The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-31

The third year of the world war
closes with the fortunes or conflict
favoring the Entente, except Tor I'M
certainty as to the outcome OF the
Russian situation.
The Central Powers sustained mo
mentous setbacks, both military and
political, during the twelve months.
On the Western front in Europe
the Teutons find themselves on the
defensive at the advent of the fourtn
year. They fight on lines neWly-es-
tablished after forced retirement
from terrain which they had won In
earlier days at tremendous sacri-
flee.
Meanwhile new enemy powers, no
tably the United States, have been
drawn in by the Central Empires and
progress toward the achievement Of
the ultimate aim of the Entente and
it's Allies has been furthered by po-
litical disturbance which will remain
memorable in the history of all times
Chief among these are the fall OF
two crowned heads, Nicholas or Rus
STA and Constantine of Greece. In
Russia autocracy has given way to
a Republic. In Greece a Kingdom
remains but not a pro-Teutonlc one,
Entente pressure having won SUI
Political events within the German
and Austrian Empires, featured by
the fall of Chancellor Won Bethmann-
Hollweg, have led to open discussions
of peace in the German Reichstag as
the fourth year dawns.
In Great britain, the third year
closed with Winston Spencer church
i'll, former First Lord of the Admir-
atty, returned to the Cabinet with the
portfolio of Minister Of Munitions.
Portugal and Rumania threw in
their fortunes with the Entente short
ly after the third year began. The
United States entered in April, fol-
lowed by Cuba and Liberia. Panama
pledged the United States her aid
in defending the Panama canal. Cos
ia RIGA put her naval bases at our
disposal. China, Bolivia, Guatemala
and Brazil severed diplomatic .~rela-
tions with Germany. Uruguay ex-
pressed her sympathy for the United
States. Late in July, Siam entered
the war against the Central PowersI
Three new nations were born dur
ing the year. Poland was created a
kingdom under German and Austrian
direction. In Mecca the Arabians
overthrow Turkish rule and declared
independence. In the Balkans, hber-
ty was restored to Albania, which was
established as a republic under Ital-
ian political protection and with
French military, aid
An estimate made two months be-
fore the end of the third year-voiced
by Arthur Henderson, of the British
War Council-placed the number of
men killed at 100000 since August.
1914. French General Headquarters
recently estimated 100000 Germans
had been killed UP to March l.. Mr..
Henderson estimated the total casu-
alties at more than 45,000,000.
The first and second American
contingent of troops landed in France
on June ,26 and 81
Nearly 100000 Americans of
military age registered on June 5 I'M
der the selective draft law, and from
these are being selected the men who
will comprise the great army contin-
gents which America is planning to
send to Europe.
In cementing Americas association
with the nations now her allies, nu-
merous exchanges of missions were
arranged. France, Great Britain,
italy, Belgium, Russia and other En-
| tente bellfgerents sent delegations to
the United States a a step toward uni
fcation, military, financial and other
wise. The United States sent mis-
sions to Russia and other countries
Fighting on the western front dur
ing the third year of the war may
roughly be divided into six phases
two in the latter part OF 1916 before
winter called a halt; and four after
I the Entente offensive was resumed
in the early spring.
At the close of the second year the
Germans were still unwilling to con-
cede failure in the operations center
ing on Verdun., After August 8, 1915
the French gained the ascendancy
eliminating in the retaking or Dou-
au, Thiaumont and Fort Vaux, with
thousands of prisoners and many
guns. By November the French had
once more come into possession OF
the complete circle of the Verdun de-
fences.
The second phase dates back to
| the commencement of the Franco
British offensive-the first battle OF
the Somme-in July of 1916. BY
id-September this had reached such
proportions that the Germans were
credited with bringing up seven new
divisions against the British and five
against the French. 1t was estima.
ted that 3S German divisions, or, bas-
1 60 On the Str0ngLn OF those German
units at that period, about 100000
men, opposed he British and French
on this twenty-nile front. In this
battle the British air supremacy be.
came dominant. BY November the
British and French had taken to st
Pierre Divion. -Hamel an6
Beaucourt and had penetrated Ger.
man positions for a depth of si1
miles.
In the Spring, the Germans, antici
pating resumption of the Somms
operations, began what has become
known as the "Hindenburg victorious
retreat to newly established German
lines. In this second battle of tn,
Somme, Bapaume. Irles,- Peronne
Nesle, Fayette, Gricourt, Vaux, Roye
fTergnier, Ham and hundreds of othel
positions were lost by the Germans
In an evacuation which French cri
tics regard as memorial the Germans
left track Of widespread devasta
ton which aroused worldwide indig
nation. The British claimed captur,
of nearly 5000 prisoners in the three
months of this German retirement
for a depth of from to Is miles
along a front of about 46 miles.
In April the British transferred
their offensive northeast of Arras
Iforcing Won Hindenberg to redistri
bJte his forces along