The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-01-07
REVIEW Of THE GREAT WARAND OTHER
NOTABLE EVENTS Of THE YEAR 1915
European Conflict Develops Into Struggle to the DEATH With Dead
lock on Eastern and Western Fronts-Serba Overrln by
Teutons and BuIgarians-Tryng Period for the
United States-GeneraI Carranza Rec
ognzed as President of Mexico.
THE EUROPEAN WAR

tUaC Ill all the ages W COuaO ~ Will
stand apart from those that have pre-.
ceded it and from those which are
to follow During its entire length,
the greater nations of the European
continent have abandoned themselves
to a policy of bloodshed which has
fallen little short of delirium. To
the neutral onlooker it has been re-
vival on huge scale of the irration-
al and murderous activity which char
acterized the earlier ages OF mankind.
1t has been the complete overthrow of
all the pacific theories which had ap-
parently gained SO strong fcothold
at the time of the firing of the first
gun in the present conflict.
At the beginning of the year, it was
evident that it was to be struggle
to the death. It was plain that the
Teutonic 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
tions, their strength unbroken and
their determination ainfiexible. 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,
Teutonic 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 and in France. 1t
was apparent that as yet the Teutonic
combination showed no sign of weak
ening, and war of attriticn seemed
inevitable. Both in the east and
in the west the military operations
of the early part of the year were
practically without decisive result.
The fighting in Poland had resolved
itself into a complete deadlock. In
January, the ench-English combine
made three attempts to break the
Teutonic hold on French territory, but
accomplished little. The German I'M
successful drive at Warsaw and the
rout of the Austrians in Gaiicia left
slight balance in the January fighting
In favor Of the allies.
From strictly military viewpoint,
February was a promising month for
the Teutonic allies. By the middle of
the month, German troops were ad-
vancing all along the front from
the Vistula to the Niemen, and thus,
seven months aftec she breaking out
of the war, German soil was practi-
cally cleared of its Russian invaders.
The deadlock on the western front
was still unbroken.
Scene Shifts to Dardanelles.
With the advent of March, there
came a sudden and dramatic change
In the war situation. The scene of
military activity was shifted to the
BY the third week OF
the month, Rome, Athens, Sofia and
Bucharest were centers Of great po-
litical activity. The surrender of
Przemysl, March %, was the most
stirring victory for the allies since the
battle of the Marine. The German
that the military power of
Russia had dwindled into insignif-
canoe was disproved at once and the
allied cause gained instant strength in
Ill the neutral capitals. One of the
greatest strongholds in Europe had
been taken by the Russians.
The disaster to 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
nan prestige advanced perceptibly
Ind the difficulty OF the task under
aiken by the allied feet was now un-
ierstood. In this month, also, the
British won the battle OF Neuve
after q bloody fight.
In April the French made q bold
,frensive stroke against the German
position between the Meuse and the
doseIle-the famous st. Mihiel wedge
which resulted in tremendous loss
Il men on both sides, with small ad-
'antage for either. Nowhere had the
lilies made appreciable gain in ter
itory. The invader held his own
tubbornly and with success. About
he middle OF the month, zeppelins
made their appearance over English
owns, inspiring great interest and not
little apprehension, but doing COM
aratively small damage. About this
Ime, also, the attempted submarine
lockade OF the British coast proved
!, be ineffective. In the closing days
/ the month another great Teutonic
swept against the allied lines
Belgium. thrusting the enemy back
pom Ypres, with great loss OF life ON
9TH sides. Fl
Iii May the Germans sent their best
OOPS to the aid OF the hard
essed Austrians. BY the miadle OF