The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-30
EATTLEOF EUROPE" CLOSES
SECOND YEARS WORLD WAR

IlCla. j ne HbDlluB mas ALSO cALeHuCu
to the extreme north In the Riga
DvInsk region, but here the Germans
have held their own and no decisive
result has as yet been gained by
either side.
In another theater Of the war tho
year was marked by other and impor-
tant Russian successes Following
the disasters on the eastern front in
the closing months OF 1915 the Grand
Duke Nicholas was removed as COM
mander-i n-chief OF the Russian arm
les and sent to take charge OF the
operations against the Turks in the
Caucasus. After months OF prepare
ton he began n great drive across
Armenia in January. 1916, which re-
suited in the capture OF Erzcrum and
the port Of Trehi2ond and expGllcA
the Turk from the greater part OF
Ammonia. After comparative lull
OF some months the Grand Duke re-
sumed his advance simultaneous with
a serious uprising against the Turks
by the Arabs in Arabia Tho Arabs
took the sacred city OF Mecca, Jid-
dab and Taft and bcsioged Medina, the
city whore Mohammcd was buried and
one OF the hottest spots Of the Mo-
hammedan world In the meantime
the Russians took Mnmakhatun and
Braiburt, but these operations have
not yet reached definite conclu-
sion.
Allied ReVGrSeS.
In connection with the Turkish cam
paign the year saw serious reverse
for the Franco-British arms and a
less important but highly dramatic,
disaster for the British. The disas-
trous attempt OF the French and Brit
ish to force the Dardanellcs and seize
Constantinople was definitely ahan
doned In November. 1915, and the
allied troops withdrawn from the
Gallpoi peninsula About 100000
troops had been used in this venture,
supported by a mighty fleet SIX bat
tleships. five British and one French,
were sont to the bottom as we'll as
some minor craft and the casualties
were unoiEiCially reported TO be almost
equal to the original number Of the
cxpcditionary force. This was the re-
suit OF six months Of some Of the most
sanguinary fighting OF the war
The second disaster of the British
was the surrender Of 10000 troops un-
der General Townshend to tho Turks
at Kut-El -Amara on the Tigris. This
expedition had made sensational
dash more than 900 miles up the riv-
or in an attempt to seize Bagdad 1t
was within ten miles Of the city when
1t was decisvely defeated by the Turks
and forced to fall back 100 miles. Hero
it was surrounded and forced to sur
render after a relief force had made
several vain efforts at rescue.
New Nations Enter.
Two new nations entered the ranks
OF the belligerents during the year,
On October 10. 1916, Bulgaria threw
in its lot with the Central Powers and
on March Q, 1916, Germany declared
war on Portugal after the republic
had seized all German ships interned
in It's ports.
The entrance Of Bulgaria into the
arena was signali2cd by a combined
assault on Serbia by Austria, Germany
and Bulgaria, which resulted in the
complete overwhelming of the hope
lessly outnumbered Serbians and the
subjugation of their country. The
remnants OF the Serbian army were
driven across the frontier into the
wilderness Of Albania whence they
we're reorganized and re-eQuipped la
ter, to the number Of about 100000
Joined the Franco-British forces at Sa-
loniki. The survivors OF the CALI
poll campaign were also gathered at
the Grecian seaport as well as large
British army from Egypt This com
bned force is estimated at 100000
men and is presumably being held for
an attempt to wrcst Serbia from the
Bulgarians,
Austrian Success.
The principal success won by Aus
trian arms during the year was
great offensive undertaken against
Italy in May. The Austrian forces
swept the Italian invaders back over
a wide stretch OF country in the south
ern Tyrol, reconquered about 27O
square miles Of Austrian territory and
carried the battle into Italy. The
Italang rallied, however, and at the
close OF the twelve months had re-
gained a large portion Of ground and
we're vigorously pressing a counter
offensive in accordance with the plans
of the Entente for concerted action.
On the sea the year witnessed an
event OF surprising interest. The
German grand feet, steaming out
from its mine fields and impregnable
harbors at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven,
engaged the British feet in the might
lest naval battle Of history.
JutIand Battle.
The battle was fought of the coast
Of Jutland on May 81. Its results are
so obscured by the conflicting claims
Of the combatants that they will prob
ably not be definitely known until
the war is over, il then. The Ger
mans assert that the British losses
were far heavier than theirs and on
that ground claim the victory The
British, denying greater losses, point
10 the fact that they still control the
seas as the basis Of their right to the
title OF victors London also claims
that since the battle 200 British ships
which had been tied UP in the Baltic
ports since the beginning Of the war,
have been able to make their way 10
English ports unmoIes,ed by German
Warships