Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-01-06
TIE EUROPEAN WAR

The year 1915 has been SO distnc-
tive from a nistorymaking viewpoint
that in all the ages to come II will
stand apart from those that have pre-
coded 1t 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 1t has been re-
yival On a 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 foothold
at the time of the firing Of the first
gun in the present conflict.
At the beginning Of the year. II was
evident that II was to be struggle
to the death. II 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.
tons, their strength unbroken and
their determination infiexible. 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,
Teutonlc efforts had been futile. Thus
far Turkey had been OF little assist
ance and the holy war had failed 10
come into being German Southwest
Africa had been lost and German in.
fuence in Asia had been smJthered
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 Teutonlc
combination showed no sign Of weak.
ening, and war of attrit!on 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 French-Engi b combine
made three attempts u shreak the
Teutonic hold on French itory, but
accomplished little The erman un-
successful drive at Warsaw and the
rout Of the Austrians IN Galicia left a
slight balance In the January fighting
In favor of the allies
From a strictly military viewpoint,
February was promising month for
the Teutonic allies BY the middle OF
the month. German troops we're ad.
vancipg all along the front from
the N.stula TO the Niemen. and thus.
seven months after the breaking cut
OF the war. German soil was practi.
cally cleared Of its Russian invaders.
The deadlock on the western front
was stlll unDroken.
Scene Shifts TO Oardanelles.
With the advent OF March, there
came a sudden and dramatic change
In the war situation. The scene OF
military activity was shifted 10 the
Dardanelles. BY the third week Of
the month. Rome, Athens, Sofia and
Bucharest were centers OF great 20.
litical activity. The surrender OF
Przemysl. March %. was the most
stirring victory for the allies since the
battle OF the Marine. The German
assertion that the military power Of
Russia had dyindled into insigniii-
canoe was disproved at once and the
allied cause gained instant strength in
all the neutral capitals. One OF the
greatest strongholds In Europe had
been taken by the Russians.
The disaster 10 the allied feet at
the Dardanelles. which occurred dur.
iug the third week Of March, put an
end 10 the expectation Of forcing the
straits by naval mems alone, Ger.
man prestige advanced perceptihly
and the difficulty OF the task under
taken by the allied fleet was now ua.
derstood. In this month. also. the
British won the battle OF Neuye
Chapelle after bloody fight.
In April the French made a bold
offensive stroke against the German
position between the Meuse and the
Moselle-the famous St Mihiel wedge
which resulted In tremendous loss
, OF men on both sides. with small I'D.
I, vantage for either. Nowhere had the
! allies made appreciable gain In ter.
/, rltory. The invader held his own
stubbornly and with success. About
, the middle OF the month. Zeppelins
made their appearance over English
towns, inspiring great interest and not
! a little apprehension, but doing COM
!, paratively small damage. About this
/, time. also, the attempted submarine
blockade OF the British coast proved
, 20 DO Ineffective. In the closing days
/ OF the month another great Teutonic
t, offensive swept against the allied lines
IN Belgium, thrusting the enemy back
! upon ypres. with great loss Of life on
! both sides.
In May the Germans sent their best
, troops to tho aid OF the hard.
pressed Austrians. BY the middle OF