New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-28

after one Of the worlds bloodiest
battles. Canadians held the ridge
against desperate counter-attacks.
This success east of Arras turned Hin
denbergs northern pivot, and British
critics regarded it as the greatest in
the history Of British arms in the
present war. The offensive, continued,
placed the British astride the linden
berg line. and the Germans retired to
positions mile or two west of the
Drocourt- Queant line. These they
held as the third year closed
Meanwhile the battles of CHAMPAIGN
and the Aisne had been carried on by
the French. who in April CAPTURED
Auberive. In the first days of Cham
paign offensive, one Of the greatest
struggles of the war, the Germans
sustained an estimated loss of 10000
killed, wounded and taken prisoners
through their desperate defensive
operations Fighting in these regions
continues after three months. during
which the French have advanced from
one to five miles along a ffty-mile
front. The present French line runs
from northwest of scissors. through
Rheims to Auberive.
In June 1917. the British began an
attack on Messines and Wyschaete in
IN effort to straighten out the Ypres
salient Again British flyers domi-
mated the air. The British had spent
an entire year mining the earth for
this offensive, which was begun with
an explosion so terrific that it was
heard in London. Beyond Messines,
for two miles east and northeast. the
British won and consolidated ground,
captured more than 7,4OO prisoners
and great stores Of artillery. Gaining
every objective. they placed them
selves astride the Ypres- Confines
Canal. having advanced three miles on
an eight mile front. Portuguese and
Belgian troops aided in this offensive
In recent days the fighting there had
been confined to raiding operations
It is estimated that during April,
May and June the Germans suffered
$50 casualties on the Western front.
The Russians. having in June Of
1916 begun an offensive from the Pri-
pet Marshes to the Rumanian from
tier. speedily captured Czernowitz and
the rest of Bukovina, together with
Brody in Galicia. and in August they
entered Stanisau for the third time in
the war. These operations forced the
Austro- Germans to relinqush lines
they had held throughout the winter
of 1915-1916.
The Halicz bridgehead fell in Sep
tetmber but the subsequent advance
on Lemberg was not prosecuted be-
cause the plight of Rumania de-
manded the transfer of Russian troops
to aid their Balkan ally
After the Russian Revolution, the
Russians made feint to advance on
Pinsk, to cover the actual operations
resumed in July against Lemburg
This latter front extended Is 2 miles
known as Regiments July First"
these troops, reinvigorated by the con-
seriousness of political liberty con-
founded Germany military prophets by
the magnitude and extent Of their
offensive.
Led by Alexander Kerensky, minis
ter of war, and observed by American
army officers, the Regiments July
First forced the Teutons to evacuate
Brzezany. and they captured many i'm
portant positions, including Terrain
west and south Of Halcz town and
positions northwest
of Stanislau. On July II Halicz was
taken, thus smashing the Autro- Ger
man front between Brzezany and the
This Russian operation broadened
by mid-July. so that it extended from
the Gulf of Riga to the Rumanian
front, q distance of 500 miles. The
Germans were reported to be rushing
troops from the Italian and French
fronts. Widespread enthusiasm was
created throughout Russia, and the
moral effect on the other entente al
lies was tremendous.
Before the third year closed, how |
ever, Russias offensive suffered g. col
lapse. German spies anarchists. !
peace fanatics and other agitators /
succeeded in destroying the morale of !
some OF the Russian troops in Galicia, |,
where a retreat became necessary |
when unit after unit refused to obey
orders.
"Brzezany. Halicz. Tarnopol, stanis-
lau and Kalomca were lost. together |
with all the remaining German
ground gained during the offensive.
The Russians surrendered many pris-
oners heavy guns, and an abundance
of supplies and ammunition.
1.-THE death penalty was invoked as
a check to further insubordinations
and the provisional government intro
duced a policy of "blood and IRON III
an effort to avert disaster.
South of the Carpathians and in
the Wilma region there was little dis
affection among the Russian troops.
Italy, declaring war against Ger
many August rs, began more vigor-
Gus prosecution of her earlier Often
sive against Austria.
With dramatic swiftness the third
army, under the duke of Aosta,
stormed and captured Gorilla, hither-
TO considered impregnable. BY Janu-
ary 1 the Italians had captured 1900
square miles.
After a winter of artillery duels,
italy resumed her offensive on the