The Ordway new era., 1916-08-11
|RMANS LOSE THE INITIATIVE
IN SECOND YEAR OF GREAT WAR
operation Among the Entente Allies Brings Sweeping Change
Over the Aspect Of Military Affars-Two Largest EN-
pres of Earth Russia and Great Britain at
Last Fully Organized Second Years
Campaigns Reviewed.

were meeting In new war council at
Paris, resolved to redoublc their her
culean efforts and never compromise.
Conscription in England.
TN December y, David Lloyd
George, the strongest man in England
declared Great Britain faced defeat
unless greater efforts were made; and
Just week later he demanded general
conScription. threatening to resign If
this measure We're not put into effect
The conscription bill passed its first
rendins In the house of commons jan
uary 6, and spring saw 1t In full force.
Premier AsQuith was able to announce
that Englands total effort was five
million men.
Meanwhile in the East. greater
giant was nursing his wounds and re-
gaining his strength in four-fold de-
gree.
A forewarning came to the world on
February II, when Erzcrum was ta-
ken. On April 10 the great Black
sea port of TrcbZOnd fell, and two
days later the first Russian contingent
landed in France. Still the German
writer's would not believe, and it took
the magnificent Russian drive of June,
which won all of Bukowina and II
large slice of Volhynia and Galicia to
convince them that Russia was again
force to be reckoned with.
Russia Well Equipped.
To understand this phenomenon of
Russian resurrection it is necessary to
,,l hn inn
have the heavy artillery and shells
they lacked in the great retreat, but
that their losses in numbers bother
them not at all.
Seven million young men have come
of military age In Russia since the
war began, and of these at least five
million are fit for duty. Despite her
gigantic losses, it is quite possible
there are more soldiers and potential
soldiers in Russia today than when the
war started. Certainly there are now
and will be for many years to come
all the cannon fodder" that can be
utilized at the front
Enormously considering the western
front the most dangerous, the German
HenpTul Sllll oll Sbi '''' -
heavy attack on the fortress of Yer
dun, with the object of using up
French ammunition and men until no
allied offensive would be possible this
year.
Being on the outside of Il curved line
they were able to place more guns ana
mnneuyer more freely than their op-
moments, and month after month they
drew closer to the now famous little
city.
Whether their gains were victories
or defeats will only be known after
the war, when we learn the number OF
killed and wounded they paid for
each point. They advanced, but were
never able to stampede the defenders.
Perhaps Verdun will be the last
,preot German offensive. Certainly to-
day the Teutons have their hands run
stemming the Russian advance, when
is penetratng Pennsylvania. and the
Anplo-French pounding attack along
the Somme.
Austria on Defensive.
The Austrians, who In the latter halt
of May debouched from the Trentiho
and almost gained the foothills ana
smiling plains of Italy, are also con-
tent TO stand and ward Off the blows
of the Italians, after giving up most OF
their gains.
The year saw the Germans lose
tbe,r Cnmeroon colony in January,
while columns of Belgians. French ana
british close in on the stout defenders
Of the East African colony, the last OF
the kaiser's oversea possessions.
In Mesopotamia the British. pene-
tratIng to within seven miles OF Bag
dad. were defeated and forced to re-
treat. being finally besieged In kut.el-
Amara on. December 10. A relieving
ornedItton was unsuccessful and on
oNF ~ ~. -. ..I.or, On INITIATED.