The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-12-29
REVIEW OF EUROPEAN WAR AND OTHER
+" IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1916
Great Conflict Rages With Increased Inensy-Roumana, Ff
teenth Nation to Enter Struggle 0verrn by Central Pow
ers--Teutonic Allies Make First Peace Proposals.
United States Faces Several Crises.
THE EUROPEAN WAR

viewing at close range the titanic con-
flict ia which all Europe is involved
can with difficulty appreciate the
magnitude of the events which have
transpirrd during the past II months
Generations tn come. however, looking
back upon this period with clearer
vision will recognize the year 1916
as one of the most tremendous, from
n hiStory-making standpoint. since the
world hpgan.
Europe continued its bloOd-letting
throughout the year with even greater
ferocity than marked the first Is
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, one
of them Roumania. To become the
scene Of some of the most ferOciOuS
fighting Of the year. one new nation
was created. another .tOttcred 10 its
fall. while on dozen fronts millions
of men were fed as human sacrifices
TO The insatiate war monster.
There were seven = outstanding
phases ~ 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 superhuman efforts OF
the Germans TO capture Nerdun,
which were thwarted by the equally
superhunan defense offered by the
French the long-awaited grand often
sive of the British and the French on
the western front. resulting in the re-
COvery OF considerable area in the
SOmme region. but not definitely break
ing the deadlock in northern France
the checking Of an Austrian offensive
by the Italians and the launching Of
a counter-offensive by which the Ital-
Sans made big strides i'm their cam
paign against Trieste: the conquest Of
Roumania by the Teutonic allies; the
drive of the Serbs aided 10y French.
Italian and British troops. in an effort
10 regain their lost kingdom. and the
final abandonment by the entente al
HES OF their disastrous Gallipoli cam
paign.
The Russians launched their Of
feuSive in Galicia on the FIRST day of
the year. On January g. the effort Of
the entente allies To force the Darda-
nelles was definitely abandoned. and
the forces OF the allies entirely evacu-
ated the Gallipoli peninsula.
Verdun Attack Launched
Early in February. the Russians. aft
er luli in the fighting, resumed their
offensive in Galicia and on February 10
they crossed the DnieSter and threat
ened Czernowtz. 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-
sry -, 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-gun 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
Nerdun sector. for the next few
months. occurred some Of the most
snnguinary fighting Of the entire war.
The AuStrians had considerable sue
cess on the Italian front during the
month. entering Durazzo on February
dri Itpl Lnrnrn
them. Portugal signaliZed its entry
into the great conflict February % by
seizing - German steamers interned
la Portuguese ports. Germany demand
Ell the release OF the ships and on
March = declared war on Portugal. the
thirteenth nation TO enter the con-
fiict.
The month OF March was marked
chiefly by the continued determined at
tackS Of the Germans upon Verduu.
The nssaC'~ entered its third stage In
this mouth with repeated attacks on
Naux. Douaumont and other outlying
towns. most of which were repulsed
with terrific losses. During the month
the Italians finally checked the Aus
triaa drive and launched big often
Sive along the entire Austrian front
The Russians continued their victori-
ous drive against the Turks in Ar
monit capturing Bitlis on March 3.
and other important towns later in the
month
The early days Of April saw a slow
ing up of the Russian offensive in Ga
Hcia. The Germans launched n coun-
Ter offensive all along the Russian
front hut gained little headway. The
following months saw terrific fighting
along this front. April -. the British
admitted a defeat at the hands Of the
Turks in MeSopotamia and on April
~. General Townshend and 10000 Brit
ish soldiers. who had been besieged by
the Turks at Kut-el-Amarn. we're
forced TO surrender after repeated 81.
forts % relieve them had failed.
Great sea Battle Fought
The FIRST great naval battle Of the
Wa was fought by the German and
British high seas fleets OF the coast Of
Jutland. Denmark. May 81. The Brit