the first concert by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. December December 1 By the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union, Iceland regains independence, but remains in personal union with the King of Denmark, who also becomes the King of Iceland. New voting laws in Sweden makes votes no longer dependent on taxable assets, each adult having one vote. The Union of Alba Iulia is proclaimed: Following the March 27 incorporation of Bessarabia and Bucovina, Transylvania unites with the Kingdom of Romania. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (which later becomes the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) is proclaimed, in particular ending Serbia's existence as a sovereign state for the next 87 years (it would not regain its sovereignty until 2006). December 4 – President Woodrow Wilson departs by ship to the Paris Peace Conference, becoming the first United States President to travel to Europe while holding office. December 5 – Estonian War of Independence: The British light cruiser strikes a mine and sinks near Saaremaa in the Baltic Sea, killing 11 sailors. December 6: A magnitude (Mw) 7.2 earthquake shakes British Columbia. December 14 Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse renounces the Finnish throne. Portuguese President Sidónio Pais is assassinated. Giacomo Puccini's comic opera Gianni Schicchi premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. December 16 – Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas declares the formation of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, a puppet state created by the Russian SFSR to justify the Lithuanian–Soviet War. December 17 – Darwin Rebellion in Australia: Disaffected workers march on Government House, Darwin, demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth. December 20 – Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk returns to the Czechoslovak Republic. December 21 – Estonian War of Independence: The Red Army captures Tartu, Estonia. December 25 – Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten, is formed in Germany as a nationalist veterans' organization. December 27 – Greater Poland Uprising (1918–19): Poles in Greater Poland (the former Grand Duchy of Posen) rise up against the Germans, ignited by a patriotic speech made in Poznań by pianist and politician Ignacy Jan Paderewski. December 28 – Sinn Féin enjoys a landslide victory in Irish seats in the Irish general election (part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election), following the counting of votes, winning 73 of the 105 seats in Ireland. In accordance with their manifesto, Sinn Féin members will not take their seats in the Palace of Westminster