End  of  the  War. — The  outlook  of  the  world
was  changed  in  that  month  when  Parliament  made
the  last  extension  of  its  life  by  Foch's  counter-stroke.
Thenceforth  the  tide  of  battle  which  had  threatened
to  overwhelm  the  Allies  rolled  back  and  on  the  day
that  Parliament  adjourned  for  the  autumn  recess
in  August  Haig  began  the  offensive  which  never
ceased  till  he  delivered  the  knock-out  blow.     There


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were  Labour  troubles  at  home  while  the  soldiers  of
the  AlHes  were  fighting  so  hard  and  successfully.
There  was  a  strike  of  munition  workers  at  Coventry
and  Birmingham  in  the  last  week  of  July.     London
was  without  omnibuses  for  several  days  in  August
on  account  of  a  strike  of  women  and  for  two  days
the   police   left   the   capital   in   the   protection   of
special   constables.     There   was   a   strike   of  ship-
wrights on  the  Clyde  at  "  the  spring-tide  of  victory  "
in  September.     But  we  were  all  thrilled  and  inspired
during    that    memorable    autumn    by    the    rapid
succession  of  Allied  attacks,  the  breaches  of  the
Hindenburg  line,  the  driving  back  of  the  Germans,
the  capture  of  vital  positions,  the  American  offensive,
the   collapse   of  the   enemy   in   the   Balkans,    the
Turkish  debacle  in  Palestine.     The  steady  advance
of  our  gallant  troops  filled  us  with  pride.     Each  day
people  expected  to  hear  of  a  new  victory  and  each
day  gave  the  story  of  the  recovery  of  a  place  en-
graved on  the  hearts  of  those  whose  husbands  or
sons,  brothers  or  friends  fell  there  in  former  battles.
Parliament,  which  adjourned  in  a  hopeful  but
chastened  mood  in  August,  reassembled  on  October
15    in    conditions    surpassing    the    most    sanguine
expectations  of  the  optimists.     The  surrender  of
Bulgaria   at   the   end   of  September   was,    as   Mr.
