Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-12-28
THE EUROPEAN WAR

dict In which MI Europe Ii Involved
can win, difliculty appreciate the
magnitude Of tho events which have
TRANSFERRED during the past II months
Generations to come. however, looking
back upon this period with clearer
vision. will recognize the year 1916
~ one Of tho most tremendous, from
. histOry-makIng standpoint. since the
world began.
Europe continued Its blood-Ietting
throughout the year with even greater
ferOclty than marked the first IL
months following the breaking OF the
storm. The great war rounded out
tts 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. one
Of them. Routnania. to become the
scene at some Of the most ferocious
lighting Of the year. one new nation
was created. another tottered to Its
fall. while on dozen fronts millions
Of men were fed ms human sacrifices
70 the insatiate war monster.
There were seven outstanding
phases Of the great war during the
rear 1919. These comprised the great
Offensive Of the Russians In Gaiicin.
watch WAS nnsiiy checked by the Teh-
tonic allies: the supsrhuinan efforts Of
- 0sssnans 20 capture verinn,
which wese thwnrtei by the equally
suporAaman defense offered by the
French. the iong-awaited grand often.
sive OF the British and the French on
the western front. resulting In the re-
c0v0ry OF considerable area In the
6omme region. but not definitely break
tnx the deadlock In northern France;
tho checking OF an Austrian offensive
by the Italians and the launching OF
= counter-oifensive by which the Ital-
ians made big strides In their cam
palgn against Trieste: the conquest of
Roumantas by tho Teutonlc allies; the
drive Of the Serbs, aided by French,
Italian and British troops. In an effort
70 regain their los. kingdom, and the
6nai abandonment by the entente al.
lies OF their disastrous Gallipoli cam
patgn.
The Russians launched their OF.
fensive In Gniicla on the t,rst day Of
the year. On January .. the effort OF
tho entente allies to force the Darda-
nesles was definitely abandoned, and
the forces Of the allies entirely evacu.
aeed the Galilpoli peninsula.
veeduN Attack Launched.
mAriy ID February. the Russians, aft.
er lull u the lighting. resumed their
offensive ID OGticia and on February 10
they crossed the Dniester and threat
ened CxernOwttx. The Russians, un.
der Grand Duke Nicholas. also con.
einued their drive In the Caucasus and
on February IL they captured the
important town OF Erxerum. Fehru-
AIRY 81, 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 deeenses until they came within
Nlg-guu range OF tho French strong.
hold. The French. taken by surprise.
were torcsd 10 give ground. hut by
the last OF the month they had
strengtAeaed their shattered lines and
had checked the German drive. In the
ver1un sector. Tor the next few
months. occurred some OF the most
sanctuary lighting Of the entire war.
The Austrians had considerable sue
$500 SHsS AhSA Italian f-.nt ,a,,sir. Az.
mOnth. entering Ouraxxo on February
20 aud driving the Italians before
them. Portugal slgnalized Its entry
into the great conflict February % by
seixtng 81 German steamers interned
In Portuguese ports. Germany demand
ed the release Of the ships and on
March . declared war on Portugal. the
thirteenth nation to enter the con.
flict.
The month OF March was marked
chtsssy ~ the continued Determined at
tacks OF the Germans upon verdun.
The assault entered It's third stage In
this month with repeated attacks on
Vaux. D0uaumont and other outlying
towns, most OF which were repulsesi
with terrific losses. During the month
ths Italians finally checked the Aus
trian drive and launched big often
slve along the entire Austrian front.
The Russians continued their victori-
GUS criye against the Turks In Ar
mont. capturing Bitiis on March 4
and other important towns later In the
mouth.
The early days Of April saw slow
Ing up OF the Russian offensive In Ca.
lcia. The Germans launched coun-
TER offensive all along the Russian
front but gained little Roadway. The
following months saw terrific tightins
alo0g tt,ls front. April q. the British
admitted q defeat at the hands OF tbs
Turk& In Aesopotatnia and ON April
q. CenerSl Townshend and 10000 Brit
tsh soldiers. who had been besieIed b,
the Turks at Kut-el-Amara, wert
forced to surrender after repeated ef
forts 10 relieve them had failed.
Crest ssa Matte Fought.
The tirst great naval battle OF tn.
war was Taught by the German ant
British high seas fleets on the coast O
Jntland. Denmark, May 81. The Brit
!Sh ndmit the loss OF six large cruiser,