Today -100: November 4, 1918: Lot of new countries all of a sudden

Austria-Hungary signs a truce with Italy. It’s a pretty abject surrender. Imagine having to surrender to... Italy.

Kaiser Wilhelm writes to Chancellor Prince Max accepting all the reforms that the Reichstag passed, including the loss of most of his power. Not a word about abdication, though he is said to be sending an awful lot of his possessions to Switzerland. Austrian Emperor Charles also plans to go to Switzerland. I picture them moving in together and hijinks ensuing:

“In November 1918, Charles I was asked to remove himself from his place of residence; that request came from his nation. Deep down, he knew she was right, but he also knew that some day he would return to her. With nowhere else to go...”

Obviously Charles is Felix and Wilhelm is Oscar.

I need a nap, because I can’t decide who’s Murray the Cop.

Emperor Charles releases all members of the Hungarian government from their oath of fealty to him, and Count Mihály Károlyi proclaims Hungary a republic. The republic’s first act is to order Hungarian troops to lay down their arms.

A Gen. Ikestranek attempts to overthrow the Czech National Council, but his (Hungarian) troops refuse to follow his orders.

Serbs recapture Belgrade. Most of the country is now Teuton-free.

Al Smith responds to NY Gov. Charles Whitman’s challenge to name the Whitman appointees he’s been saying he’d fire if elected governor: the Public Service Commission, the superintendent of highways, the conservation commissioner, the superintendent of public works....

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