The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-10-26

signed!' That is the event which
we celebrate each year on November IL and
which we regard as the lend of the World war;
AS a matter of fact, it wasn't. The World war
didn't end for us officially until nearly three
years later True, actual hostilities ended on
November H. 1915 but there still remained the
signing of peace treaties with our late enemies
the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on June
%, 1919; the Treaty of ST German with Austria
on September 10, 1919; the Treaty of Neuilly
with Bulgaria on November 81, 1919; the Treaty
of the Grand Trianon with Hungary on June 4,
1920; and finally the Treaty of Sevres with Tur-
key on August 10, 1920.
Even with these treaties signed the actual
lend of the war" was still a year away. For
peace treaties must be ratified by the United
States senate and because the Treaty of YER
sailles included provision for American men,
bership in the newly organized League of Ma
lions, the senate on March 10, 1920, rejected the
treaty which President Wilson had presented to
it for ratification. Immediately thereafter Sena-
tor Phander c. Knox of Pennsylvania intro
duced a resolution repeating the declarations of
war and reserving to the United States all the
benefits given it in the Versailles treaty. This
resolution passed both houses of congress in
April and May, 1920, but on May q President
Wilson vetoed it as IAN ineffaceable stain upon
the gallantry and honor of the United States.'
Meanwhile the Treaty of Versailles had been
ratified by Germany and the principal allied pow
ers and the League of Nations had come into
existence. But when Woodrow Wilson retired
from the White House. broken man with his
most cherished project rejected by the country,
the United States was still outside the League of
Nations, the treaty was still unratifed and, off,
cially, we were still at war with the Central
Powers When Warren G. Harding became Pres
ident, the Knox resolution was revived in con-
gress, again passed and on July 2, 1921 Presi-
dent Harding signed it. So July 2, 1921, rather
than November IL, 1918, marked the official lend
of the World war, for the United States.
There is an interesting parallel between the
length of time which elapsed from the cessa-
ton of hostities to the official end of the world
war and similar period in bringing to conclu-
sion the first war in which We a nation, eyer
engaged-the Revolution. Ask the average Amer
lean when the Revolution ended and he will
probably say: "Why, when CORVALLIS surren-
dered, Of counsel" But in saying that he is just
as incorrect as he is in regarding November II,
1918, as the final curtain on the drama Of the
World war.
On October 10, 1871, British army marched
out from Yorktown Va, to the tune of "The
World Turned Upside Down" and handed over
it's arms to the combined French and American
armies commanded by Count de Rochambeau and
Gen. George Washington Within "a hours cou-
riers mounted on swift horses were speeding
northward, rousing every village and farm"
with the thrilling WORD "CornwalnS Is taken!'
Everywhere the news was received with delight
by the Patriots and with dismay by the Loyalists
or Tories. Impromptu celebrations in honor of
the glorious news were organized in many places,
but much Of the hysteria and wild jubilation
which swept the whole country on November II,
1918 was lacking In October, 1871.
With no telegraph telephone or radio or other
means of quick communication there was no way
of spreading the news simultaneously throughout
o sod fhn nQffn
hence no one day was given over everywhere to
the celebration as there was Is years ago this
month For instance, 1t was not until October
"a, 1--WE days after the surrender, that there APP
.peared on the streets of Philadelphia. only 200
miles from Yorktown. broadside which said:
ILLUMINATION
Colonel TIghman Aide de Camp to his Ex-