The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-07-28
Meanwhile the battles of Champaign

by the French, who in April captured
Auberive. In the first days of the
Champaign offensive, one OF the great
struggles of the war, the Germans
sustained an estimated loss Of 100000
killed, wounded and taken prisoners,
through their desperate defensive
operations. Fighting in these regions
continues after three months, during
which the French have advanced from
one to five miles along fifty-mlle
front. The present French line runs
from northwest of scissors, through
Rheims to Auberive.
Attack on Messines
In June, 1917, the British began an
attack on Messines and Wyschaete in
an effort to straighten out the Ypres
salient Again British flyers dOmin-
ated the air. The British had spent
an entire year mining the earth for
this offensive, which was begun with
an explosion so terrific that it was
heard in London. Beyond Messines
for two miles east and northeast, the
British and won and consolidated
CdpIul GU l4lOAC IAoA s)foo
prisoners and great stores OF artil-
lery. Gaining every objective, they
placed themselves astride the Ypres-
Confines canal, having advanced three
miles on an eight-mile front Portu-
guese and Belgian troops aided 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.
The Russians, having in June OF
1916 begun an offensive from the Prip-
ct Marshes to the Rumanian frontier,
speedily captured CzernOwitz 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- Germans to relinquish
lines they had held throughout the
winter of 1915-1916.
The Halicz .bridgehead fell in Sep
| TENDER, but the subsequent advance
on Lemberg was not prosecuted be-
cause the plight of Rumania demand
ed the transfer Of Russiantroops to
aid their Balkan ally.
After the Russian Revolution, the
Russians made a feint to advance on
Pinsk, to cover the actual operations
resumed in July against Lemburg.
This latter front extended 1871 miles.
Known as Regiments July First"
these troops, reinvigorated by the con-
seriousness of political liberty, con-
founded German military prophets by
the magnitude and extent Of their Of
fensive.
Led by Alexander Kerensky, Minis
ter 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 and
strongly defended positions northwest
of Stanislau, On July II Halicz was
taken, thus smashing the Austro-Ger-
man front between Brzezany and the
Carpathians.
This Russian operation broadened
by mid-July, so that it extended from
the Gulf of Riga to the Rumanian
front, distance of 800 miles. Ter
Germans were reported to be rushing
troops from the Italian and French
fronts. Widespread enthusiasm was
created throughout Russia, and the
moral effect on the other Entente
powers was tremendous. Within the
last few days, however, the Germans
have won back most of the territory
gained.
Before the third year closed, how
ever, Russia's offensive suffered a
scollapse;s German spies, anarchists.
peace fanatics, and other agitators
succeeded in destroying the morale
of some of the Russian troops in Gal
icia, where a retreat became neces
sary where units after unitls refused
to obey orders.
"The death penalty was invoked as
a check to further INSTRUMENTATION
and the provisional government intro
duced policy of blood and iron in
an effort to avert diaster." ?,
Italy, declaring war against Ger
many on August %, began a more
vigorous prosecution Of her earlier
offensive against Austria.
With dramatic sWiftness the Third
Army, under the Duke of Aosta,
stormed and captured Gorilla, hither-
to considered impregnable. By Jan.
II the Italians had captured 1900
square miles. NJ 'I iiti
: After a winter of artillery duels,
Italy resumed her offensive on the
CarsO front in the campaign toward
Trieste. Within a month the Austrian
lines were broken from Castagnavizza
to the sea. Italy inflicted losses Of
$4,000 on the Austrians and lost heav-
| lily herself. Austria hurried rein
forcements from the Russian front.
In the Trentino the Italians took
the offensive in June and after ter
rife fighting captured the Austrian
positions on Monte Ortigara and Ag-
nello pass. These they were forced to
relinquish, however, in the face Of
Austrian cOunter-attacks.
In the Balkans
In the Balkans the years military
development saw the occupation of
Rumania by the Teutons-a gain of
great economic volue because of the
oil and grain fields. The Rumanian
army, reformed, is cooperating with
the Russians.
Bulgaria won successes of moderate
Importance, including the capture of
the Grecian port of Kavala.
The newly-equipped Serbian army
arrived at Saloniki in August and be-
gan an offensive which won Ostrovo,
on the road to MOnastir. This Often