Connecticut western news., 1917-07-26
Years of War
 Events of 1917
Germany's Violations of Neu- hal Rights Draws America Into Entente Alliance With
 Sea and Land Power

pregnable and that the Russian drive 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 fin April and aimed at the expulsion of invading armies from Trent1no had been checked. This was a negative victory because the Aus trian spells 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 tified town of Goritz barred the way from the IsonZo river toward Trieste. and after a long and costly siege 1t fell on Aug Q. Still further progress of the allied cause fin the southeastern field laid fresh emphasis to Von Hin denburg's assertion that the war must be fought out in the east. Russia was making headway 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 serious outlook for Germany. Verdun was untaken, and the allies had stormed the third Ger man line on the Somme front. Brusi- loff's Russian column had indeed been checked on the Stokhod and Dniestcr. but its presence that far south on the road to Hungary compelled Austria to keep a strong force north of the Car pathian mountains. Then came blow which lifted the hopes of the allies to the highest pitch-Roumania turne1 upon the Teutons. The situation n: that time was as follows: The belligcr- ents were at deadlock on the Somme line, the Italians in Goritz, the sup posed key to Trieste, and the allied col umn from Salonizi moving north into Macedonia to strike Bulgaria in the rear was making progress. For the moment 1t seemed the allies had the advantage in that zone where the de- cision was to be reached-the near east.
 Between Two Fires.
 It was alleged that Roumania would add 100000 men to the enemies of Ger many. Roumania's first move scored tactical victory. Her troops cross ed the frontier northward into Tran sylvania, where they were joined bysn Russian column, which marched west ward, far off on the southeastern flank of the Germans on the Dniester
 Forcing the mountain passes, the Roumanians captured Kronstadt and Orsova, but the triumph was not for long. A column of Bulgars. Germans and Turks, led by Von Mackensen. crossed the Danube from the south into Roumanla, taking 10000 prisoners in the first blow. Almost simultane- ously Van Falkenhayn's mixed army of Germans and Austrians drove dowu from the north upon the invading Rou manians. captured passes in their rear and destroyed their armies. Kron- stadt was recaptured. By the middle of October the Roumanians were in full retreat back over their border on the north. On the south the Germaas had captured the main Roumanian port of Constanza, forced the enemy to evacuate Cernavoda, on the Danube. ha hyiJoa
 Collapse of Roumania.
 With the exception of a weak sup port by her nearest ally. Russia. Rou. mania got no direct help. Early in November the allies launched new grand attack on the Somme, and Fran co-Servians attacked Monastfr, on the southern front. But neither of these diversions checked German progress In Roumania. The northern column, com. ing down from Austria under Von Fal- kenhayn. moved southeast into Rou- mania and met q composite force of Bulgars, Turks and Germans which Von Mackensen was leading north west, fifty miles west of the Rouman- fan capital, Bucharest. In vain Russia began a new drive in the Carpathians. The Roumanians, strong in numbers. but weak in resisting power, were overcome, and in the last week of 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 infiuence-namely, the en- trance of the United States as an ally of the entente powers and the collapse of Russia's responsiveness. During the early months of the year the submarine dispute between this country and Ger many quieted down. A U boat brought the war into western Atlantic waters by sinking neutral ships off Nantucket
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