The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-08-19
FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR.
Continued from page ,. column A.
can and 70 the Dardanelles. where

! il tCr"e!Oed the British DatIeSnlpS
Triumph and Majestic, and proceed
ed to Constantinople. The voyage
from Wilhelmshaven to the Darda-
nelles required one month.
The aeroplane, almost an unknown
quantity at the beginning of the war
so far as its military value was con-
cerned, has proved its practicability
so thoroughly that it must be rated
with the submarine and the heavy
gun as one OF the great features OF
the war. In fact. it has exercised a
dominating influence over land oper-
ations. and TO its use perhaps more
than any other single factor may be
ascribed the deadlock month after
month in the principal fields of bat
tie. 1t has rendered priceless service
in reconnoitering, taking the place
of cavalry II has caused revision
of the tactics and strategy of war.
Aerial observers, flying over the op-
posing lines. are able to discover
movements of any large bodies of
troops, rendering that form of strate-
gy based on surprise attacks or
quick movements in force impossl-
BILE. Aeroplanes also have been of
great value in locating enemy posi-
tions, enabling the artillery to get
the range and fire accurately on the
unseen foe.
Dirigible balloons also are employ
ed, but to a much less extent. AL
though Germany still is constructing
Zeppelins and has used them effect
lively for long distance raids they are
generally regarded as less valuable
than the aeroplanes.
Automobiles are used to an enor-
nous extent. all private machines be-
ing requisitioned in some of the coun-
tries at war. In some instances
great numbers of automobiles have
been utilized for rapid transporta-
ton of troops. Their main service,
however, is in the handling of food
supplies and ammunition. Armored
automobiles, armed I with machine
guns or light field pieces, also have
been utilized.
Many new weapons OF. war have
heen treated with VARYING degrees of
success. Poisonous gasses, project
ed from tanks in the trenches, are
reported to have enabled their users
to capture opposing positions in sew
eral minor engagements. Steel darts
and incendiary bombs dropped from
aeroplanes, and new types of hand
grenades also have been employed.
while in France both sides are said
to have made use of apparatus for
spraying burning oil.
The political effects Of the war,
tremendous as they must be, cannot
yet be gagged. The principal result
thus far is the definite rupture of the
traditional alignment which divided
Europe for years into two alliances
with a theoretical balance of power:
Great Britain, France and Russia
forming the Triple Entente. and Ger
many, Austria-Hungary and Italy
constituting the Triple Alliance.
From the day Austria-Hungary be-
came involved in serious difficulties
with Serbia there was little doubt
Germany would support her ally in
case Russia adhered to her tradition
al policy Of defending her Slavic
kinsmen in the Balkans. The en-
trance in the war of France follow
ed as a natural sequence to her al
lance with Russia, and Great Britain
Joined in after Germany's invasion
Of Belgium.
Italy was thus the only one Of the
six nations concerned in the two al
liances which was not involved at the
outset. Proclaiming her neutrality,
she utilized the opportunity to seek
from Austria the territory to the
north of her border which she has
long desired. Failing to obtain full
satisfaction of her demands she de-
nounced the Triple Alliance and join
ed the allies. The Triple Entente
was thus converted into the Quad
ruple Entente. as it is sometimes
called now.
Germany and Austria-Hungary
were strengthened by the adhesion OF
Turkey to the informal alliance with
Germany which had sprung up in re-
cent years. and in November Turkey
entered the war. Montenegro TOOK
up arms with the Serbs, and Belgium,
on being invaded. Joined the allies.
Japan, Great Britain's ally in the
east, opened war on Germany, fol-
lowing Berlin's refusal to surrender
Tsing-Tau. There are thus eleven
nations now at war, of which eight
form what are known as the allies.