The Pulaskian., 1919-01-10


 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.
 The American First army smashed the German lines at Grand Pre- and advanced seven miles west of the Mouse as the enemy line cracked.
 Austria Hungary, on November 3. accepted the armistice terms which provided for unconditional surrender, hostilities eeasing 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 in the meantime the allied armies did not 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 Mouse and the Aisne 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 their armies from being cut off
 On November 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 Holland 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 Arnistice.
 On November II the German en- yoys signed the armistice which amounted practically to unconditional surrender Under the terms of the armistice Germany agreed to eyacu- ate all invaded territory and retire behind the Rhine, the allies to follow and hold all important crossings of the Rhine. The Germans agreed to surrender the greater part of their navy and thousands of heavy guns and airplanes, rendering them unable to renew hostilities.
 TNI> II a. m., Paris time, November Il. Thus the great world war virtually came to an end, although technically it will end only with the signing of the peace treaty.
 With the cessation of hostilities revolution spread through Germany and Austria. Emperor Charles of Austria abdieated and a peoples gov ernment was set up.
 Field Marshal yon Hindenburg re- mained in supreme command of the German armies and began to direct the retirement of the Germans in ac- cordance with the terms of the armis- tice
 Carrying out the terms of the armis- tfee the Germans surrendered n war ships to the allies on November 21.
 Conditions were very unsettled in Germany during the closing weeks of the year, the socialist government ap- parently sharing power with the sol diers and workmen's councils. Plans were under discussion for the sum moning of a constituent assembly to determine the future character of the government but activities of the rad ical socfalistic element under the lead ership of Herr Liebknecht threatened to disrupt the entire former empire.
 On November % President Wilson announced that he would head the American delegation to the peace conference and that the other dele gates would be Secretary of State Lansing, Col. E. NJ. House, Henry White, former ambassador to France, and Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, United States military representative on the supreme war council. The president, accompanied, by the other peace dele gates and large party of assistants, sailed for France December 4.
 President Wilson arrived at Brest December 13 and proceeded to Paris, where he was given an enthusiastic 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 accordance with the armistice, the allied armies reaching the Rhine dur ing the early days of December.