On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com

TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1, 1918

There will be fair skies today with cooler temperatures and light winds from the northwest. The high will be about 56° with the low tonight near 45°. The Influenza Epidemic has officially ended in Philadelphia according to Dr. Wilmer Krusen, Director of the Department of Health. Only 54 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. That is 28 less than the preceding 24 hours. Also only 5 deaths were reported from the disease in the last day.

Today is celebrated by Roman Catholics as All Saints Day, a Holy Day of Obligation. Because the day falls on a Friday this year, Catholics are permitted to eat meat. Those owning automobiles will be happy to know the new 1919 license tags have arrived at Harrisburg. The tags were made at the Huntingdon Reformatory and all reports are a fine job was done. The tags are black in color with bright red numerals, a style never used before. The State has ordered 400,000 tags. Those wishing to retain their previous tag number should contact the Highway Department as soon as possible.

On the sports scene, there will be high school football today as most teams were able to recruit enough boys to fill their squads. Central High will take on South Philadelphia at Houston Field, 29th & Somerset Streets. West Philadelphia will face Germantown at Cahill Field, 29th & Clearfield Streets. West Philadelphia Catholic High will meet Friends Central at Pennsylvania Railroad/Y.M.C.A. field. St. Luke’s goes against Episcopal Academy at 62nd & Walnut Streets. Penn Charter plays Chestnut Hill Academy at St. Martins and Camden High meets Haddon Heights at Camden.

WAR NEWS

The Ottoman Empire has surrendered. The war in the Middle East is effectively over. At noon today an armistice was signed between Turkey and the Entente Powers. The document was signed aboard the HMS Agamemnon in Moudros harbor on the Greek island of Lemnos. The armistice included giving the allies the right to occupy and control the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. The Ottoman army and air force is to be demobilized and all ports, railways and strategic points are to be made available to the allies for use. In effect the Ottomans have signed an unconditional surrender.

HMS Agamemnon

On the southern front, the allied advance across the Piave River continues to drive the Austrians back in a general retreat. The Italians, British and French have now taken over 50,000 Austrian prisoners. Also the capture of the mountain pass of Vadal by the Italians has effectively cut off the retreat of 15 Austrian divisions.

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