The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1916-12-29
THE EUROPEAN WAR

can with difficulty appreciate The
magnitude OF the events which have
TRANSFERRED during the past IL months
Generations to come, however looking
back upon this period with a clearer
vision, will recognize the year 1915
AZ one of the most tremendous, from
q history-making standpoint since the
world begun.
Europe continued its blOOd-letting
throughout the year with even greater
fer0city than marked the first Is
months following tlIe breaking of the
storm. The great war rounded Oui
fits 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 thr year, one new nation
was created. another tottered to- lis
fill, while on a dozen fronts millions
OF men were fed as human sacrifices
10 the. Insatiate war monster.
There were seven outstanding
phases Of the great war during the
year 1915. These comprised the great
offensive of the Russians in Galicla.
which was finally checked by the Tcu
tonic allies; the superhuman efforts OF
the Germans TO capture Verdun
which were thwarted by the equally
snperhuman 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
q .counter-offensive by which the It'll
inns made big strides In their cain
pnign against Trieste; the conquest Of
Koumania by the Teutonic allies; the
drive Of the Serbs. aided by French.
Italian and British troops, In an effort
a. regain their lost kingdom. aud the
final abandonment by the entente nj.
lies Of their disastrous GallipOli cam
pagn.
The Russians launched their of.
fcnsive In Galicia ON the first day OF
the year. On January 8, 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 Denlnsula
Verdun Attack Launched.
Early In February. the Russians, aft
er n lull In the fighting, resumed their
offensive 10 Gallcia and on February 10
they crossed the Dnlester and threat
ened Czernowitz. 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.
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 defcnses until they came within
bly.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 tile most
sangunary lighting of the entire war.
Tho AnGttin had nnpyt1n.nl,I.N
cess on the Italian front during the
month, entering Durazzo on February
rs and driving the Italians before
them. Portugal signalizcd Its entry
into the great conflict February % by
srizng "a German steamers internrd
IN Portuguese ports. Germany demand
cd the release of the ships and NV
March 0 declared war on Portugal the
thirteenth nation to enter the con
filct
The month OF March was marked
chiefly by the continued determined at
tacks Of the Germans upon verdun
The assault entered its third stage in
this month with repeated attacks on
VauS, Douaumont and other outlying
towns. most of which were repulsed
with terrific losses. During the mouth
the Italians finally checked the Aus.
TRAN drive and launched big often.
sive along The entire Austrian front.
The Russians continued their viclori.
Gus drive against the Turks in Ar.
mont, capturing Bltlis 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.
licla. The Germans launched a coun.
ter offensive all along the Russian
front but gained little Roadway. The
following months saw terrific fighting
along this front. April %, the British
admitted o defeat at the hands of the
Turks in Mesopotamia and on April
20, General Townshend and 10000 Brit \
ish soldiers, VINO had been besieged by
the Turks at Kut-el-Amara, were
forced to surrender after repeated eff
forts to relieve them had failed.
Great Sea Battle Fought.
The first great naval battle of the
war was fought by the. German and