The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-01-14
THE EUROPEAN WAR

The year 1915 has been 30 distinc'
tive from q historymaking viewpoint
that in all the ages TO come II viii
stand apart from those that have pre-
eeded 1t and from those which are
L, follow. During its entire length,
the greater nations OF the European
continent have abandoned themselves
20 q policy OF bloodshed which I'D
fallen little short OF delir,um. To
the neutral onIooker II has been re-
vtyal on huge scale Of the Lratlon'
al and murderous activity which char
acterized the earlier ages OF mankind.
II has been the complete overthrow OF
all the pacific theories which had sp'
parently gained so strong foothold
at the time OF tho firing OF the first
gun In the present conflict.
At the beginning of the year. Il was
evident that 1t was TO BIO a struggle
TO the death. II was plain that the
Teuton.c plan to force speedy set
cement by dInt OF superior armed
preparedness had failed. Six months
had elapsed and the Teutonic allies
were still faced by three great ma
fions.~ their strength aabfoken and
their determination ianexible. Aus
tria had been driven repeatedly by her
Russian invaders and twice the Serbs
had routed Austrian armies sent
against them. On other fields. also,
Tsutonic efforts had been futile. Thus
far Turkey had been OF little assist
ance and the holy war had failed to
come into being. German Southwest
Africa had been lost and German in
fiuence In Asia had been smothered
by the Japanese,
AS an Offset. the Germans still held
practically all the conquered territory
which had fallen into their hands,
Their lines still held firmly In Po-
land. in Flanders aud In France. II
was apparent that ns yet tie Teutonic
combination showed no sign Of weak
ening, and a war OF attrition seemed
Inevitable. Both In the east and
IN the west tho military operations
Of tho early part OF the year were
practically without decisive result.
The fighting in Poland had resolved
itself into complete deadlock, In
January, the French. English combine
made three attempts TO break tho
Teutonic hold on French territory. but
accomplished little. Tho German un'
successful drive at Warsaw and tho
rout OF the Austrians In Galicia left o
slight balance In the January fighting
In favor OF the allies.
From q strictly military viewpoint.
February was promising month for
the Teutonic allios, By the middle OF
tho month. German troops were nd
vancing all along tho front from
the Vistula to the NIemen, and thus.
seven months after tho breaking out
OF the war. German soil was practi
eally cleared OF tia Russian invaders.
Tho deadlock on tho western front
was still unbroken
Scene Shifts TO Dardanelles.
With tho advent OF March. there
came q sudden and dramatic change
IN the war situation, Tho scene OF
military activity was shifted 20 .ne
Dardanelles. ny tho third week OF
the month. Rome, Athens, Sofa and
Bucharest were centers OF great po
fitical activity. The surrender OF
rrsemysl March q. WAS the most
stirring victory for the allies since tho
cattle OF the Marine, The German
assertion that tho military power OF
Russia had dwindled into insignlh-
canoe was disproved at once and the
allied cause gained instant strength In
all the neutral capitals. Ono OF the
greatest strongholds In Europe had
been taken by the Russians.
The disaster 20 the allied feet at
the Dardanelles. which occurred dur
ing the third week OF March, put an
end TO the expectation OF forcing the
straits by naval means alone, Ger
man prestige advanced percopttely
and tho diliculty OF the task under
taken by tho allied feet Was now IN
dcrstood In this month. also, the
British won the battle OF Neuye
ChApcllo after u bloody fight.
In Aprn the French made a bold
offensive stroke against tho German
position between the Meuse and the
Mosclle thc famous 81. Mihlei wedge
which resulted In . tremendous loss
Of men IN both sides, with small ad.
vantage Tor cHher. Nowhere had the
allies made apprec.abie gain in ter
riiory. The invader held his own
xtubboruly and with success. About
the middle Of the mouth. Zeprelirs
made their appearance over English
towns. inspiring great interes; and not
a little apprehension. but doing com.
rArNtively snail damage. About this
time. also, the attempted submarine
Blockade Of the British coast proved
% be ineffective, In the closing days
OF the month another great Teutonic
offensive swept against the allied lines
IN Belgium. thrusting :he enemy back
upon Ypres, with great less OF life on
both sides,
In May the Germans sent their best
troops to the aid OF the hard
pressed Aus,rians ny the middle OF