Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-07-29

AiAS eAiiiSt SNpI Ol llle WOIlu wa
 closes with the fortunes of conflict ia
 voring the entente.
 The central powers sustained mo
 mentous setbacks, both military am
 political, during the twelve months
 On both the western and easter1
 fronts in Europe the Teutons fin,
 themselves on the defensive at the ad
 vent of the fourth year They fight O,
 llnes newly-established after forced re
 tlrement from terrain which they hat
 won in earlier days at a tremendou
 sacrifice.
 Meanwhile new enemy powers, not
 ably the United States, have bee, drawn in by the central empires ant progress toward the achievement o1 the ultimate aim of the entente ant it's allies has been furthered by poli tical disturbance which will remain memorable in the history of all times
 Chief among these are, the fall o1 two crowned heads-Nicholas of Rus. sla and Constantine of Greece. In Russia autocracy has given way to Q republic. In Greece kingdom re- mains but not 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- 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. l ill, former first lord of the admiralty. returned to the cabinet with the port folio of minister of munitions.
 Portgual and Rumania threw in their fortunes with the entente A shortly af- ter the third year began. The United States entered in April, followed by Cuba and Liberia. Panama pledged the United States her aid in defend ing the Panama canal. Costa Rica put her naval bases at our disposal. China. Bolivia, Guatemala and Brazil severed diplomatic relations with Germany, Uruguay expressed her sympathy for the United States.
 Three Nations Born.
 Three new nations were born dur ing the year. Poland was created kingdom under German and Austrian direction. In Mecca the Arabians ov- erthrew Turkish rule and declared in- dependence. In the Balkans, liberty was restored to Albania, which was es- tablished as republic under Italian 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 1,500.000 Germans had been killed up to March 1. MT. Hender- son estimated the total casualties at l more than 45.000,OOO.
 The first and second American con- tingents of troops landed in France on June 26 and 27.
 Nearly 10,000,000 Americans of mili- tary age registered on June under the selective draft law, and from these are being selected the men who will the great army contingents which America is planning to send to Europe.
 In cementing Americas association with the nations now her allies, nu- exchanges of missions were ar- ranged. France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia and other entente belligerents sent delegations to the United States as a step toward unifi- cation, 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 the entente offensive was resumed in the early spring.
 French Regain Ground.
 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 3, 1916, the French gained the ascendancy, cul- in the retaking of Douau, Thiaumont and Fort Vaux. with thou sands of prisoners and many guns. By November the French. had once more come into possession of the complete circle of the Verdun defences. l'
 The second phase dates back to the of the Franco British first battle of the Som- , ne-in July of 1916. By mid-Sep- ;ember this had reached such propor- ions that the Germans were credited with bringing up seven new divis- ons against the British and five against the French It was estimated hat 38 German divisions, or, based on