The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-12-30
THE EUROPEAN WAR

fiict in which all Europe is involved
can with difficulty appreciate the
magnitude of the events which have
transpired during the past II months.
Generations to come, however, looking
back upon this period with clearer
vision, will recognize the year 1916
as one of the most tremendous, from
q history-making standpoint, since the
world began.
Europe continued its blOOd-letting
throughout the year with even greater
ferocity than marked the first Is
months following the breaking of the
storm. The great war rounded out
its second and entered upon its third
year. with little promise of an early
conclusion of peace. During the year
new nations entered into the war, one
of them, Roumania, to become the
scene of some of the most ferOciouS
fighting of the year, one new nation
was created, another tottered to its
fall, while on a dozen fronts millions
of men were fed as human sacrifices
TO the inSatiate war monster.
There were seven outstanding
phases of the great war during the
year 1916. These comprised the great
offensive of the Russians in Galicia,
which was finally checked by the Teu-
tonic allies; the superhuman efforts of
the Germans to capture Verdun,
which were thwarted by the equally
superhuman defense offered by the
French; the lOng-awaited grand often
sive of the British and the French on
the western front, resulting in the re-
covery of considerable area in the
Somme region, but not definitely break
ing the deadlock in northern France;
the checking of an Austrian offensive
by the Italians and the launching of
a cOunterOffenSive by which the Ital-
fans made big strides in their cam
paign against Trieste; the conquest of
ROumania by the Teutonic allies; the
drive of the Serbs, aided by French
Italian and British troops, in an effort
to regain their lost kingdom, and the
final abandonment by the entente al
lies of their disastrous Gallipoli cam
paign.
The Russians launched their of
fensive in GaIicia on the first day of
the year. On January 9, the effort of
the entente allies to force the Darda-
nelles was definitely abandoned, and
the forces of the allies entirely evacu-
ated the GallipOli peninsula.
Verdun Attack Launched.
Early in February the Russians, aft
er lul in the fighting, resumed their
offensive in GaIicia and on February 10
they crossed the Dniester and threat
ened Czernowitz. The Russians, I'M
der Grand Duke Nicholas also con-
dnued their drive in the Caucasus and
on February ii they captured the
important town of Erzerum. Febru-
airy 81. the Germans, led by the crown
prince. launched their attack on Yer
dun, and during the next few days
they smashed their way through the
outer defenSes until they came within
big-gun range Of the French strong
hold. The French, taken by surprise,
were forced to give ground, but by
the last of the month they had
strengthened their shattered lines and
had checked the German drive. In the
Verdun sector, for the next few
months, occurred some of the most
sanguinary fighting of the entire war.
The Austrians had considerable sue
cess on the Italian front during the
month. entering DurazzO on February
&c and driving the Italians before
them. Portugal signalized its entry
into the great conflict February % by
selling 81 German steamers interned
I'm Portuguese ports. Germany demand
ed the release of the ships and on
March declared war on Portugal, the
thirteenth nation to enter the con-
fiict.
The month of March was marked
E1rr Tho
tacks of the Germans upon Verdun.
The assault entered its third stage in
this month with repeated attacks on
Vaux, Douaumont and other outlying
towns, most of which were repuised
with terrific losses. During the month
the Italians finally checked the Aus
TRAN drive and launched big often
sive along the entire Austrian front
The Russians continued their victori-
Gus drive against the Turks in Ar
MONT, capturing Bitlis on March 8,
and other important towns later in the
month.
The early days of April saw slow
ing up of the Russian offensive in Ga
Iicia. The Germans launched a coun-
ter offensive all along the Russian
front but gained little Roadway. The
following months saw terrific fighting
along this front. April %, the British
admitted defeat at the hands of the
Turks in Mesopotamia and on April
%. General Townshend and 10000 Brit
Ish soldiers. who had been besieged by
the Turks at Kut-eI-Amara. were
forced to surrender after repeated eff
forts to relieve them had failed.
Great Sea Battle Fought.
The first great naval battle of the
war was fought by the German and
British high seas fleets of the coast of
Jutland. Denmark, May 81. The Brit
fish admit the loss of six large cruisers
and eight destrOyers, the Germans one
battieship. one battle cruiser and q
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