconditionally.

leal socialistic element under the leadership of Herr Liebknecbt threatened to disrupt the entire former empire. On November 29 President Wilson announced that he would bead the American delegation to the pence conference and that the other delegates would be Secretary of State Lansing, Col. E. M. House. Henry White, former ambassador to France, and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, Gulled States military representative on the supreme war council. The president, accompanied by the other pence delegates and a large party of assistants, sailed for France I»ecember 4. President Wilson arrived at Brest December 13 and proceeded to Paris, where be was given nn enthnsiastic reception, British. French, American and Bol-

Dunne the early days of the yoai disaffection appeared among the work ers to the shipyards and by February 12 the situation nad assumed a serious aspect with strikes In effect In fl* yards. By February 16 the strike had spread still further In spite of an ad vnnce in wages announced by the la bor adjustment board. On February 17. President Wilson in a letter to William L. Hutcheson head of the United Brotherhood of Car pentcrs and Joiners, concerning th« ship carpenters’ strike, denied the right of labor to afrlke at that critical Juneture. “Will you co-operate or will you obstruct the president asked. The workmen responded to the president’s upiieal and the strike was declared off At the same time Secretary of Laboi Wilson announced the personnel of a national board of labor, to be composed of representatives of both laboi and capital. On February 24 this board oi»ened a conference for the purpose of establishing a basis for the settlement of disputes during the war. Cornier President "William £1. Taft, chosen by the employers, and Frank P./Walsh, selected by the labor organizations, alternated. as chairman. This conference. on March 20, reached on agreement providing Hint all labor dispute* arising during the war should be submitted to a board of mediation. This agreement was adhered to by both employers and employees and comparatively few strikes occurred during tha remainder of the year.

Peace Comes to World After More Than Four Years of Bloody Fighting.

Teutona Move for Peace.

Turkey moved for prtice on October 4 and the German people were thrown Into a panic as they saw their allies crumbling. Prince Max, who had now become German chancellor, addressed a note to President Wilson, asking that steps he taken Immediately to conclude an srmlsflce and to open peace negotiations President Wilson answered by asking mhether he spoke for the f'to'it- | ■ ’ ■" <*rrr :

END OF WAR COMES QUICKLY

President Wilson Joins Allied Statasmen in Congress That Will Remake the Map of the World.

Cion armle* of occupation advanced ,nto Germany ns the Germans retired n accordance with the armistice, the

allied armies reaching the Khlne during the early days of December.

Great events crowded fast upon each other during the year 1918, In the early days of the year the German hordes threatened to overcome all the armies of the nations that wore fighting to save world civilization. Then the tide turned and within a few brief weeks the kaiser’s great armies bod been crushed and were almost in rout. Finally, with a swiftness that startled the world, Germany and her allies surrendered to the victorious armies of the allies. The great war which for more than four years had drenched the soil of Europe with blood was at an end. The year ended wllh the world virtually at peace. The leading statesmen of all the great nations were assembling at Paris during the closing day? of the year for the peace conference which will remake the map of the old world and which, It Is hoped, will prevent for all time another conflict such ns tliat which has just ended. New -cations already bad begun to arise out

DOMESTIC AFFAIRS

Practically every phase of American life felt the dominating influence of war throughout the year 1918. In the Peld of national legislation woman's suffrage and nation-wide probation were urged os war measures. The woman’s suffrage amendment was defeated In the senate October 1, after having passed the house. A nnflon-wide prohibition measure, to become effective June 30. 101D. was enacted by congress and approved by the president November 22. September 6 President Wilson had ordered the manufacture of malt liquor stopped on December 1, as a foodconservation measure. Government control of the railroads was followed during this year by government control of all telegraph and ti iiy Vim. ■fines. Congress on July 13 »Sfhorired the president to take control of the wires and the government assumed control on Jnly 81. On November 17, the government also took control of all Atlantic cable lines.

and nffer ofc.»a oi nit'eT nginUrtrv«red the Germans out of Argonne forest. The Germans were forced to abandon the Cheiuin des Dames and to retreat on a long line from La on as far east as Argonne. £,

On May 25. German U-boats began operations off the coast of the United States, sinking 11 ships.The German drive for Paris was resumed but the turning point was reached when on June 6 and 7 American marines were thrown across the path of therivanclng army at ChateauThierry.' The 'Americans not onlystopped the Germans but drove them back two miles, ,aptnring several hundred prisoners. In an effort to unite the Somme salient with that of the Marne to provide s base for another move toward Paris, toe Germans, launched another heavy attack west of Noyon on June 10. They made considerable gains on a 20-mile front but the drive was baited within two days. On June 11. 'Washington announced that the United States was then represented on the battle line by 700,000 men.

Germany sent another note to President Wilson on October 12, accepting the latter’s 14 peace principles and urging the presiuentt to transmit Its proposal for an armletlce to the allies. The answer of thq allied armies to the German peace proposals was to deliver still harder blows at the retiring enemy. In the north the Belgian army. led by King Albert, co-operat-ing with the British, began to sweep the Germans from the Belgian coast. Chancellor Max. on October 21, sent another peace note fo Presltv-rt Wilson, denying the charges thsfrthe Germans had been guilty of atrocities on land and sea. and again giving assurances that the new government represented the people of-Germany. President Wilson replied two days later, agreeing to transmit the request for an armistice to the illles.

DISASTERS

fires, railroad accidents and explosions took a heavy toll of human life on land daring the year 1918 while the elements combined with the torpedoes of the German D-boats to send thousands of Innocent persons, including women and children, to their death at sea.

Fifty-two children ctet death In a fire which destroyed a convent art Montreal, Canada, February 14. February 24 the liner FlorizeL bound from SL Johns. N. F., to Mew fork, was wrecked by a blizzard ne; .* Cape Race and 92 lives were lost.

of the mins of the central empires, and It was regarded as certain that others would grow out of the peace conference. Despite the chaotic conditions existing in Germany and Austria. as well gt lrv_Eussla,’ where civil war raged, the world looked forward to better times as the new year dawned.

The first general election since the Dnked States entered the war was held on .November h. The Republicans won both houses of congress, the senate by a majority of two and the house by a margin of more than forty. During September, October and November the entire country was swept by a serious epidemic of Spanish influenza. Thousands of soldiers in the army camps and other thousands of civilians succumbed thereto and to pneumonia.

Italians Rout -Austrians.

Seventy inmates of an Insane asylum at Norman. Okla., were tilled in a fire which destroyed that astitutlon April VI

As this note was delivered the allies were smashing the Germans at all points on the western front and on October 24 the Italians launched a great offensive against the Austrians on the Piave" front, who within a few days were In headlong flight with the Italians In pursult-i Tha Americans continued to smash the Germans in vicious attacks west of the Meuse.

HOW THE WAR WAS WON

Is Fiasco.

Attention was transferred from FTance to Italy when on June 15 the Austrians opened an offensive on the Italian front from Asiago plateau to the sea. The attack proved a complete fiasco. It was repulsed at ail points and the Italians pursued the fleeing Austrians across the Plave, taking 45,000 - 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 CfaateauThlerry to Masslges. 30 miles east of Reims.

On May 1 the Savnnriah liner City of Athens was sunk in a collision with a French cruiser off the Delaware coast and 60 lives were lost. On May IS nearly a hundred persons were killed by explosions in the Aetna Chemical plant near Pittsburgh, Pm. Sixty-three persons. Including wellknwwn circus performers,' perished when a circus train was wrecked at Gary, Ind., June 22. Fifty persons were killed by the collapse of a building af Sioux City, la., June 29. A small factory explosion In England killed 50 persons July 1 and on the following day an explosion In a munitionsplant near Syracuse. N. Y„ killed 16 Eighty-ftve. merrymakers perished when nn excursion boat sank in the Illinois river July 5. A hundred per* sons were killed in a collision between two trains near Nashville. .Tenn, July 9. i

The year opened with the opinion generally prevailing that the world war could not be brought to a conclusion in less than eighteen months. It was an open secret that the German won 1'lsJmlng to make a supreme effort on the western front In Russia Premier Lenine and Foreign Minister Trotsky intrenched themselves in power by dissolving the constituent assembly which met at Petrograd January 18. On January 21 an all-Russian congress of soviets was convened to replace the constituent assembly. 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, occupying a sector northwest of Toul. The Americans bolding this sector received their baptism of fire when they repulsed a rigorous German raid. The Americans lost two killed, four wounded and one missing. On February 5 the steamer Tuscania, carrying 2,179 American soldiers, was torpedoed and sunk, with a loss of 159 lives. On February 9 the Ukraine signed a separate treaty of peace with the central powers. Conditions in Russia continued to be chaotic. The bolsheviki declared that the war with Germany over but refused to sign the peace treaty demandThe Germans there-<t“-i J hostilities sgainst Rus>g Reval, Russian naval jvandng on Petrograd. I,eTrotsky then announced that was forced to accept the Gern peace terms. ,On March 8 the issian delegates at Brest-Lltovsk - ,med the peace treaty with Germany, rovldlng for the cession of a vast area of Russian territory, the payment of a big indemnity and the disbanding of the Russian army and navy. Germans Begin Great Drive. ' On March 21 the long-heralded offensive of the Germans was launched. A terrific blow was delivered against the British lines on a front of more than 50 miles, extending from the River Oise, near La Fere, to the Scnsee river, about Crolselles. Wove after wave of the finest German troops were hurled at the British lines, and In a few days had advanced 15 miles. The British Fifth army at the point where It touched the French lines was routed, and for a time the allies faced disaster. The Germans continued to push southward, and at the end of 15 days had advanced 47 miles from La Fere and were within six miles of Amiens. Here the advance was baited. In the meantime, on March 29. the allies, facing 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. On April 10. the Germans shifted their attack and began the second phase of their offensive—a drive vgai-vt the British In Flanders with

The month pf Nqvyrahcr opened with the German TirriWes Yaclng'mter rout, the armies of her allies completely shattered and the end In sight. Turkey surrendered unconditionally to the

The country was surprised on November 22 by the resignation of William G. McAdoo as secretary of the

treasury and director general of the railroads. Representative Carter Class of Virginia was named to succeed Mr. McAdoo as secretary of the treasury December 5.

British and the Austrians begged for an armistice, while their armies were in full flight. The allied war council at Versailles began to prepare the terms to be submitted to the Germans.

On November 28 Governor Stephens of California commuted to life lmpr£> onment the death sentence of Thomas J. Mooney, convicted in connection with the death of ten persons from a bomb explosion in San Francisco during a preparedness parade July 22, 1916.

This fifth and last phase of the great offensive failed most signally, being stopped on the third day. The American forces played a big part in this second decisive battle Of the Marne. Allied Offensive Opens. On July 18 General Foch assumed the offensive. He struck the crown prince’s right flank a vital blow and on the first day the French and Americans fought their way for six miles along the Aisne, reaching the outskirts of Soissons. For two weeks the great counter-offensive continued. On July 29 the Americans met the crack divisions of German guards and defeated them in a stubborn battle at Sergy. Soissons fell to the French on August 2 and by the following day the entire Soissons-Reims salient had been wiped out.

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 3, 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 informed that they had been prepared by the allied war council.

FOREIGN

During the months of September and October hundreds of persons lost their lives at sea either by acident or by the torpedoing of passenger boats by German submarines. On September 12 the British steamer Galway Castle was torpedoed and 189 persons, including 90 women and children, were lost. The American cargo boat Ticonderoga was torpedoed September 30 and 213 persons were lost. A torpedo boat sank a Japanese liner on October 4 and 290 persons were drowned.

The map of Europe was being remade as the year 1918 came to a close. The Czecho-Slovak republic was already In existence before the close of the war. having been recognized as an independent belligerent government by the United States, Great Britain. France and Italy, but the coming of peace saw the formal establishment of this new government at Prague. The end of the war also practically assured the rising of a great new Poland, made up of most, If not all, of the territory divided up years ago among Germany, Austria and Russia. Finland threw off the shackle* placed upon her by Russia and out of the turmoil of civil war emerged a* a free and Independent nation. The peoples of other smaller subject states asserted their independence.

Gentian envoys were appointed and approached the allied lines but in the meantime the allied armies did not lessen the pressure they were exerting on the enemy. The Americans, having inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy, clearing the whole front between the Meuse and the Alsne, rapidly advanced toward Sedan, cutting the vital communications between Metz and the long German line extending to the north. On .November 9 the kaiser abdicated. and the crown prince renounced his claims to the throne. The government of Germany passed into the control of the social democrats and Herr Ehert was made chancellor. The kaiser i 3d to Holland and was permitted ti remain there by the Dutch authorities. At the same time "various other German princes abdicated and soldiers and workmen's councils sprang into existence at many points. Germans Sign. Armistice. _

A tornado swept a part of Minnesota August 21, killing 50 persons at Tyler and Connors. On October 6 the United States transport Otranto was sunk in collision off the Irish coast and 450 persons lost their lives. Four hundred were lost, when the British mail boat Leinster was torpedoed and sunk October 10. A series of terrific explosions in shell-loading plant at Morgan, N. J., on October 3 killed 94 persons and destroyed a vast amount of property. A J severe earthquake which caused the death of 150 persons was reported in ( Porto Itlco October 11. Great forest i fires raged In northeastern Minnesota during October. Many towns were destroyed and about 1,000 lives were lost. On October 25 the steamsh.t) Princess Sophia was wrecked on the Alaskan coast and 343 were lost. Ninety-eight persons were killed November 1 In a wreck on the Brooklyn Hapld Transit lines. On November 21, about 1,500 persons were reported killed by the explosion of German munition trains en route from Belgium to Germany. One of the roost unusual cases Inmaritime history was that of the United States navy collier Cyclops, which disappeared at sea while bound from the West Indies to an American Atlantic port. Announcement was made April 14 that the boat, with 293 persons on board, was a month overdue. Not a single trace of the boat or Its passengers and crew was ever found, and the fate of the vessel Is • complete mystery. (Copyright. It IS. by McClurs VswrpspeS SymllcstV i ■ *

General Foeh opened the second phase of his counter-offensive on August 8 when a surprise attack was launched an a 20-ralle front In Picardy, the allies gaining seven miles at seme points end taking 7,000 prisoners. The following day Haig's men gained 13 miles lb Picardy and the next day the French, attacking on a 20-mlle front, tvlped out the Montdldler salient Foch Hammers Foe.

Civil war continued to threaten the new repul>Ilc-of China throughout the year. Hsu Shlh Chang was elected president of the republic on Septera her 6 and during the next few months reports indicated a possibility of an agreement being reached between the northern and southern sections of the country*

Then followed a aeries of sledgehummer 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, continued the smash on the Somme front and on August 30 the Germans were hurled across the Somme. The British took Bapaume and were close to Koye fell to the French and dozens of small towns were wrested from the invaders. Further north the British smashed the Hlndenhurg lino, and forced the Germans a re-' treat from the Lys salient..;

On .November 11 the German envoys signed the armistice which amounted practically to unconditional surrender. The armistice became effective at 11 a. m„ Paris t ligic.-November 11. With hostilities Germany [ jX Austria. . Emperor 'Charles of Austria abdicated and a people’s government was set up. Carrying out the terms of the rcmlstlce the Germans surrendered Ti warships to the allies on November 21. Conditions were very unsettled in Germany during the closing weeks of the year, the socialist government apparently sharing power with the soldiers and workmen’s councils. Plans were under discussion for the summoning of a constituent assembly to determine the future character of the government hut activities of the rad-

Peru and Chile were reported on the brink of war during the closing weeks of the -Mcar." .The trohblr between the*\ rcountrlea* wn'outgrowth of years ago in which Chile won Taonn and Arlca. Dr. Sidonia Paes, president of Portugal, was shot and killed at Lisbon, December 15. The assassin was killed by the crowd that witnessed the crime. Two days later Admiral Canto Y. Castro was elected president of Portugal

On September 12, the First American army, under the direct command of General Pershing, began a brilliant nction which wiped out the difficult St Mlhlel salient in three days. The Americans took 20,000 prisoners In this action. " ; . '

LABOR AND INDUSTRY

Labor unrest, resulting In many strikes, threatened to seriously hamper 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 ycilr, ..., „ _

Serbian, French and. Italian forces, on September 18. launched a big drive against the Bulgnrs in .Macedonia. Almost simultaneously the British broke the Turk Hues In the Holy I.ntxl.