The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-28
THIRD YEAR OF WORLD WAR
REVIEWED BY IMPORTANT EVENTS

with the fortunes OF conflict fayoring
the entente. except for uncertainty as
TO the outcome Of the Russian situation.
The Central Powers sustained mo
mentous setbacks. both military and po-
litical. during the twelve months.
On the western or French front
in Europe the Teutons find them.
selves on the defensive at the advent
Of the fourth year They fight on lines
newly established after forced retire
ment from terrain which they had won
in earlier days at a tremendous sacri-
fee
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 its
allies has been furthered by political
disturbance which will remain memor.
able in the history sf all times.
Chief among these are the fall OF
two crowned heads-Nicholas Of Rus.
sia and Constantine Of Greece. In
Russia autocracy has given way to a
republic In Greece a kingdom re.
mains but not a prO-Teutonic one. en-
tente pressure having won supremacy
in this part Of the Balkans.
Political events within the German
and Austrian empires featured by the
fall Of Chancellor Won Bethmann-HoI
veg 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 Churchill
former first lord OF the admiralty. re
turned 10 the cabinet with the portfolio
OF minister Of munitions.
Two More Come In.
Portugal and Rumania threw in their
fortunes with the entente shortly after
the third year began. The United
States entered in April, followed by
Cuba and Liberia Panama pledged
the United States her aid in defending
the Panama canal. Costa Rica put her
naval bases at our disposal China
Bolivia, Guatemala and Brazil severed
diplomatic relations with Germany. Uru
quay expressed her sympathy for this
United States.
Three new nations were born during
the year. Poland was created a king
dom under German and Austrian direc
tion. In Mecca the Arabians overthrev
Turkish rule and declared independence
In the Balkans. liberty was restored tC
Albania. which was established as re
public under Italian political protection
and with French military aid.
An estimate made two months befor'
lthe end OF the third year-voiced by
Arthur Henderson. OF the British wal
council. placed the number Of men kill
ed at 1000 900 since August 1914. French
general headquarters estimated 1900 .0OI
Germans had been killed up 10 Marcl
/. Mr.. Henderson estimated the tOta
casualties at more than As 5000 600
The first and second American con
tingents Of troops landed in France
on June 20 and 81.
Ten Million Americans Register.
Nearly 10000 900 Americans Of mill
tary age registered on June unde
the selective draft law. and from thes'
are being selected the men who WI
comprise the great army contingent
which America is planning TO send &
Europe.
In cementing Americas association
with the nations now her allies, numer
Gus exchanges Of missions were arrang
ed. France. Great Britain. Italy Bel
gium. Russia and other entente bellig
erents sent delegations 10 the Unite'
States as a step toward unihcation, mill
tary. financial and otherwise. Tn
United States sent missions 10 Russi'
and other countries.
Fighting on the western front durinl
the third year Of the war may roughl,
be divided into six phases-two in III
latter part Of 1916 before winter calle'
a halt: and four after the entente OF
fensiye was resumed In the early spring
At the close OF the second year N
Germans were still unwilling 20 cor
cele failure in the operations centerin
on Verdun. After August 3, 1915, III
| French. gained the ascendancy Gu
mlnatlng in the retaking Of Douat
lTh6umont and Fort Vaux, with thor
sands Of prisoners and many guns b
November the French had once NOR
come into possession Of the complet
circle of the Verdun defenses.
The second phase dates back 20 IN
commencement Of the Franco British o
, fenslve-the first battle Of the Somme-
in July Of 1915 BY mid-September thi
had reached such proportions that IN
Germans were credited with bringin
up seven new divisions against the Bri
, lsh and FIVE against the French.
was estimated that 3s German division
or. based on the strength Of those Ge
. man units az that period. about 10000
men. opposed the British and Frenc
. on this twenty.mlle front. In this batt
! the British air supremacy became dom
nant. By November the British an
French had taken st. Pierre Divio
! Beaumont.Hamel and Beaucourt ar
r had penetrated German positions for
depth Of six miles
Hindenburg's Victorious Retreat"
In the spring. the Germans, anti'
|, pating a resumptisn Of the Somme o
eratlons. began what has become know
I. as the "Hindenburg victorious retrea
!. 10 newly-established German lines.
\ this second battle Of the somme. p