The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-12-31
STORY Oh YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONAL EVENTS
Most Momentous Twelve Months of Modern Times
Reviewed-Great European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

lowed In rapid succession, until late In
the autumn the greatly o~utnumbered
Teutonic allies began TO show signs of
declining offensive ability.
The japanese confined their military
operations entirely TO Asia. They i'm
mediately proceeded against the German
forts at Kiauchau, China, which were
taken by assault after ten weeks attack.
Russian and Turkish fleets have been en-
gagged in the Black sea. there has been
fighting on a small scale in Egypt, and
the Portuguese in Africa have made sew
eral attacks upon German colonists. In
dian troops have been engaged with Tur-
kisb forces in an effort to keep the Suez
Canal open.
From the first, there has been a prac-
teal deadlock in the naval situation. The
British fleet sailed under sealed orders Au-
gust 4, and a big naval battle in the
North sea was confidently expected by
the waiting world. 1t soon became ap-
parent that Great Britain's purpose was
to deal a fatal blow at German commerce,
safeguard that of Belgium, France and it's
OWN and render the enemy's fleet inopera-
tive by holding 1t in the Baltic. A week
later, the port authorities Of New York
were notified hat the Atlantic lines were
unobstructed, and a few days afterward
the Pacific lines Were pronounced open
ami safe" Sixty British war vessels
guarded the exit of the Kiel Canal and
prevented the thirty German battleships
anchored there from coming out. Within
a few days, more than thirty of the great
German ocean liners were informed in
neutral waters and a number of German
merchant ships were captured or de-
stroyed
BY the middle OF November more than
four hundred war vessels and merchant
men on all sides had been captured or in
termed in neutral ports. The Emden in
the Pacific and the Karlsruhe in the
South Atlantic, two German raiders,
preyed- successfully. upon allied and neu-
trail until the former was put
out of action. During the past three
months the Germans have destroyed a
number of British cruisers by means OF
torpedoes. In an action off the coast of
Chile, a squadron of five German war
ships sank the Monmouth and Good Hope
with all on board. On October Gal
though 1t was not known to the public
for a fortnight afterward-ths British
super-dreadnaught Audacious was SUM
by a mine off the coast Of Ireland. Short
ly afterward. the British admiralty de-
clared the North sea a closed military
area.
S~charnhorst, Gneisau, Leipzig and Nuern-
berg, under Admiral Won Spec. were sunk
by a British squadron under ~Vice-Admiral
Sir Frederick Sturdee, off the Falkland
islands. The German cruiser Dresden es-
capped, badly damaged. December 16 a
German fleet bOmbarded the English coast
towns of Hartlepool, Whitby and Scar
borough. killing $50 and wounding 300 citi-
Zens and causing much property damage.
Three British merchant vessels were sunk
by mines laid by the bombarding fleet.
At the close Of the year operations in
the west seem practically at a standstill
December II the Germans reported a vic
tory In Poland.
AS a result of the immediate paralysis
in the %inanCia world due to the sudden
embodiment of the European nations,
Americans abroad were subjected to
great Inconvenience and not a little actual
hardship. Much relief was afforded the
Belgian sufferers and large sums OF
money for the purpose were raised all
over the country. ...
The American Red Cross sent the reliet
ship Red Cross to European waters,
with a full equipment OF physicians
nurses and supplies, or September u.
Chaotic Conditions in Mexico.
Early in the year foreign nations began
to be critical of the administrations
'hands-of' Mexican policy and to insist
that the job of pacifying Mexico belonged
| loSlCdliy 10 the oIlteu states. NlCtO-
riano Huerta had held the provisional
presidency for a year and boosted in his
cups that he would hold his Office longer
than President Wilson would remain in
the White House. Meanwhile the, bandit
chief Pancho Villa was steadily gaining
ground In the north. The fiercest battle
of the revolution, which was fought for
almost two weeks, ended in victory for
the rebel forces.
There was an appalling loss of life in
this long continued fight, and more than
four thousand fugitives crossed the Rio
Grande and took refuge in American ter
ritory. Here they were cared for by the
United States authorities.
On February 3 President Wilson re.
voked an order by his predecessor in Of
flee to nut a stop to the shipment of arms
and ammunition into Mexico by citizens
of the United States. On April IA. Presi-
dent Wilson instructed Secretary Daniels
to assemble an imposing naval force at
Tampico, on the Mexican coast. This
was due to the refusal of the Mexican
president and his military aids to salute
the, American flag as an essential feature
of an apology for an unwarranted arrest
and Imprisonment of several American
bluejackets who had landed on Mexican
soil to obtain a supply of gasoline.
Although the episode was the result OF
II IHls uIiUerSldHulilS III Which, LII TIE par
ties concerned shared about equally, II
was manifest that Huerta was In no mood
to comply with any request of the Wash
ington authorities, however politely and
even. delicately made. He refused to or
der the salute. and the naval demonstra-
ton followed.
Congress passed a resolution sustaining
the president in the position which he
had taken. On April q. Admiral Fletcher
seized the custom house at Vera Cruz.
The Mexicans resisted the occupation OF
the custom house and the result was a
fight, in which 1e Americans were killed
and n wounded. General Mas, in com.
mand of the garrison, withdrew and left
the Americans in possession.
Nelson O~'Shaugnessy, the American rep
res~entative. was given his passports and
requested to leave the country. Brig.
Ger. Frederick Funston. commander OF
the American forces at Vera Cruz. was
ready TO enter on a vigorous campaign.
I less assault on Quebec, Gen. Richard