Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-16

effort to straighten out the Ypres salient.
Again British flyers dominated the air.
The British had spent an entire year
mining the earth for this offensive, which
was begun with an explosion 20 terrific
that II was heard In London. Beyond
Messines, for two miles east and north
east, the British won and consolidated
ground. captured more than 7,400 pris-
oners and great stores Of artillery. Gain
ing every objective, they placed them
selves astride the Ypres-Comines canal,
having advanced three miles on an eight
mile front. Portuguese and Belgian
troops ided in this offensive. In recent
days the fighting there had been confined
to raiding operations.
1t Is estimated that during April, May
and June the Germans suffered 100000
casualties on the western front.
RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE OF 1916
The Russians, having in June of 1915
begun an offensive from the Pripet
marshes to the Roumanian frontier,
speedily captured Cxernowtz and the
rest OF Bukovina. together with Brody
In Galicia. and in August they entered
Stanislau for the third time in the war.
These operations forced the Austro-O Ger
mans to relinqush lines they had held
throughout the winter of 1915-1916.
The Halicz bridgehead fell in Septem-
Der. but the subsequent advance on Lem
berg was not prosecuted because the
plight OF Roumania demanded the trans
fer OF Russian troops to aid their Balkan
ally
After the Russian revolution, the Rus
SLAMS made fent to advance on Pinsk,
to cover the actual operations resumed
in July against Lemburg. This latter
front extended 10 1-2 miles. Known az
T9o<x rarto I,,tx
invigorated by the consciousness Of po-
litical liberty. COMPOUNDED German mill
itary prophets by the magnitude and ex-
tent of their offensive.
UNDER KERENSKY'S LEADERSHIP.
| of war, and observed by American army
officers. the Regiments July First" forced
| the Teutons to evacuate Brzezany, and
| they captured many important positions,
including terrain west and south of Halicz
town ad strongly defended positions
| northwest of Stanislau. On July II Hal
icz was taken. thus smashing the Austro-
German front between Brzezany and the
Carpathians.
| This Russian operation broadened by
mid-July. so that It extended from the
gulf of Riga to the Roumanian front.
distance Of 800 miles. The Germans were
reported to be rushing troops from the
| italian and French fronts. Widespread
| enthusiasm was created throughout Rus
sia, and the moral effect on the other
entente powers was tremendous. The
central powers retook Halicz and to some
extent counteracted the Russian gains
in Galicia. but the effectiveness Of Teu-
tonic counter strokes has not yet been
established as permanent.
Indeed, before the third year closed
Russia's offensive suffered collapse.
German spies, anarchists peace fanatics
and other agitators succeeded in Destroy
ing the morale of some of the Russian
troops in Galicia, where a retreat became
necessary when unit after unit refused
to obey orders.
Brezezany, Halicz, Tarnopol, Stanislau
and Kalomca were lost together with all
the remaining ground gained during the
offensive. The Russians surrendered
many prisoners, heavy guns. and an
abundance of supplies and ammunition.
The death penalty was invoked as a
check to further insubordinations and the
, provisional government introduced pol
, icy of blood and iron" in an effort to
avert disaster.
. South Of the Carpathians and In the
. Wilma region there was little disafection
among the Russian troops.
ITALY AND RUSSIA.
: Italy. declaring war against Germany,
on August g. began more vigorous
: prosecution OF her earlier offensive
against Austria.
With dramatic swiftness the third
army. under the Duke of Aosta. stormed
: and captured Gorilla. hitherto considered
impregnable. BY January 1 the Italians
had captured 1900 square miles.
After a winter of artillery cuels. Italy
resumed her offensive on the Carso front
in the campaign toward Trieste. Within
a month the Austrian lines were broken
from Castagnavizza toward Trieste.
| Within a month the Austrian lines were
3 broken from Castagnavizza to the sea
Italy inflicted losses Of s.. 900 on the Aus
e TRANS and lost heavily herself. Austria
q hurried renforcements from the Russian
front.
In the Trentino the Italians took the
J. offensive in June and after terrific fight.
: ing captured the Austrian positions or
g Monte Ortigara and Agnello pass. These
n they were forced to relinqush. however
h in the face of Austrian counter attacks.
n ROUMANIA's DEFEAT.
In the Balkans the years military de-
y velopment saw the occupation Of Rou'
e mania by the Teutons-a gain Of great
i economic value because Of the oil ant
g grain fields. The Roumanian army, re-
formed, Is cooperating with the Rus
SLAMS
/ Bulgaria won successes OF moderate
Importance, including the capture Of the
10 Grecian port Of Kavala.
10 The newly-equipped Serbian army ar
p rived at Saloniki in August and begar
n an offensive which won Ostrovo. on the
= road to Monastir. This offensive, re
sumed in the spring with the cooperation
II of entente and Venizelist troops, wa:
u Monastir and Cerna.
20 In Greece the military moves of thu
II entente forces included blockade o.
, Greece and temporary French occupa
ton Of Athens.
d CAMPAIGNS IN MESOPOTAMIA.
x A British campaign in Mesopotamia &C
complished the capture Of Kut-el-Amara
in February. and Of Bagdad. terminus o
the Berlin-to- Bagdad railway In March
The capture of Bagdad had a deep mora
. effect In the orient particularly in Ara
bia, where many natives revolted from
. Turkish rule.
- Russians operating in Persia tool
= Hamadan: and further north, in Turk
y ish Armenia. Russians captured Van.
In the Holy Land the British opened
- new era in the history OF the east
- Their advance carried them nearly Il
- GAIA Their objective is Jerusalem
which the Turks were reported in jun
;. to have partly evacuated.
"a Except for submarine operations. nava
a writer's have found little to engage thei