Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 43, Number 220, 27 July 1918 — Page 7

f AGE NINE FOURTH YEAR OF WAR COMES, TO EN

THE K1CHM0ND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1918.

Transportation Overseas of More Than One Million American Fighters is Outstanding Feature of Fourth Year of Struggle, During Which the Allies Have Faced Two Greaf Offensives, Made Possible, by the.Collapse of Russia General Review of Events During the Entire Year.

By Associated Press) Events big with the fate of nations have marked the fourth year of the war, which now conies to a close. It has been a twelve months of alternate hope and concern for the powers of the Entente alliance. It was on July 28, 1914 that Austria declared war on Serbia, beginning the great struggle. During the past twelve months there have been occurences that In some aspects have been of even greater Import in their Influence upon the world, than those In the preceding period. Russia's collapse, the Italian defeat last autumn, the stupendous drive of the Germans against the Allied armies, and the wonderful defensive operations that have again and" again checked the enemy when success for him seemed near at hand have held the world

breathless. But transcending the significance of any event in the actual theatres of the war, America's full participation in the conflict, Involving the transportation overseas of more than a million men to engage in it, must f remain for all time the great outstanding feature of the fourth year of the struggle. It is upon America that the Entente Is relying for the men and

resources to turn the tide. Only a Handful Sent. A year ago the number of American troops going to Europe had not begun to assume large proportions. A few regulars and some National Guardsmen had been sent to France, but mokt pf the big military training camps were still being built and the men selected as the first contingent to be called to the colors were still in citizen's clothes. Until the first day of August, 1917, the total number of American soldiers taken overseas was 26,967. Soon after that date the movement, of troops was accellerated. Thousands were dispatched across the Atlantic, during the winter months, but it was not until the great German offensive was started lte in March that the movement of troops began to assume really noteworthy proportions. The figures for the months ffrom August 1, 1917 to July 1, 1918, follows: August, 18,323; September, 32,523i October, 38,239; November, 23,016; December, 48,840; January. 46,776; February, 48,027; March, 83,811 April. 117,212; May, 344,345; June 276,382.

Over Million Mark. On July 1, 1918, there were 14,644 American marines In France, bringing the total number of American troops in that country and Italy up to 1,019,115. During the recent fighting In France the work of the American soldiers has compared favorably with that of any other fighting men in the world. They have held sectors here and there along the front. They are rin Alsace and northward in the Lor-

sector Is held by Americans, who are posted also on the lines along the heights of the Meuse. East of Rheims .they took part in the fighting during the last phase of the German offensive, while in the Chateau Thierry sector they held their line in a vital region against the utmost fury of the Teutonic onslaught. North of Chateau Thierry, Americans helped to stop the drive of the Germans in the early days of June; and in the Somme sector, at Catigny and Grivesnes Viey have given proof of their sohsry qualities. The allies have been called upon to face two great offensives during the past year. The first came last October In Italy, and the second, In France began on March 21. The German drives in France, while separated by periods of from a few days to several weeks, have been considered as different phases of the same offensive. The abortive Austrian attack against Italy in June also is looked upon merely as anoiher attack against the western front and not as a distinct military operation. Hut theso offensives perhaps never would have been begun had it not been for ihe callapse of Russia during the pa3t winter. German and Austrian troops, released from the Russian front, were taken to France and Italy to swell the masses of men hurled nralnst the allies in the western thea-i

Kr of operations. As long as Russia remained in the fight she held great numbers of Teutonic troops in the east, and he withdrawal from the war exercised -i fundamental Influence on the course of its development. Situation a Year Ago. The year opened with the fortunes of war apparently favoring the entente. The British had forced back the

' the whole Italian line was thrown into disorder. Fourlng through the passes, where in some Instances disaffected Italian troops hejd positions, the Germans and Austrians made progress which from the first was alarming. By wise generalship, the Italian line va3 withdrawn from the Isonzo. It paused at the Tagliamento and then retired further until it rested on the Piave, almost within sight of the domes' of Venice. Here the Italian army reformed its columns, consolidated its positions by withdrawing from the Rhaetian mountains to the Asiago plateau and, assisted by the French reinforcements brought to that battle front, stood at bay. Russian Collapse. Events in the meanwhile had been moving swiftly in Russia. On November 1, while the offensive against Italy was under way, Alexander F. Kerensky, then the Russian premier, announced that Russia was worn out by the war and that the allies must shoulder the burden thenceforward. Seven days later Kerensky was deposed by the Bolshevik!. The fall and flight of Kerensky was the signal for Germany and Austria to enter into peace negotiations with Russia. On November 30, the Bolshevik! announced that Russia was out of the war and proposed that all of the Allies join in negotiations for an armistice. Russian and German representatives met at Brest Litovsk on December 22, and terms of peace were exchanged.

No progress was made with the nego

tiations, and the conference was broken up on January 11. In the meantime a new republic had sprung from the side of Russia. It was Ukraine, a territory extending along the Rumanian and Galician frontier from the Black Sea northward, to Cholm, in ancient Poland. With this republic, the Central empires made peace late in January. The failure of the Bolshevik! authorities to reach any agreement with Germans resulted in the renewal of hostilities on February 18, and the German armies moved forward once more. Brest-Litovsk Treaty.

This brought about a renewal of

the peace negotiations, and at Brest-

Litovsk the Bolshevikl were given to

understand that Germany would recognize the kingdom of Poland, the re

public of Ukraine, the independence of

t inland, and the separate governmental status of Lithuania, Esthonia and Livonia. Turkey, as an allv of the

Central Powers, was given a great area to the east of the Black sea. including the regions of Batum, Kars and Erdvan. With the announcement of the final signing of the treaty between the Bolshevik! and Germany, the Allies gave up hope that Russia would remain in the conflict, and at once they began to strengthen theli lines against the coming of the great German offensive by which Berlin and Vienna hoped to force the entente nations to make peace. Rumania Capitulates. With the greater part of her territory occupied by the Germans, Austrians and Bulgarians, with her government driven from Bucharest to Jassy and with the Russian Bolshevik! openly hostile toward her, Rumania found herself in a critical situation. Rumanian troops during February and March advanced Into Bessarabia, a part of the new Republic of Ukraine, but they were hemmed in by the enemy forces and obliged to withdraw. At last, on May 6, Rumania signed a treaty of peaoe with the Central Powers. By this treaty Rumania lost the province of Dobrudja. on the south side of the Danube, which she had received after the Balkan war, and agreed to rectification of her western frontier. Economic concessions also were made under pressure from the Teutonic Alliance. Peace Tentatives. The period between December 1, 1917, and March 1, 1918, may be called the period of peace tentatives. It is true that before the end of the summer Pope Benedict made an appeal to the warring nations to enter into peace negotiations, the basis for nnnr-

parlors being the restoration of Bel-"

gium and Serbia and the return to

Liermany or ber lost colonies. This

appeal, made on August 13, was ans

wered Dy President Wilson on August 29, when the president announced that

me uerman government as constituted could not be believed and that the United States was ready to enter into negotiations when the German people showed they desired peace and when

iney spoke through any authority

wmcn would be representative of

mem.

ine oerman answer to the Pope's

nvveai reacned me Vatican on Septem-

Germans to tho famous Hindenburg h?r 2, expressed 1 one that fur h lino. The French had established warfare CouW bTaverted SroueTt,

themselves firmly along the Chemln des Dames, north of the Alsne. The echoes of Verdun were still ringing the knell of German hopes in that sector of the battle area. The Italians were holding their lines along the Isonzo. The rejuvenated Russian "regiment of July First" had carried tho war far Into the Austrian defenses in Bukowina and Galacia. Through August and September, 1917, there came rumors that Russia was exhausted by the war. and quiet settled down along the lines from the pates of the Carpathians to the Baltic. Stories were heard of fraternization of German and Russian troops, but assurances came from Petrograd that Russia would stand true to her allies. Fall Offensive in Italy. The German and Austrian High Commands had no illusions as to further Russian belligerency. There came to the allies reports that the

Central Empires were taking the pick of their force from the Russian front I and concentrating them for a drive against some part of the line ln'the western theater. Then came Intimations that the blow was aimed, against Italy. The storm broke at Cappretto on October 26, and almost immediately,

averted threme-h th

good offices of the Pope, but declined

to enter into any engagement to meet

wnai tne Allies had declared to be their minimum war aims. German Peaoe Offer. German efforts to secure a peace which would leave to Germany all the fruits of her victory gained through Russia's collapse, and with Belgium, and large portions of France to be used as pawns at the council table, began with the address of Count Czernin. then Austrian foreign minister, at Brest-Litov6k, on December 26. The keynote of the address was general peace without annexations and indemnities. On January 8, President Wilson, addressing Congress, said that the United States must know for whom the German rulers were speaking. The address was a complement to an address made on January 5 by David

iviuya ueorge, me British Premier. To these addresses reply was made by Imperial Chancellor von Hertllng of Germany, and Count Czernin. The latter was pacific and conciliatory in tone, while the former, alluding to "the good German sword,'" showed he was speaking for the militarists of the Germanic powers. "Four Principle" Enunciated.

To these replies there was the rejoiner by President Wilson, who, on February 11, again addressed congress, laid down what have come to be known as the "Four Principles" upon which peace can be based. Briefly, these principles were: Final settlement must be based on essential justice. Peoples and provinces are not to be bartered about like chattels.

Every territorial settlement must

be for the benefit and in the interest

of the population concerned. All well-defined national aspirations shall be met with the utmost satisfaction with the future peace. Pope Benedict, in a pastoral letter, issued at Easter, made another ap

peal for concord among the peoples

of the world, but it brought forth no tangible results. At the Pope's behest, prayers for peace were offered in Catholic churches throughout the world on St. Peter's day, June 28. In April there came revelations from Paris that Emperor Charles of Ausrtia had written letters to Prince Sixtu3 of Bourbon, a relative. . In these communications the Austrian monarch conceded the claim of France to Alsace and Lorraine and hinted that peace overtures would be welcomed. As the result of this, Count Czernin, the Austrian Foreign Minister was removed from office. The most recent addresses on the subject of peace have been delivered in the German Reichstag, one by Dr. Richard von Kuhlmann, the foreign minister and the other by Imperial Chancellor von Hertllng. The former's sensational admission that the sword by itself could not briig peace resulted in his resignation, and von Hertling's address voiced the sentiment that as long as the allies were intent upon "destroying Germany" the war must go on. . Then Enemy Offensives. Last winter it became known that the Germans were massing forces on the western front. Reports came that

large units were training behind the lines and that new and more terrible engines of war than had bea known before were to be used in German effort to break the allied lines, crush their armies arid force them to make peace. The drive was well advertised and even the place where it was to be launched was known with comparative certainty. On the morning of March 21, the Germans began their attack from the vicinity of Arras, on the north, to La Fere, on the south, and centering their heaviest columns against the British forces, under General Gough, at St. Quentin. Staggering from the impact of the blow the British army fell back rapidly. For eight days the Germans poured through the old allied line in an effort to crush the British and drive a wedge be'twen them and the French, who were holding the lines to the south. Then came a period of reaction and the Germans came to a stop. They had driven ahead for thirty-five miles, along a front extending more than fifty miles before they were halted. Hardly had their legions been held before Amiens than a new offensive was begun in Flanders, on April 2. It swept the British back through Armentieres, but did not break their lines. The British, with the French who were rushed up to the front.

stopped the Germans after they had reacH d the hills southwest of Ypres. There, on April 9, the Germans suffered a terrible defeat that halted their offensive in that quarter. Foch in Supreme Command. In the midst of the drive in the sector toward Amiens, the allied nations took a vital, important step. They named General Ferdinand Foch, hero of the first battle of the Marne, generalissimo of the allied forces on the western front, which Includes all the lines in Italy as well as in France. Even the Murman coast, in northern Russia, has been held to be under his command. After a period of quiet, the Germans attacked once more, this time on the Aisne river, and in seven days they reached the Marne at Chateau Thierry, making a penetration of about twenty-eight miles. At the Marne they were checked and the impetus of the blow was broken. With hardly a day's pause for the reorganization of their forces, the Germans again attacked, choosing the

sector betwen Montdidier and Noyon, on the southern side of the salient driven into the allied line during the March offensive, as. the stage of the

olnsaught. This offensive ran for five days and was stopped north of Compeigne after losses which were des

cribed as unprecedented had been inflicted upon the Germans. From June 14 until July 15 the Germans were engaged in shifting their forces and then they again struck. This time the line of attack was from Chateau-Thierry eastward, around to the north of Rheims and then down the.Vesde river to Prunay and from that village eastward to Massiges. This attack at the close of the year developed into one of the most ambitious of the German strokes. German forces crossed the Marne over a wide front, but were unable to make ground against American troops near Chateau-Thierry and could not advance rapidly further east. They did, however, forge ahead on the north side of the Marne and between that stream and the mountain of Rheims. It appeared for a time that they might reach Epernay. Counter Blow Begins. Then General Foch struck a counter j blow, which is still in progress. Ameri-1

can and French troops attacked the Germans between Fontenoy, on the Aisne west of Soissons and Belleau on the Clignon northwest of ChateauThierry. So sudden and powerful was the blow that the Germans fell back rapidly until their reserves could be

hurried up.

The rapid advance of the allies.

however, so menaced the Gennafa forces further south that on July 19, the enemy began a retreat across the

Marne. On Sunday, July 21, French and Americana entered ChateauThierry and pressed on after the retiring Germans. Since that time, the allies have gained slowly but steadily, not only south of Soissons, but also "Sforth of the Marne and between that river and Rheims. There are indications tht

a German retreat from the Salient is now under way. . Italians Stand Firm. - On June 15, the Austrians. began a drive against Italy. It was a failure. The Austrians crossed the Piave, but on the west bank met with such stubborn resistance that progress was impossible. Slowly the Austrians were driven back toward the river, and then the Piave, swollen by rains in the mountains, completed the overthrow of Austria's hopes. After suffering terrible losses the Austrians retreated to the eastern bank of the Piave from the Montello plateau to the Adriatic. Minor Operations. Among the year's operations of com-' paritively lesser importance were the British drives in Palestine and Mesopotamia; the Turkish advance in the Caucasus; the "French and Italian offensive in Albania; and the fighting-in the German African colonies. Jerusalem was captured by the British cn December 10, and shortly afterward the fall of Jericho was announced. Since tha taking of Jericho the British forces in Palestine have not been active on the offensive. . General Maude led the British troops into Bagdad on March 11, and shortly afterward died from cholera. His force pushed further up the Tigris until the intense heat of summer terminated operations. The Turks after the collapse of Russia took advantage of the demoralized condition of the Russian forces to advance through the Caucasus and obtain possession of the regions subsequently ceded them by the treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The French and Italian drive in Albania began on July 6, and Is still in progress. During the year British forces in Africa drove German forces before them in German East Africa and In German Southwest Africa and finally compelled them to disperse or surrender. This took from Germany the last of the cast colonial possessions held by her when the war began. Submarine Warfare. The past year has been marked by a gradual decline of submarine sinkings as compared with the number of

ships being built by the Entente allies, the operations of the British and American destroyers have spread terror among the "wasps of the sea." while a great mine field completed in May by the British navy converted virtually the whole North sea into an area closed against U-boat activities. The harbors of Zeebrugge and Ostend, from -which German submarines had been operated against Entente shipping, were either sealed entirely or made virtually valueless as submarine bases by daring naval and air rids by the British in May. U-Boats in American Waters. German submarines visited American waters in June and sank at least ten ships, the field of the U-boat operations being from the north New Jersey coast south to the Virginia Capes and easterly half way to the Bermudas. The only United States transport lost while carrying troops to Europe was the Tuscania, which was torpedoed off the north coast of Ireland on February 6, with a loss of 212 men. Hospital Ships Sunk. During the year eleven hospital ships have been sunk by submarines,

the latest and most flagrant case of this violation of the Geneva Convention being the destruction of the British steamer Llandovery Castle, carrying Canadian nurses and doctors. This took place on June 27, only 24 of the .258 persons on board being rescued. The total shipping reported sunk since August 1, 1917. la more than 4,250,000 tons. . Against this destruction of shipping the Allies have combined their shipbuilding capacity. The actual number of tons o fshipping launched and put into service has not been published. Official announcements have- been made in the recent past, however, to the effect that more ships are being built than are being sunk. On July 4, ninety vessels were launched at American shipyards. Losses In Battle. The year's fighting has entailed great losses for most of the belligerents. During the drive into Italy last October and November the Teutonic armies claimed the capture of more than 180,000 Italians. In the German offensives in France this year about 190,000 French, British, American and Partuguese were reported to have been taken prisoners. Added to these losses are the casualties in killed and wounded. - No definite figures have been issued by Germany and Austria but it has been reported on what appears to be good authity that in the fighting - from March 21 till June 14 the Germans lost more than 500,000 men. The French and British losses were considerably smaller, as the Allies were fighting from entrenched positions. Financial Aspects. The United States has floated three great liberty loans. The proceeds of these loans have aggregated $10,788,541,900. The total war cost to the United States, according to latest available figures, is $13,800,000,000. Since the nation entered the war it has extended credits to the Allies aggregating $6,091,590,000. The total cost of the war to England up to December 15, 1917, was placed at 6,242,000,000, while French votes of credit are somewhat smaller. At latest reports the total of the German war loans approximated $31,000,000,000. Internal Disorders. There have been numerous reports of disorders in countries engaged in the war. Riots and bloodshed have been reported from Germany and Austria many times during the past spring and summer and there is little doubt that the Clavic races of Austria are seething with discontent. Ireland came to the center of the 6tage in this connection early in May, when a pro-German plot was detected but nipped in the bud, with the arrest of seventy-eight leaders of the Sinn Fein. Recently disaffection was reported against the British in South Africa, but it has apparently been stamped out. One Monarch Died. During the year one ruler of a belligerent country died. The death of the Sultan of Turkey was announced in June, subsequent reports intimating he had been murdered. Assistance for Russia. Snce the collapse of Russia, the Allied nations have sought to find a way to assist the people who are being exploited by the Germans. French, Brit

ish and American forces' have been landed on the Murman ortfKola peninsula, on the north coats. ' They have not actively intervened, however, being there only to protect .Allied property which had been landed at the port of Kola before Russia withdrew from the entente Alliance. In Siberia there i a well-deflned anti-Bolshevlki movement wfilch has been built up around. Czecpo-Slovak prisoners of war who . armrod themselves and inflicted defeats cp. the Bolshevikl. A new government vhas been set up there under General Jforvath, president of the Chinese Easfcern Railroad. .Japanese, British and .American armies have been in, the cityof .Vladivostock for months. Neutrals. Cquntlres which are not empiged in the war have suffered during "the 12 months. Switzerland and Holland, being adjacent to Germany, have been threatened, by the Central Powers, a number of times in matters relative to economic concessions. Holland!; especially, has been beset with difficulties, and at present the Allies are pnitecting against her exporting supplies to Germany. J Norway has signed , an agreclment with the United States by which commercial relations may be carried on.

Sweden has been dealing openly with Germany and has been threatened with a virtual boycott by Great Britain. Both nations have lost severely through the depredations of German submarines. Denmark is in a serious plight also and it has been reported that there is great suffering among the people of that country. New Belligerents. Four new countries have declared war on Germany during the year. They are Costa Rica, Guatemala and Hayti and Honduras. The Argentine, although near a break because of the machinations of von Luxburg, the German ambassador at Buenos Ayres, has taken no step in that direction. Mexico has remained neutral.

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