The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-01-03
THE EUROPEAN WAR

can with difficulty appreciate the
magnitude of the events which have
TRANSFERRED during the past Il months.
Generations to come, however. looking
back upon this period with clearer
vision, will recognize the year 1916
as one of the most tremendous. from
history-making standpoint, since the
world began.
Europe continued It's bloOd-letting
throughout the year with even greater
ferOcity than marked the first IL
months following re breaking Of the
storm. The grea war rounded out
its second and entered upon its third
year. with little promise of an early
conclusion Of peace. During the year
new nations entered into the war, one
Of them, ROumania, TO become the
scene of some of the most ferociOus
lighting of the year, one new nation
was created another tottcred TO It's
fall, while on a dozen fronts millions
Of men were fed as human sacrifices
10 the insatiate war monster.
There were seven outstanding
phases of the great war during the
year 1916 These comprised the great
offensive of the Russians in GaIicia,
which was finally checked by the leu
tonic allies; the superhuman efforts of
the Germans to capture Verdun,
which were thwarted by the equally
superhuman defense offered by the
French; the long-awaited grand often
siye of the British and the French on
n hn
c0very Of considerable area in the
Somme region, but not definitely break
ing the deadlock in northern France;
the checking of an Austrian offensive
by the italians and the launching of
cOunter-Oifensive by which the Ital-
ians made big strides in their cam
puign against Trieste; the conquest of
RoumaHia by the Teutonc allies; the
drive Of the Serbs, aided by French,
Italian and British troops, in an effort
70 regain their lost kingdom, and the
final abandonment by the entente al
lies of their disastrous GallipoIi. cam
paign.
The Russians launched their of
fensive in Galicia on the first day of
the year. On January 8. the effort of
the entente allies to force the D0rda-
nelles was definitely abandoned. and
the forces of the allies entirely evacu-
ated the GallipOli peninsula.
Verdun Attack Launched
Early in February. the Russians, aft
er Il lull in the fighting. resumed their
offensive in Galicia and on February 10
they crossed the DnieSter and threat
ened CZernOwtz. The Russians. I'M
der Grand Duke Nicholas, also con
tinued their drive in the Caucasus and
on February IA they captured the
important town of Erzerum. Febru-
airy y, the Germans, led by the crown
prince launched their attack on Yer
dun, and during the next few days
they smashed their way through the
outer defenses until they came within
bg-gun range of the French strong
hold. The French, taken by surprise
were forced TO give ground. but by
the last of the month they had
strengthened their shattered lines and
had checked the German drive In the
Serdun sector, for the next few
months, occurred some of the most
sanguinary fighting of the entire war
The Austrians had considerable sue
cess on the Italian front during the
month. entering Durazzo on February
26 and driving the Italians before
them. Portugal signalized its entry
into the great conflict February % by
seiZing "a German steamers interned
in Portuguese ports. Germany demand
ed the release of the ships and on
March declared war on Portugal, the
thirteenth nation to enter the CON
fiict.
The month of March was marked
chiefly by the continued determined at
tacks of the Germans upon Verdun.
The assault entered its third stage In
this month with repeated attacks on
Vaux. Douaumont and other outlying
towns, most of which were repulsed
with terrific losses. During the month
the Italians finally checked the Aus
trian drive and launched big often
Siye along the entire Austrian front
The Russians continued their victori-
Gus drive against the Turks in Ar
mont, capturing Bitlis on March 3.
and other important towns later in the
month.
The early days of April saw a slow
ing up of the Russian offensive in Ca
licia. The Germans launched a coun-
ter offensive all along the Russian
front but gained little headway The
following months saw terrific fighting
along this front. April 23, the British
admitted a defeat at the hands of the
Turks in Mesopotamia and on April
%, General Townshend and 10000 Brit
iSh soldiers, who had been beSeged by
the Turks at Kut-el-Amara, were
forced TO surrender after repeated eff
forts TO relieve them had failed
Great Sea Battle Fought
The first great naval battle of the
war was fought by the German and
British high seas fleets off the coast of
Jutland. Denmark. May 81. The Brit
ish admit the loss of six large cruisers
and eight deStroyerS. the Germans one
battleship, one battle cruiser and "A
number of light cruisers and destroyers.
More than 5000 lives were lost Both
sides claim the victory. Five days later
Great Britain received staggering
blow when the British cruiser Hamp-