Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-08-18

the poorly QUILTED and trained Ron.
manian peasants. When the third wear
OF the war opened the battle of the
Somme was still going on vigorously
with the French and British showing a
constantly growing superiority over the
Zoe. Bit by bit through the summer
and autumn the ground was wrencbed
from the kaiser's men until the coming
or winter smothered the offensive sin
mud and blood" and. according to the
British commander, Sir Douglas Haig,
saved his opponents from an immedi.
ate great enforced retirement
On September % 1t was announced
that the French and British had taken
o5,S00 prisoners in the Somme battle
between July ! and September IS. This
total was later considerably increased.
French Win at Verdun.
At Verdun, too, the Germans suf-
fered. The French In battles of the
fall and winter won back most of the
ground lost in the offensive of the
spring of 1916 and captured more than
10000 prisoners, with slight losses
themselves.
The spring campaign in the west
opened this war with the Germans
falling back from the grear salient
spearpoint directed at Paris-confess-
ing thereby either their weakness or
their aversion to further offensive. al
though at the time German writer's
limited darkly that Won Hindenburg
had something up his sleeve"
The strategic retirement" began
about March II, and the Teutons tri-
umphantly declared 1t would prevent
an allied offensive this year. But they
spoke too soon.
On April 8 the British stormed high
Vimy Ridge, taking on this and suc-
ceeding days about $1,000 prisoners.
The other enemy stronghold along the
British line was Messlnes Ridge, south
of Ypres, This the British blew up by
mines June 7, the noise being heard in
London. They captured 5000 prison
ers the first day Of the offensive and
many others later.
French Gain Hills.
Below the sector of the German re-
.irement the French were equally sue
,essful. On April 16 they started a
great offensive which resulted in the
Ladies' road" falling into
heir hands, besides important posi-
ions in Champagne. Their prisoners |
he first two days totalled 1900. On |
Nay 6, along the ,Aisne, they took 6,100 |
'aptives and gained points from which
hey looked down on the foe, as the
British did farther north.
1t should be noNd here however,
hat the French l-sses were severe,
resulting in the replacement of Nivelle
rs commander In chief by Petain.
The last twelvemonth in the Italian
has witnessed a series of !
costly reverses for the Austrlans, but
he Italians have been prevented from
following up their successes by the
yery difficult terrain, the beaten Teu-
ons falling back after each defeat to
lew mountain positions most difficult
o attack.
Italians Take Gorizia.
On August s, 1915, the Italians
tormed the stubbornly defended Co
lila bridgehead, on the Isonzo river,
aking about 10000 prisoners, and
hey followed this success the next
lay by selling the city of Gorilla and
Increasing the number of their cap
ives.
The Italians launched a new often
i've the first days of November and
IN November 8 they announced that
heir prisoners since the fall of Co
lila totaled 40,365.
Winter then stifled operations until