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Show tionary force numbered 1,971,000 men. Forty-two divisions were in France. Twenty-nine of. these were actual combat com-bat divisions. One million, two hundred hun-dred thousand Americans were engaged in the Meuse-Argonne drive. Three thousand, four hundred and ninety-nine ninety-nine pieces of artillery were in action with the American forces. Forty-five air squadrons flying the American colors col-ors were at the front. One hundred and thirty four kilometers kilo-meters of front line were being held by the fighters from America. Total advances of seven hundred and eighty-two eighty-two kilometers had been mado by the Americans. The surrender of the Germans came at a moment when the tremendous resources re-sources of the United States. as a factor in the European struggle were just beginning be-ginning to exert a preponderating influence in-fluence in determining the issue of the war provoked by the central powers. France and Great Britain were at the point of exhaustion. The armistice of a year ago today terminated the clash of armed hosts, but it left in its train a tremendous task that of rebuilding the waste and ruin and reconstructing society. The problem of war resolved itself into a mere matter of winning a triumph by sheer superiority of strength in manpower man-power and outpointing sources of necessary neces-sary materials. The problem of peace is far more complex and difficult. The struggle ended a year ago has left in its wake a new and false and dangerous conception of individual and collective responsibility and duty. There are armies and armies. The unarmed host following the flag of the social revolution is even more potential in its elements of danger than the legions which followed the banner of kaiserism. And that host is being recruited wherever wher-ever industry collects its toilers. The task sot before statesmanship and loyalty and patriotism is to reaffirm reaf-firm the ascendancy oi good citizenship in all the countries making up the family fam-ily of nations. NOVEMBER 11, 1918. ' One year ago today, at 2:43 o'clock-Washington o'clock-Washington 'time, the state department depart-ment gave the news to a war-torn world that the armistice submitted to Ger many had been signed and that peace bad come to a troubled civilization. The historic document went on to say: 'The armistice was signed at o a. m. loday, Paris time, and hostilities will cease at 11 a. m., Paris time. The terms in detail will be made known later, but it is understood that they include: ; .Retirement of German military forces from France. Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine immediately: "German armies to.be disarmed and demobilized; "Allied and American forces to occupy oc-cupy such strategic points in Germany as will make impossible a renewal of aostilities: -The German high seas fleet and a certain number of submarines to be delivered de-livered to the allied and American navies; na-vies; "The allied and American soldiers, sailors and civilians held prisoner in Germany are to be released without reciprocal re-ciprocal action." This brief announcement, made simultaneously simul-taneously in the allied capitals, was 'he signal for an outburst of rejoicing vhieh penetrated the remotest corners of the entente nations. The full terms of the armistice revealed re-vealed the utter humiliation of the one power to hold out against the vic-.orious vic-.orious allies, Germany's companions in the assault of the world's liberties already al-ready having withdrawn from the struggle. strug-gle. The capitulation of the German commanders was followed by revolution ' which swept kaiserism from its mighty ; seat, sent Wilhelm a fugitive to Hoi- : land, where still he awaits retributive justice; overturned the monarchical ; systems of the German states and j Austria, and dethroned the miserable Ferdinand in Bulgaria. Germany and Austria became republics and are still groping toward popular liberties. The central empires were stripped of territories. terri-tories. One year after November 11, 1919, i'.nds Europe still in much of turmoil, i but with the work of reconstruction making decided headway in France and i Belgium, which felr the greater weight of German aggression. Tt finds a league of nations almost ready to function, :he Paris conference having completed the foundations of a world-encircling alliance al-liance which had its inspiration in the hope of saving the peoples of Christendom Chris-tendom from another blood-bath. That league of nations is all but an accomplished accom-plished fact. Of the great signatory powers, the United States alone has yet to assent to the treaty-covenant. The struggle continues in the sesnate of the United 8tatee. Whatever the outcome in Washington, the league of nations soon will begin the exercise of its mighty power for world peace. Xot all of Europe is tranquil; there remain eruptions to be silenced here and there; but from the wreck and ruin of war there are arising new states and peoples who must begin at the beginning be-ginning the work of saving themselves. Id America the clash of arms is sue- 1 ceeded by the clash of Apposing industrial indus-trial interests; the problems of war are succeeded by the problems of pca-Y and reconstruction ; here, as in Europe, there is unrest and confusion, with elements ele-ments at work, the tendency of which Li ominous. Things are topsy-turvy wherever one looks, but it is inconceivable that the forces of discontent can prevail to negative nega-tive the work of building up in this hemisphere of a civilization acknowledging acknowl-edging law and order and consecrated to the arts of peace. The anniversary of the signing of the armistice will be observed the world over with varying eoifttinns. Naturally j the day will be one of bitter reflection for the Teuton peoples; elscwlere it will awaken mingled feelings of joy and sorrow, joy at the termination of the terrors of the most stupendous and criminal war in human history; sorrow for the fearful toll of life, on battlefield battle-field and in priaon, at nea and wher-f-ver the blood -Mained fingor of the war god touched a tormented riviliza-i riviliza-i ion. Paniina: from re fictions a routed by 'he annixersrT, it ia interesting to Dp If just how great the war effort of lbs Lin 1 tod At ate l was on the day when I orh a terms were acpted by the i humbled German a, one year ago this n.'if nlntf. At that time hi Am-rlran rxperji 4 |
