Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-12-31
STORY OF YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONAL EVENTS
lost Momsntous Twelve Months of Modern Times
Reviewed Great European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

lowed In rapid succession, until late III
! the autumn, the greatly oufnumbered
Teutonie allies began TO show signs OF
declining offensive ability.
The Japanese confined their military
operations entirely to Asia. They Inn
| rnediaseIy proceeded against the German
forts ut Kiaucbau. China. which were
taken by assault after ten weeks' attack.
Russian and Turkish fleets have been en-
gagged I'm the Black sea, there has been
hghtlng on small scale In Egypt and
the Portuguese In Africa have made sew
afal attacks upon German colonIsts. In
dian trgops have been engaged with Tur-
kish forces In an effort 10 keep the suez
Canal open.
From the FIRST. there has been n prac-
Teal deadlock In the naval situation, The
British neet sailed under sealed orders Au-
suAt 4 and q big naval battle 10 tire
NORTH sea was confidently expected By
the waiting world. It soon became ap-
parent that Great Rritain's purpose WAS
70 deal d fatal blow nit German eommarre,
safeguard that OF Belgium, France and it's
own and render the enemy'B fleet tnopera-
tive BY holding II in tho Baltic, 4 week
later, the port authorities OF New York
were notified that the Atlantic lines were
unobstrueted, and d few days aftsrwaFd
the Pacific lines were pronounced open
and safe" Sixty British war vessels
guarded the exit of the KisI Canal and
prevented the thirty German battleships
anchored there from coming out. Within
few days. more than thirty of the great
German ocean liners were informed In
neutral waters and u number of German
merchant ships we're captured or de-
stroyed.
ny The middle OF November more than
four hundred war sesBela and merchant
men on oil sides had been captured or I'M
termed IN neutral ports. The Linden III
the Pacific and the Karlsruhe In the
South Atlantic, two German raiders,
proved successfully upon allied and neu-
tral commerce. until the former wps put
cut OF action, During the past three
months tho Germans have destroyed q
number OF British cruisers by means OF
torpeaoea In an action OF the COAST OF
chile a squadron Of nye German war
ships sank the Monmouth and Good Hone
with all ON board On October g--ai-
though II was not known to tho public
for fortnight aflerward-~the British
uper~dfeaduanght Andacious was sunk
by a mine of the coast OF ireland Short
~ afterward, the British admiralty de-
clared the North sea a closed military
area,
On December 8 the German cruisers
scharnhofst, Gneisau. Leipzig and Nuern-
berg. under Admiral Won Spec. were sunk
by British squadron under Yice-Admiral
Sir Frederick sturdee. or tho Falkland
Islands. Tho German cruiser Dresden Hs-
caped, badly damaged. December 10
German feet bnmbaraed the English coast
towns OF Hartiepool. Whitby and Scar
borough, killing i5e and wpundIng 800 olti-
xens and causing much property damage,
Three British merchant ye8aels Were sunk
by mines laid by the bombarding feet.
AZ the close OF the year operations in
the west seem practically at q standA4iIl
December ~ the Germans reported q VIC
tory In Poland
An result OF thn immediate paralysis
In the financial world due to the sudden
embodiment OF the European nations,
Americans abroad were subjected 10
great Inconvenience and not 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 tho relief |
ship Red Cross TO European waters, |
with a full equipment OF physicians
nurses and supplies. on September u.
Chaotic Conditions In Mexico.
Early Ia the year foreign nations began
20 be critical OF the administrators
'.iftaHds-of'' Mexican policy and to insist
that the job of paclfying Mexico belonged
logicRlly to the united States. Nicto-
riano Huerta had hold the provisional
presidency for a year and hoaSted I'm his |
cups that he would hold his office longer
than President Wilson would remain in 4
the White House. Meanwhile the bandit
chief pancha VILLA was steadily gaining
ground In the north. The fiereest battle
OF the revolution. which was fought for
almost two weeks, ended In victory for
the rebel forces,
There was an appalling iioss OF life In
this Ions continued fight and mere than
four thousand fugitives crossed the Rio
uranda and took refuge In American ter
fitnry. Here they were cared for by the
United States authorities,
On February President Wilson re-
vuked an order by hia predecessor in OF
Ace 10 put IA stop to the shipment OF arms
aud ammunition Into Mexico by citizens
OF tho United States, On April L. preNi.
dent Wilson instructed Secretary Danlst4
10 assemble an Imposing naval force at
Tampiee, on the Mexican coast. This
was due 10 the refusal OF the Mexican
president and his military aids 10 salute
the American Tag Ra an essential feature
OF ain apology FOR an unwarranted arrest
and Imprisonment of several American
biueiackets who had landed ON Mexican
soil 10 obtain q supply or gasoline.
Although the episode was The result OF
q misunderstanding IN which all the PAR
ties concerned Snared about equally, II
20 comply With any request af the WASH
sngtnn authorities. however politely and
even daiicately made, He refused to or.
der sie salute, and the naval sietaonstra~
tt1n followed. j. @ "a T. IA
Congress passed resolution sustaining
the president In the position which he
had taken. On April q Admiral Fletcher
seized the custom house mt Vera Craig,
The MeStcans resisted the occupation OF
the custom house and the result was n
nght, In which ne Americans were killed
and II wounded. General Mas In com
nland of the garrison. withdrew and left
the Americans In possession.
Nelson O'Shaugnessy, the American rep.
rescntative. WINS given hts passports and
requested to leave the country. Brig.
Gen. Frederick Funston. commander OF
the American forces AT Vera CruK was
ready TO enter on a vigorous campaign,
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