Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-01-08
STORY OF YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONALEVEN
Most Momentous Twelve Months Of Modern Times
Aforementioned European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

lowed in rapid succession, until late in
the autumn, the greatly outnumbered
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-
kish forces in an effort to keep the Suez
Canal open.
From the first there has been a prac-
tical 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 Britains purpose was
to deal a fatal blow at German commerce,
safeguard that of Belgium, France and its
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 that the Atlantic lines were
unobstructed, and a few days afterward
the Pacific lines were pronounced open
and safe" Sixty British war vessels
guarded the exit of the Kiel 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 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 commerce 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
ships sank the Monmouth and Good Hope
with all on board. On October T-al-
though it was not known to the public
for fortnight afterward-the British
super-dreadnaught Audacious was sunk
by mine off the coast of Ireland Short
ly afterward, the British admiralty de-
clared the North sea a closed military
area.
On December 5 the German cruisers
Scharnhorst, Gneisau, Leipzig and Nuern-
berg, under Admiral Won Spee were sunk
by 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 800 citi-
zens and causing much property damage
Three British merchant vessels We're sunk
by mines laid by the bombarding feet.
At,the5 seem practicaliy at -srfs---.---s'
December II the Germans reported VIC
tory in Poland.
In fine financial world due to the sudden
embroilment of the European nations
Americans abroad were subjected TO
great Inconvenience and not little actuai
hardship. Much relief was af1orded the
Belgian sufferers and large sums Oh
money for the purpose were raised ali
over the country. g.,
The American Red Cross sent the reiei
ship Red Cross to European waters,
with a full equipment of physicians
nurses and supplies, on September IL.
Chaotic Conditions In Mexico.
EARLY in the year foreign nations begar
| to be critical of the ADMINISTRATOR
.hands-off" Mexican policy and TO insis
| that the job of pacifying Mexico peiongee
| logically to the United States. Victo
riano Huerta had held tne' proVision ne,
nresidency for a year and boosted In MI
Guns that he would hold his office longe
than President Wilson would remain II
the White House. Meanwhile the bandl
chief Pancho Villa was steadily gamma
ground in the north. The fiercest patti
of the revolution, which was fought 10
almost two weeks, ended in victory 10
the rebel forces. =,
There was an appalling loss OF Ire
this long continued fight, and more Una .
four thousand fugitives crossed the ~
Grande and took refuge In American tei
ritory. Here they were cared LOT ny III
United States authorities.
n, February President wilson r.
volxed an order by his predecessor in o.
fee TO put a stop to the shipment OF arm
, and ammunition into Mexico by citizef
, of the United States. On April IA, Pres
, dent Wilson instructed Secretary Dame
: to assemble an imposing naval force
: Tampico. on the Mexican coast. IN
was due TO the refusal of the Mexlca
e president and his military aids 10 saiu
:. the American flag as an essenuai Ieatu
:. of an apology for an unwarranted ARE
and imprisonment or several ,1l.io,
J. blueiackets who had landed on MeXlc'
coil 70 Obtain a supply of gasoline.
Although the episode was the result
> a misunderstanding in which all the pa
= ties concerned shared about equally
!, u was manifest that Huerta was In no mo
:, 70 comply with any request OF the was
), ington authorities, however politely
even delicately made. He refused 10
:, der the salute, and the naval demonstf
" ton followed. ,,
y Congress passed resolution SUSTAIN
!" the president in the position which
:. had taken. On April p Admiral tletcf
- seized the custom house at Vera CT
a. The Mexicans resisted the occupation
y. y. the custom house and the result was
- fght in which 16 Americans were XII
~ and II wounded. General Mas, In co
3 mand of the garrison, withdrew and
the Americans in possession.
90 Nelson O'Shaugnessy, the American
od resentative, was given his passports
cs requested to leave the country. 81
~ Gen. Frederick Funston, commander
,,c the American forces at Vera Cruz '
A. ready to enter on vigorous campaign
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