The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], November 11, 1918, Image 1

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
VOLUME xxxxvm
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1918
NUMBER 189
The Department's Announcement Simply Said:
“THE ARMISTICE HAS BEEN SIGNED"
.-a- .o' '
By A«f«ociate<l Presw
WASHINGTON, NOVEME&' 11—THE WORLD WAR WILL END THIS MORNING AT 6 O’CLOCK WASHINGTON TIME, L
TIME. THE ARMISTICE Vvf S SIGNED BY THE GERMAN REPRESENTATIVES AT MIDNIGHT. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
THE STATE DEPARTMENT AT 2:50 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING. THE DEPARTMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT SIMPLY SAID:
“THE ARMISTICE HAS BEEN SIGNED.”
THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE VERBALLY BY AN OFFICIAL OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT INTHIS FORM:
“THE ARMISTICE HAS BEEN SIGNED. IT WAS SIGNED AT 5 O’CLOCK A. M„ PARIS TIME, AND HOSTILITIES WILL
O’CLOCK THIS MORNING, PARIS TIME.”
O’CLOCK PARIS
WAS MADE BY
CEASE AT 11
Washington, JNOvemoer 11.—i ne terms ot tne
armistice, it was announced, will not be made pub
! lie until later.
Military men here, however, regard it as cer
tain that they include: Immediate retirement of
the German military forces from France, Belgium
and Alsace-Lorraine.
Disarming and demobilization of the German
armies.
Occupation by the allied and American forces
j) of such strategic points in Germany as will make
impossible a renewal of hostilities.
Delivery of a part of the German high seas
j fleet and a certain number of submarines to the
I allied and American naval forces.
Disarmament of all other German warships
under supervision of the allied and American
navies, which will guard them.
Occupation of the principal German naval
bases by sea forces of the victorious nations.
Release of all Canadian and American sol
diers, sailors and civilians held prisoner in Ger
many without such reciprocal action by the asso
ciated governments.
Armistice Hitch
Does Not Affect
Allied Activities
Americans Extend Lines; French and British Re
new Pursuit of Fleeing Germans in Whose
Ranks Disorder Is Beginning to
Show Clearly
With the American Army on the Sedan Front, November 7 J,
5 p. m.—(By the Associated Press.)—The armistice situation
had no apparent effect on the activities of the American front
Sunday morning. Parts of the front were marked by artillery
exchanges, with the Germans shelling the Verdun road in the
regions of Cesse, Beaumont, Mofizon and Balan. The Mouson
bridge was broken in two places.
Along the Meuse, from the region of Sedan to Stenay, the German ma
chine gunners, clinging to the hills overlooking the river, kept flares burning
all during Saturday night, preventing the Americans from crossing. Through
the night the American artillery boomed along the entire front as a signal
to the American infantrymen that the war was still on, despite rumors of
peace.
In the drive east of the Meuse, which resulted in the capture of Stenay,
the Americans extended their lines northeast of Mouzay, reaching the Bois
Du Chesne. The Germans defended every foot of the ground over which
the advance was made. All the objectives were reached during the day’s
fighting, and wherever the enemy attempted to make a stand, he was beaten
back.
Before the war, Stenay was a town of about 4000 inhabitants. It is be
lieved that many of these people remain there. Because of this belief the
American artillery did not fire upon the town.
FRENCH TROOPS RENEW PURSUIT
Paris, November 10.—French troops this morning renewed
their pursuit of the Germans. The French official issued today
says the retreat of the enemy is becoming more and more pre
cipitate. Everywhere along the line the Germans are abandon
ing great qujyntities of war material.
Cannon, numerous vehicles of all
descriptions and in some instances en
tire rear trains have been captured by
Marshal Foch’s forces. The statement
reads:
“Our p'yrsuit of the enemy was re
newed this morning under favorable
conditions.
“West of Mezieres the French
passed the Sormonne river and took
the village of Sormonne. They reached
(Continued on l’w« Six)
I
I
“ARMISTICE DOES NOT END
THE WAR, BUT MERELY
< ' HALTS IT,” SAYS DANIELS ;
Baltimore, November 10.—An armistice does not end the I
war, but merely halts it, Secretary Daniels said in an ad- ]
dresst, at a mass meeting here today in behalf of the United
war Work campaign which begins tomorrow. i
“If the armistice is signed today or tomorrow,” the secre- ]
tary said, “it does not mean our men are no longer in mili- ;
tary service, and it does not mean that concern for their en- ,
tertainment and welfare can be relaxed. On the contrary,
it will Jbe a challenge to increased zeal and an appeal to new 1
resources.”
“Thie war work campaign,” the secretary added, “will be ‘
> responded to by all who think more of the courage, clean liv
ing and home interest of the nation’s fighting men than in *
anything else.” i
German People Have Spoken
A New Word Which Tells
German Empire Is Gone
William, Emperor and King, Is Stripped of His Power and Is
Now Plain William Hohenzollern, Fugitive in Holland,
While Germany’s Emissaries Will Return to General
Foch’s Headquarters to Enact the Last Scene of
the Great World Tragedy
By Anmofiated I*re«»«
The German people, for a generation the obedient and submissive servants of their war
lords, for more than four years his pliant instruments in ravaging the world, have spoken a
new word, and old Germany is gone.
From the confused, sometimes conflicting, and often delayed advices from Germany in the
last two days, it has now become apparent that William, Emperor and King, has been stripped
of his power. He is now plain William Hohenzollern, a fugitive in Holland. With his fall
topples into ruin William’s mad design to rule the world.
Little is known of the situation today in Germany, for that country is in the first days of its
new adventure. It is not clear whether the old reign has been permanently dislodged or
whether the new authorities, with the unscrupulous adroitness which has long marked Ger
man politics, are merely sacrificing the chief figureheads of Kaiserism in the hope of obtain
ing an earlier peace. It appears probable that no one in Germany knows, and that it is still to
be determined which of the contending elements will gain, the upper hand.
Revolution is spreading rapidly and from the fact that a socialist is now chancellor it may be gathered that the
''evolution is not merely the quick ending of the war, but the complete severance of the political ties
which still bind the nation with its past. I
For the allies the problem has changed. The countries which fought Germany and her vassals for more than
Four years have emerged from it completely triumphant, but within the borders of the countries which menaced
u* Feac* the whole world stalks revolt, famine and anarchy. The world’s next task may be to restore order in
the desolated central empires. It may be the lot of the former who have successfully contested Germany's greed
for power to save her from the fate she imposed on Russia. Likewise help will have to be given to Austria-Hun- |
gary, Bulgaria and Turkey, whose ruin Germany wrought.
linoi
The German empire »■■ the last
of the great autocraeiea whose fall
imirka the real significance of the
tsar. In Russia, Austria-Hungary
and finally in Germany Irreaponsl
lile power gave way before the ir
resistible force* of democracy.
Germany, holding on to the last,
kept up the hopeleaa struggle until
h’lelA Marshal Von lilnden burg’s
prophetic vtorda, early in the vrar,
fame true. The aide with the
Strongest nerves, aaid he, would
win. It ia the crumbling of the
home front which made It impos
aible for Germany, notwlthstand
Ing her great armie* in the field,
to carry on nny longer.
The coliapae of Germany bring*
the ecllpae of the German idra of
the atatr, aa oppoacc to the doc
trine of individual right*, to which
the nation clung with hardly a dis
secting voice until recently. Under
thla regime there wax developed a
nation of which mllitariam wax the
embodiment, which murdered and
plundered, heedlea* of the right* of
the Individual, and mnde terrorism
a matter of atuilied policy. Thla
terrorism wax directed not only
ngalnat individual*, but against na
tions, not only hostile nations, but
those with whom Germany was of
ficially at peace. Its system of es
pionage, corruption and violence
extended everywhere. It was exem
plified by the plot* carried out In
thla country under direction of the
OTANWiMS
FIRST ADDRESS TO
PEOPLE REFERS TO
THEM AS CITIZENS
Washington, November 10.
Frederick Ebert, upon assum
ng office yesterday as ohancel
or, issued a proclamation an
louncing that the new gov
srament in Berlin had taken
:harge to prevent civil war
ind famine. In a manifesto
iddressed to the “citizens” of
lermany, the chancellor said
le was going to form a people’s
jovemment to bring about
>eace “as quickly as possible”
ind to confirm the liberty
vbich the government has
gained.
The text of the proclamation and
he manifesto were sent out by the
lerman wireless station at Nauen and
icked up today by naval radio sta.
ions in this conn try In making them j
(Continued ou race Iwe)
munition plant* and MhipM before
tlie United Staten entered the war
and by the effortn of the German
government to embroil thin coun
try. then neutral, in war with
•Inpan and Mexico. No capital of
Kutopp wan free from German
necret agent* in the year* preced
ing the war, and the nations lived
In growing dread of flic huge mil
itary machine W’hich Germany was
building; up, to the uccoinpaniment
of the Ii'mperor's boasting* of the
“shining; nw'ord” and German
boasts to “Der Tnis” In voices which
echoed around the world. ,
DRAMATIC SWIFTNESS
The virtual ending of this great
est of conflicts has conic with
drumatlc swiftness. Four months
ago today, the German military'
power apparently was at its height.
The unchecked forces of the ene
my had battered their way through
the French and Belgian lines until
Paris was in danger and the Brit
ish fighting w’ith their baeks to
the wall to prevent themselves
from being forced to sen. Late In
July the world was thrilled with
the news of an allied counter attack
between the Alsne and the Marne.
The Germans were hurled back
along the whole sector and since
that day the victorious efforts of
the allies has been maintained.
The entrance of America Into the
struggle, with her vast resources
of men and materials, |s conceded
by the allies to have turned the
scales. One of the most Important
SOLDIERS’ COUNCIL
GUARDS DANISH
I FRONTIER CLOSELY
Copenhagen, Saturday, Novem
ber 9.—(By the Associated Press.)
The Danish frontier is being
strictly guarded by the German
soldiers’ council. This is being
done, it is stated, in order to pre
vent the escape of rich people,
generals and other high officials.
National cockades and the eagle
on the helmets of soldiers have
been removed, being replaced by a
red band.
The wearing of the iron cross
has been strictly prohibited.
LIBERTY PARADE
General McCleery, chairman of the
parade committee of the allied armies,
state* that the parade t« announced
for the fourth Liberty Loan celebra
tion will be held this afternoon at 3
o'clock.
He requests that all division com
manders get their organizations to
gether this morning and form at the
places designated in the plan of the
fourth Liberty Loan parade. The
parade will form at eighteenth street
and march thence to Sixth avenue,
thence to Nineteenth • street, thence to
First avenue, thence to Twentieth
street to Capitol park, where the ex
ercises will be held.
tht- heartening to an enormous ex
tent of the wearied allied nation*
and a corresponding deterioration
of German morale. Exhaustion of
German raw’ materials and yearn of
semi-starvation assisted in the pro
cess of beating down the enemy In
a submissive frame of mind.
GENIUS OF FOCH
It in alao significant that the ea
tabllsltment of allied supremacy In
the field almoat synchronised with
the unification of military control i
and the appointment of General
(now Marshal) Koch to the pout of
supreme command. Mllltnry com- 1
mentator* without exception lay
stress upon the Importance of lead
ership and the genius of Foch In
Ntemmlns and finally turning the I
tide. {
Amonc the^ Individual leaders*
aside from Foch, whose names stand
out most prominently, ure Marshal
Jolfre, who saved France In her
darkest days of the summer of 1014;
Field Marshal Hula* the British J
commander; General Petain, at the
head of the French forces; General *
Diaz, who, on the Italian front*
beat back last summer’s great Aus- j
trian offensive and later tore the
Austrian armies to pieces In a few*
weeks, and General Pershing. J
On the German side are Field.
Marshal Von lllndenburg, a com- 1
paratlvely obscure officer, who
leaped Into world-wide fame by his i
defeat of the Russians In 1014, and
£
tC-'onfiuueri on Page Two)
t
«
GERMAN PEOPLE’S
GOVERNMENT HAS
BEEN INSTITUTED.
OVER BERLIN'
-. v
t
Berlin, November 10.—(Ger- «
man Wireless to London Nov
ember 10, 12:56 p. m., by the
Associated Press.)—The Ger
man people’s government has
been instituted in the greater
part of Berlin. The garrison
has gone over to the govern
ment. (
The workmen’s and soldiers’ coun
cil has declared a general strike.
Troops and machine guns have been
pieced at the disposal of the council.
Guards which had been stationed at
the public offices and other buildings
have been withdrawn.
Friedrich Ebert, vice president of the
social democratic party, la carrying
on the chancellorship.
The text of the statement issued by
the people’s government reads:
"In the course of th? forenoon
of Saturday, the formation of a
new German people's government
was initiated. The greater part
(Continued on Page Twoi
German Empire
. Torn to Pieces;
People Celebrate
Parades, Riots, Strikes and Street Fighting De
notes Feeling of Citizens Over the Downfall
of Imperial Dynasty, When Kaiser and
Crown Prince Abdicate
Berlin, Saturday, November 9.—(Germai
don, November 10, 10:56 p. m.)—Deputy S< i ,
of the socialists in the Reichstag, in a speed
“The Kaiser and the crown prince have abdicated. The
dynasty has been overthrown. It is a splendid victory for the
German people.
“Herr Ebert has been charged with the formation of a new
government, in which all shades of the social democratic party
are to participate.
“Only decrees from the government bearing the signature of
Herr Ebert have validity. Only orders from the minister for
war bearing the counter signature of the social democrat acting
as assistant are official.”
Deputy Scheidemann exhorted the crowd to keep calm and
to avoid incidents.
Deputy Von Tharr and some soldiers spoke from a motor
lofrie. A delegate from the corps of officers of the guard bat
talion announced that the officers were on the side of the peo
ple. Stormy applause and jubilation accompanied the
speeches.
OALiIj r UK UEJNEKAL STK1KE ISSUED
Berlin, Saturday, November 9.—(German Wireless to Lon
don, November 10.)—Vorwaerts, the central organ of the social
democratic party of Germany, in an extra edition today pub
lished the following call for a general strike:
The workmen s and soldiers’ council of Berlin has decided upon a gen
ial strike. All the factories are at a standstill.
“The necessary administration of the people will be maintained. A large
)art of the garrison has been closed and bodies of troops and machine guns
lave been placed at the disposal of the workmen’s and soldiers’ council.
“The movement will be guided in common by the social democratic party
>f Germany and Jhe independent social-democratic party of Germany. The
vorkmen’s and soldiers’ council will take charge of the maintenance of quiet
ind order. Long live the social republic.
“WORKMEN’S AND SOLDIERS’ COUNCIL.”
Prom all parts of the German empire news is being received regarding
imilar revolutions, which almost everywhere remain within the bounds of
iconomic order.
PROCESSIONS IN BERLIN
London, November 10, 11 p. m.—In regard to the incidents of November
I in Berlin, the semi-official telegraph bureau, working under the control
if the workmen's and soldiers’ council, issues the following report:
“This morning at 9 o’clock the workmen of the greatest industrial under
akings commenced a general strike.
“Processions hastened _from all the suburbs to the center of the city,
ted flags were carried at the head of the processions, in which marched
rmed soldiers and all classes*
“The first procession arrived from the Aickerstrasse and Brunnestrasse.
is a preliminary, the soldiers and officers were urged to remove their cock
des and epaulettes. In the majority of cases this took place voluntarily.
“There was a general fraternization of soldiers and workmen. The work
len penetrated the barracks, where they received an enthusiastic reception
rom the soldiers.
“The military occupants of factories mingled in common with the work
irs, left the works and treated with them in common.
“So for as known the only clash between the masses and armed forces
ook place on the occupation of the so-called ‘Cockshafer’ barracks. In
hefte barracks was a guard of fusiliers, but only two officers fired.
“Three persons were killed and one was injured. This is to be regretted.
"The taking possession of a majority of the public buildings and estab
shments was completed without difficulty, once it was clear that the mili
iry had gone over to the people.”
REVOLUTION EXTENDS RAPIDLY
London, November 10.— (By the Associated Press.)—According to dis
atches from Amsterdam and Copenhagen the revolution in Germany is ex
snding rapidly, but in most places the desired effect is being achieved with
ut violence oV serious disorders.
In some places, notably in Anhalt, Hesse-Darmstadt and Mecklenburg
< Continued on Psgr two)
I
WASHINGTON OPENS UNITED
WAR WORK CAMPAIGN TO
DAY WITH GREAT PARADE
Washington, November 10.—The nation-wide united war
work campaign for the raising this week of $170,500,000 for
work among American soldiers and sailors at home and over
seas by seven welfare organizations will be inaugurated in
this city tomorrow with a parade.
President Wilson has been invited to review the pageant
as it passes the White House. Units of the nation’s land and
sea forces will march with representatives of the seven or
ganizations and the various government departments and
contingents of Boy Scouts with their band. The campaign is
held with full approval of the government and has been in
dorsed by President Wilson in a letter to John R. Mott, direc
tor general of the campaign, and by heads of government de
partments.