Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-05
THE EUROPEAN WAR

can with difficulty appreciate the
magnitude q the events which have
transplred during the past II months.
Generations to come, however, looking
back upon this period with clearer
vision. will recognize the year 1915
as one of the most tremendous, from
a hlstory-mnldng standpoint. since the
world began. a.
Europe continued its blo0d-letting
throughout the year with even greater
ferOcity than marked the first is
months following the breaking Of the
storm. The great 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
fighting Of the year. one new nation
was created. another tottered to its
fall. while on n dozen fronts millions
OF men were fed as human sacrifices
20 the insatiate war monster.
There we're seven outstanding
phases of the great war during the
year 1916. These comprised the great
offensive OF the Russians in Galicia.
which was finally checked by the Teu-
tonic allies; the superhuman efforts of
the Germans to capture Verdun.
which were thwarted by the equally
superhumau defense offered by the
French; the long-nwaited grand often
sive OF the British and the French on
the western front, resulting in the re-
e0very 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
a counter-offenslve BY which the Ital-
fans made big strides In their cant
paign against Trieste; the conquest OF
Roumania BY the Teutonic allies; the
drive OF the Serbs, aided by French.
Itnlian and British troops, In an effort
to regain their lost kingdom. and the
final abandonment by the entente al
lies Of their disastrous GallIpoll cam
The Russians launched their Of
fensive in Gahcia on the frst day Of
the year. On January o, the effort of
the entente allies to force the Darda-
neIles 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 a lull in the fighting, resumed their
offensive In Galicia and on February 10
they crossed the DnIester and threat
ened Czernowitz. The Russians, un-
der Grand Duke Nicholas, also con-
tinued their drive in the Caucasus and
on February IA they captured the
important town of Erzerum. Febru-
Rry n. 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
blg-gun range Of the French strong
hold. The French, taken by surprise
we're 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
Verdun sector, for the next few
sanguinary fighting of the entire war
The Austrians had considerable sue
cess on the Italian front during the
month, entering Durazzo on Februar,
% and driving the Italians befor,
them. Portugal signalized its entr!
Into the great conflict February 20 b,
seizing "a German steamers internec
In Portuguese ports. Germany demand
ed the release Of the ships and OF
March declared war on Portugal, tn
thirteenth nation to enter the con
flct.
The month Of March was marke,
chiefly by the continued determined al
tacks of the Germans upon Verdur
The assault entered its third stage 4
this month with repeated attacks O.
vaux, Douaumont and other outlyin
towns. most Of which were repulse
with terrific losses. During the mont
the Italians finally checked the Aus
trian drive and launched a big offer
sive along the entire Austrian from
The Russians continued their victor
Gus drive against the Turks In Al
MONT, capturing BItlis on March
and other important towns later in tn
month.
The early days Of April saw a SLOW
ting up of the Russian offensive In G.,
ncia. The Germans launched coul
ter offensive all along the Russia
front but gained little headway. II
following months saw terrific fightir
along this front. April %, the Britis
admitted a defeat at the hands of ii
Turks in Mesopotamla and on Apr
%, General Townshend and 10000 Bri
ish soldiers, who had been besieged /
the Turks at Kut-el-Amara, wei
forced to surrender after repeated e
forts to relieve them had failed.
Great Sea Battle Fought.
The first great naval battle of Il
war was fought by the German M
British high seas fleets off the coast
Jutland, Denmark, May 81. The Br
ish admit the loss of six large cruise
and eight destroyers, the Germans OF
battleship, one battle cruiser and
number Of light cruisers and destroyer
More than 5000 lives were lost. Bo
sides claim the victory. Five days lat
Great Britain received q staggerii
blow when the British cruiser Ham
shire was blown up in the North s
by mine and Earl Kitchener, Britt
secretary of war, and his entire sta
were lost. During the early part
June the Russians broadened their
fensive In Gallcia and along the lin
further north and on June 7 they 9
nounced the recapture of the fortre
of Lutsk in Volhynla and the crossi
of the Ikwa and Styr rivers at sever
points.
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