Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-09-06
Review Of Three Years Of War
Ending With Big Events Of 1917
Germany's Violations Of Neu-
trail Rights Draws America
Into Entente Alliance With
Sea and Land Power

xUIU EuleUlE kAlklduCC w luu ii
Sea and Land Power
headed by Brusilof in Bukowina and
eastern Galicia was proceeding with
irresistible force toward the Stokhod
and the Dniester.
Emphasis was given to the hopeful
view by Italian success on both fronts
in Austria. The great Austrian drive
which began in April and aimed at the
expulsion of invading armies from
Trentino had been checked. This was
a negative victory because the Aus
TRAN spoils had been heavy and the
demand on Italian troops had inter-
fered with Italy's aggressive move
ments in the south, where the objective
Of the Italians was Trieste. The for
titled town of Goritz barred the way
from the Isonzo river toward Trieste,
and after a long and costly siege it
fell on Aug. 8. Still further progress
Of the allied in the southeastern
field laid fresh emphasis to Won Hin
qenburg's assertion that the war must
be fought out in the east. Russia was
making Roadway in Asia Minor, march
ing from bases in her home territory,
with her armies backed up by her own
fleet on the Black sea. This was real
ly a strategic extension of her new
line in Bukowina and Galicia.
Roumania Attacks German Rear.
AS matters stood then, the third
year opened with a serious outlook for
Germany. Verdun was untaken, and
the allies had stormed the third Ger
man line on the Somme front. Brush,
lofts Russian column had indeed been
checked on the Stokhod and Dniester,
but its presence that far south on the
road to Hungary compelled Austria tc
keep a strong force north Of the Car
pathian mountains. Then anne a blow
which lifted the hopes Of the allies tc
the highest pitch-Roumania turned
upon the Teutons. The situation a
hat time was as follows: The belliger
ents were at a deadlock on the Sommt
line, the italians in Goritz, the sup
posed Key to Trieste, and the allied col
umn from Saloniki moving north int
Macedonia to strike Bulgaria in thu
rear was making progress. For thu
moment 1t seemed the allies had tn,
advantage in that zon where the de
cision was to be reached-thc neal
east.
Between Two Fires.
1t was alleged that Roumania woule
many. Roumania's first move SCORED
a tactical victory. Her troops cross
ed the frontier northward into Tran
: ~sylvania, where they were joined by
Russian column, which marched west
ward, far off on the southeastern ,f1anl
of the Germans on the Dniester.
Forcing the mountain passes, thu
: Roumanians captured Kronstadt ant
Orsova, but the triumph was not 70
long. A column Of Bulgars, German
, and Turks, led by Won Mackensen
crossed the Danube from the soutl
into Roumania, taking 10000 prisoner
in the first blow. Almost simultane
ously Van Falkenhayn's mixed arm,
of Germans and Austrians drove dow
from the north upon the invading Rou
manians, captured passes in their rea
and destroyed their armies. Kron
stadt was recaptured. By the middle
Of October the Roumanians were il
full retreat back v their border OF
the north. On the south the Germna!
had captured the main Roumanial
; port of Constanza, forced the enemy t.
e%Facuate Cernavoda, on the Danube
and destroyed the bridge.
Collapse Of Roumania.
With the exception of a weak sup
port by her nearest ally, RUSSIA, Itou
mania got nc direct help. Early il
, November the allies launched a new
grand attack on the Somme, and Fran
co,Servians attacked Monastir, on the
southern front. But neither Of these
diversions checked German progress ii
Roumania. The northern column, con
ing down from Austria under Won Fal
kenhayn, moved southeast into Rou
mania and met a composite force O.
Bulgars, Turks and Germans whic,
Won Mackensen was, leading north
west, fifty miles west of the Rounan
) ian capital, Bucharest. In vain Russi;
began a new drive in the Car7athians
The ~Rournanians, strong in numbers
but weak in resisting power, were
overcome, and in the last week o.
1916 the Teutons were in Bucharest.
America In the War.
Two events of sudden development
in the third year Of the war may have
a deciding infuence-namely, the en-
+ trance Of the United States as an ally
Of the entente powers and the collapse
Of Russia's aggressiveness. During thu
early months of the wear thn submarine