The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-01-04
THE EUROPEAN WAR

can with difficulty appreciate 'ho
magnitude of the events which nave
franspired during the past l. mohths'
Generations to come, however, looking
hack upon this period with clearer
vision. will recognize the year l9lo
as one of the most tremendous from
history-mnking standpoint, since the
world began.
Enrope continued its blood-etting
throughout the year with even greater
fcrocity 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
If them Roumania, to become the
scene of some of the most feroclous
fighting of the year. one new nation
was created, another tOttCred to It's
fall, while on Il dozen fronts millions
of men were fed as human sacriiices
TO the inSatiate war monster.
There were seven outstanding
phases of the great war during the
year 1916. These comprised the great
offensive of the Russians in GaIicia,
which was finally checked by the leu
tonic allies; the Superhuman efforts OF
the Germans to capture Verdun,
which were thwarted by the equally
Supcrhuman defense offered by the
French; the lOng-awaitcd grand Often
siye 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
countcr-Offensive by which the ltal-
ians made big strides in their cam
paign against Trieste; the conquest OF
ROumania by the TeutOnic allies; the
drive of the Serbs, aided by French
Italian and British troops in an effort
to regain their lost kingdom, and the
final abandonment by the entente al
lies of their disastrous GalIipoli cam
paign.
The Russians launched their of
fanSiye in GuIica on the first day of
HE year. On January ., the effort of
the entente allies to force the Darda-
heles was definitely abandoned, and
the forces OF the allies entirely eyacu-
uted the Gallipoll peninsula.
Verdun Attack Launched.
Early in February, the Russians, aft
or Iull in the fighting resumed their
offensive in Galicia and on February 10
they crossed the Dniestcr and threat
enrd Czernowtz. The Russians, un-
der Grand Duke Nicholas, also con
tiuupd their drive In the Caucasus and
on February IA they captured the
important town of Erzerum. Febru-
AIRY Il. 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 hefenses 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
hnd checked the German drive In the
NCrrun sector, for the next few
months, occurred some of the most
sangginary fighting of the entire war
The AuStrians had considerable sue
cess on the Italian front during the
month, entering DurnzzO on February
&c and driving the Italians before
them. Portugal signali2ed its entry
into The great conflict February - by
selling "a German steamers informed
I'm Portuguese ports Germany demand
ed the release Of the ships and on
March declared war on Portugal, the
thirteenth nation to enter the con
lcl
The month Of March was marked
chiefly by the continued determined at
tucbS of the Germans upon Ncrdun.
The assault entered its third stage In
this month with repeated attacks ON
NuuX. DOuaumout and other outlying
towns most Of which were rcpuIsed
with terrific losses. During the month
the Italians finally checked the Aus
uian drive and launched q big often
Eilr along the entire Austrian front
The Russians continued their yctori
uus drive against the Turks In Ar
muuit, capturing Bitlis on March 3
and other important towns later in tlt
MDnth.
he early days of April saw II slow
INK up Of the Russian offensive in Ga
licla. The Germans launched coun
irr offensive oil along the Russian
front but gained little Roadway. Tn
following months saw terrific nEhtin
along this front. April %, the Britlsl
admitted defeat Mt the hands of TIA
Turks in McsOpotamin and on Apr
20 General Townshend and 10000 Brit
ish soldiers, who had been bcsieged b
The Turks at Kut.elAmaru, wcr
forced 10 surrender after repeated 81
fDgs> 10 relieve them had failed.
Great Sea Battle Fought.
The first great naval battle Of III
war was fought by the German I'M
Ei,sh high seas fleets OFT the coast {
Juuqnd. Denmark, May 81. The Bri
i~h umit the loss Of six large cruiser
AMI dgbt destroyers, the Germans on
bntuesrlp, one battle cruiser aud
npmber o. light cruisers and destroyer
Move than 1900 lives were lost. Bot
sides claim the victory. Five days lai'
Grral Britain received staggerif
blow when the British cruiser Ham
shire was blown up IN the North s.
hy i MINI and Earl EitFlGupF Riffs