had announced, at 2:45 a. m., that the armistice had been signed at 5 a. m., Paris time.

Germany, a week before, had asked for an armistice and delegates from the German military forces were permitted to cross the line. The terms upon which the victors were ready to cease fighting were made known to the armistice delegates. Marshal Foch refused to cease hostilities until the armistice terms were signed. On Thursday, November 7, a report that the armistice had been signed swept over the country, but was soon officially denied, and proved to have been a false alarm.

The announcement from Washington that terms had been agreed upon was the signal for a giant demonstration all over the nation, and nowhere was there more enthusiasm than in Wayne county. The few hours that followed the first announcement brought information that the terms were so drastic that Germany could not again take up arms, but would be compelled to accept the dictated peace conditions made by the United States and the Allies.

There was no work in any Wayne county factories or stores that day. From 4 a. m. when the news got a real start-it was at that hour that bells and factory whistles shrieked and pealed forth the tidings-until midnight and after, pandemonium reigned. The court house bell rang continuously from 4 a. m. until 8 p. m. The first parade took place at 8 a. m., and there was no letup in the street demonstration until night. During the day arrangements were made for a huge parade Monday evening, and those who witnessed this spectacle declared it was the greatest in the city's history. Lieutenant Ralph Wile, one of the city's first young men who had gone to an officer's training school, was chief marshal. Judge W. E. Weygandt addressed the throng in the square after the parade.

At Orrville, Creston, Shreve, West Salem, Dalton, Smithville and other towns in the county there were parades and demonstrations. The kaiser was burned in effigy, buried, and otherwise notified that his career as a world wrecker had come to an end.

Tuesday brought a slight reaction in the rejoicing. Newspaper dispatches hinted at anarchy in Germany, and intimated that Bolshevism, which had dragged Russia to ruin, was gaining the upper hand. There was a possibility that while Germany had accepted the terms of the allies, Germany would have no government to carry out the agreement. The situation remained critical for some days, but before a week had passed conservative socialists gained control in Germany, the wave of mad Bolshevism waned, and the actual carrying out of the armistice terms was begun.

After the first day of wild rejoicing, conditions returned to normal in Wayne county. The world's greatest crisis brought about no immediate changes here. Had any man slept for a week, from Thursday, Nov. 7, until the following Thursday, he would have seen no difference either in Wooster or the county, so far as the carrying on of business was concerned. Had he been a close observer, he might have noticed more buoy. ancy in the conduct of Mr. Average Person, and he no doubt would have been aware of the fact that the marks of anxiety on the brows of hundreds of Wayne county mothers whose stalwart sons had faced Prussian frightfulness in all its forms had been replaced by a glow of happy expectancy; they looked forward to a speedy return of the boys in khaki.

The end of the war did not come unexpectedly. In mid-July when Foch first counter-attacked as the Germans were driving upon Paris, there was no prospect for early peace. Newspapers were printing articles by military critics who pointed out that the steady stream of American soldiers reaching France would make possible a great offensive in the campaign of 1919-a decisive offensive that undoubtedly would crush Germany sometime during that year. By mid-August Foch's system of striking here, then there, and again somewhere else always seeking a weak spot in the German line, and always on the offensive, was still gaining momentum. Critics who day by day hinted that a pause must soon come, began to change their attitude; and when, in late September, the American army struck its first great blow in Champagne, while the British and French were pounding away farther west and north, there were admissions from leading war writers that the 1918 campaign might end the war. The fall of Bulgaria was a forecast of what was ahead; and the surrender of Turkey and Austria clearly indicated that the war had been won. Those who, for months, had been of the opinion that the news of the end of the war would come like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky; who had predicted that representatives of the governments of the rival powers would meet in secret sessions while the armies, in ignorance of their bickerings, kept up the struggle in the field, were gravely mistaken. The end, with certain ifs and ands, was seen clearly several weeks ahead. It could be figured to a nicety, just as a farmer can tell, by counting the shocks, how many days it will require him to haul in the sheaves from the wheatfield-if the rain stays away. The world knew Germany was beaten, and few indeed were those who believed that the foe, once having asked an armistice, would refuse the terms imposed, no matter how drastic.

It was because of this almost unanimous conviction, formed during October, and strengthened with the passing of each day, that the actual cessation of hostilities had no effect upon business.

Although it was a foregone conclusion, inevitable and positive, the end, nevertheless, brought genuine relief. Wayne county drew a deep, full, joyful breath, and in one voice murmured, "Thank God."

More than a thousand of her sons had donned the uniform of the army or the navy; her industries were engaged on war contracts; her citizens were investing their all in Liberty bonds, or giving it to charity organizations engaged in work of mercy; her farmers were striving, despite the tremendous labor shortage, to produce increased yields to keep the world from famine; her fathers and mothers, wives and sweethearts were praying for the safety of loved ones overseas battling for democracy; high prices were threatening to cause real distress in many homes; a continuation of the conflict meant more soldiers to go, and heavier burdens to bear for those left behind. Not a family but was experiencing some discomfort, suffering some hardship, yearning for relief from the intense nervous strain.

War work organizations, however, remained steadiy on the job. The food and fuel administrations continued to exercise authority. In the week following the signing of the armistice, each township in the county created a War Chest that totalled approximately $100,000; the Red Cross organization continued active for many months, and there were further Liberty Loan and War Saving Stamp campaigns, for the bills remained to be paid, even though the "party" was over.

There was a slow transformation back to a peace foundation. Prices remained high, being higher, in fact, in July, 1919, than they were at any time during the war. Soldiers, securing their discharges, returned to civil life without disrupting industry. They melted away, it almost seemed, and the demand for working men was not satisfied.

For many months following the signing of the armistice, the soldiers from Wayne county returned to their homes in small groups. First those in U. S. cantonments, then those from overseas were given honorable discharges by the war department. The county's guardsmen returned in mid-April. Many were delayed in overseas service still longer, and late in July, when this was written, some few had not yet returned.

There was a great demonstration at Wooster and Shreve on Sunday, April 13, 1919, when the guardsmen reached home. On June 14, 1919, Shreve held a grand "welcome home" for all the soldiers of the county, and especially those in their community. A feast was served the khakiclad men in the Shreve armory. An address was delivered by Charles H. Workman, of Mansfield. A few days later Wayne township similarly welcomed home the soldiers of that township, it having the distinction of being the only rural township in the county to send two Captains into service, Fred C. Redick and Grover C. McCoy both being residents of Wayne township.

The biggest welcome for soldiers of Wayne county was held in Wooster on July 4, 1919, Walter G. Whitaker having been chairman of the committee which planned the event. Three hundred of the county's soldiers sat down to the noon-day feast prepared from donations of the good people of Wayne county. William Graves Sharp, of Elyria, former U. S. Ambassador to France, was the chief speaker. Among other things he urged Wayne countians to stand for the League of Nations. The army's dirigible balloon, the A-4, which had been stationed at Akron, gave a demonstration over the fair grounds in the morning. At night there was a spectacular display of fireworks. The military review was in charge of Col. F. C. Gerlach. General Farnsworth, who was to have reviewed the parade, sent a representative, finding it impossible to be here in person.

The July 4th parade was the last large assemblage of soldiers in Wayne county. Some few returned singly from service after that, but went quietly to their homes, doffed their uniforms, and re-entered civil life.

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world, but I don't want to go through it again," summarizes the opinion of hundreds of Wayne county soldiers who were in service both in the U. S. and overseas.

CHAPTER XXIII.

WAYNE COUNTY CHURCHES IN THE WAR

BY REV. ERVIN E. YOUNG

The question has been asked, and rightly so, what part have the churches played in the great world war? It is with a keen sense of just pride and a feeling of sublime satisfaction that we look upon the service rendered by the churches of Wayne county in helping to win the war for democracy and righteousness.

Some who are prejudiced against the church, and others who have been embittered because of the attitude of some cults who have been styled "Conscientious Objectors," have made the charge that the churches have failed to do their part in the winning of the war. This is an unkind and unjust accusation. The best fighting men are the best living men. And so long as the church continues undeniably the leading institution in the matter of teaching, training, and inspiration of holy living, we will claim for the church the highest throne of moral and spiritual force in the cause of an allied victory.

Our churches have given their sons by the hundreds to the army, navy, and aviation corps of the allied powers, and many to the Red Cross and Y. M. C. A. in the camps and upon the battlefields of Europe. Brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, trained in Chris

tian homes, churches, and Sunday schools, instructed in the revelations of Jesus Christ, and many of them communicant members of our churches, these noble sons have gone forth to fight the battles of God and man against the organized forces of incarnate evil. These men have not come from one church only, but represent all the many branches of the church of the living God. They come from Protestantism, from the Jews, and from the Roman Catholic. The constitute the moral backbone and the spiritual dignity of the allied hosts.

But we have not been content to merely send these choice young men forth to fight for the lofty ideals of a righteous cause, and to perish in the pursuit of a fond ambition, forgotten by the church and neglected by the religion that had nurtured them. The churches have followed them into the camp, into the dug-out, into the trenches, and to the very battle front. It was, from the very first, the fond purpose and firm determination of the church to keep in touch with every young man at the front. He was sought out and someone was quietly selected as a representative of the church to keep in touch with him, to correspond with him and thereby keep him in touch with the folks and affairs at home. In many cases the one at home who wrote did not know he or she had been singled out to write as a representative of the church to some boy at the front, and the boys did not in any case know that their correspondent was a man or woman representative of the church, for they were writing as a friend to whom they wanted to be a real friend. Again, in many instances, the churches, through their Sunday schools, Young People's Societies, Missionary, Aid Societies and various organizations officially kept in touch with the boys at the front, sending them smileage books, Christmas remembrances, and the Junior societies did their bit by sending them humerous sayings clipped from magazines and other periodicals, that the boys might have a smile from the little ones at home.

Then the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Association and kindred organizations are primarily organizations of the church, and the church has followed through these the men to the trenches with its chaplains and messengers of healing for the soul and body. We must remember there was never a hospital before the Gospel was preached and that the vast majority of the Red Cross workers are members of the church. The church certainly has done its best to alleviate the burdens of those who have been bearing pain and suffering death on our behalf. Add to these facts the important service rendered in the pulpits of our churches where the ministers were in the name of God denouncing so-called "German Kultur," and protesting against German outrages. At the same time they were advocating relief measures for the stricken populations, rendered homeless through the ravages of the war. The church has not been dere