100 years ago: U.S. and allies take hard line on surrender as Germans retreat

In Europe, events were moving swiftly toward a final resolution.

The Germans floated a proposal for a cessation of hostilities, a proposal rejected by France’s Marshal Foch. The Germans were in retreat across the map.

In Berlin, Germany’s political parties were preparing to demand that Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate the throne.

In several German cities, including Hamburg, rebellious “soldier’s councils” had seized control of the local government. Bavaria proclaimed itself an independent republic.

General John J. Pershing’s U.S. troops advanced deep into enemy territory, an area which “contains virtually the last strong enemy defensive positions.”

The U.S. and its allies were taking a hard line on armistice talks. “No effort at compromise or evasion by the Germans is to be tolerated … They must take what the allies and the United States offer and lay down their arms.”

From the flu beat: The local Red Cross started selling flu masks in the corridor of Spokane City Hall. All 500 masks sold out in 30 minutes. Hundreds of people were turned away.

Meanwhile, the city health officer again tried to be optimistic about the state of the Spanish flu epidemic. He was encouraged by the fact that only 33 new cases of flu had been reported.

Yet the death toll continued to climb. It now stood at 117 for Spokane. The worst was by no means over.