The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-12-27
THE EUROPEAN WAR

ulCI IN Wnlcn all europe - ln'oiseu
al with difficulty appreciate the
N magnitude OF the events which have
TRANSFERRED during the past II months.
Generations to come. however, looking
back uln'n this period with a clearer
vision. will recognize the year l9l6
as pne Of the most tremendous. from
. Disappointing standpoint. since the
world began.
Europe continued Its bI0od-letting
throughout the year with even greater
ferocity than marked the first IL
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. a
Of them. Roumania, to become the
scene of some of the most %ferocious
fighting OF the year. one new nation
was created. another tottcred to Its
fall. while on a. dozen fronts millions
Of men were fedSas human sacrifices
to the lnsatiate 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 s%uperhuman efforts Of
the Germans to capture Verdun,
which were thwarted by the equally
"superhuman defense offered by the
French; the l~ong-awaited grand often
sive Of the British and the French on
the western front. resulting in the re-
covery of considerable area in the
Sonlme region. but not definitely break
ing the deadlock In northern France;
the checking Of an Austrian offensive
BY the Italians and the launching Of
. counter.offensive by which the Ital-
ians made big strides In their cam
paign against Trieste the conquest of
RouInania by the Teutonic allies; the
drive of the Serbs, aided by Frencts
Italian and British troops. In an effort
to regain their lost kingdom. and the
hnaI abandonment by the entente al
lies Of their disastrous Gallipoli cam
paign.
The Russians launched their Of.
fensive 10 Galicia on the first day Of
the year. On January 8. the effort Of
the entente allies to force the Davda-
nelIes was definitely abandoned, and
the forces of the allies entirely evacu-
ated the GaIlipoli peninsula.
Verdun Attack Launched.
Early In February, the Russians. aft.
er a lull In the fighting, resumed their
offensive In GaIicia and on February 10
they crossed the Dniester and threat
ened Czernowitz. The Russians, un-
der Grand Duke Nicholas, also con.
tinued their drive in the Caucasus and
on February IA they captured the
important town of Erzerum. Febru-
ary. p. 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-sun 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 IN the italian front during the
month, entering Durazzo on February
rs and driving the Italians before
them. Portugal signaIized its entry
into the great conflict February % by
Selling "a German steamers interned
In Portuguese ports. Germany demand
ed the release of the ships and on
March 8 declared war on Portugal, the
thirteenth nation to 'enter the con-
1ict.
The month Of March was marked
chiefly by the continued determined at
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 repulsed
with terrific losses. During the month
the italians finally checked the Aus
trian drive and launched a 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 3.
and other important towns later in the
month.
The early days Of April saw a slow.
ting up of the Russian. offensive In Ga
ilcia. The Germans launched a coun-
ter offensive all along the Russian
front but gained little hendway. The
following months saw terrific fighting
along this front. April %. the British
a defeat at the hands Of the
In Mesopotamia and on April
70. General Townshend and 10000 Brit.
soldiers, who had been besieged BY
the Turks at Kut-el-Amara, were
to surrender after repeated eff.
forts to relieve them had failed.
Great Sea Battle Fought.
The 6rst great naval battle Of the
war was fought by the German and
high seas fleets of the coast Of
Jutland. Denmark, May 81. The Brit
lsh admit the loss Of six large cruisers
and eight destroyers. the Germans ene
n buttle cruiser and