The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-07-28

against the British and five against
the French. 1t was estimated that
thirty eight German divisions, or, based
on the strength Of those German units
at that period, about 100000 men. OPP
posed the British and French On this
twenty-mile front, In this battle the
British air supremacy became domi.
nant, By November the British and
French had taken st. Pierre ivion,
Beaumont Hamel and Beaucourt and
had penetrated German positions Tor a
depth of six miles
In the spring, the Germans, antici-
pating a resumption OF the Somme OPP
era,ions, began VIVA, has become known
as the "Hindenburg victorious retreat"
to newly-established German lines. In
this second battle Of the Somme, Ba-
paumc, Irles, Peronnc, Nesle, Fayette,
Gricour,, Naux, Roye, Tcrgnier, Ham
and hundreds Of other positions were
hist by the Germans, In an evacuation
which French critics regard as mem
orable the Germans left a track OF
widespread devastation which aroused
world wide Indignation. The British
| claimed capture Of nearly 5000 prison.
} crs in the three months OF this Ger
man retirement for a depth OF from
five to fifteen miles along a front Of
about forty-six miles.
Canadians Prove Heroes.
In April the British transferred their
offensive northeast OF Arras, forcing
Won Hindcnburg 10 tedistribute his
forces along a %fifteen-mile front, Ca
nadians played a historic part in this
fighting Monchy-le- Preux was taken +;
and Vimy ridge was captured after
one Of the worlds -bloodiest battles.
Canadians held the rfdge agains, des-
peratc counter attacks. This success
cas-, Of Artas turned H~indenburgs
northern pivot, and British critics re.
gardcd it as the greatest in the his
tory Of British arms IN the present war
This offensive, continued, placed the
British aNride the H~indenburg line
and the Germans retired to positions a
mile or two west Of the Drocourt.
Oueant line. These they held as thu
third year closed.
Meanwhile the battles OF Champaign
and the Aisne had been carried on b,
the French. who in April capture,
Auberive. In the first DAYS OF Cham
paign offensive, one OF the creates
struggles OF the war. the Germans sus
tanned an estimated loss OF 10000
killed. wounded and taken prisoner
through their desperate defensive op
crations. Fighting in these region
continues after three months, durin
which the French have advanced iror
one to five miles along a fifty mil
front. The present French line run
from northwest of SCISSORS, thtoug
Rheims to Auberive
British Flyers Dominate Air
In June, 1917, the British began a
attack on Messines and WySchaete
an effort to sttaighten out the fpre
salient Again British flyers domina'
, ed the air. The British had spent a
entire year mining the earth for Thu
offensive, which was begun with an eS
plosion Sc terrific that il vas hear
- in London BEYOND MeS,ines, for Nv
q miles east and northeast, the BIRTHS
. won and consolidated ground, car
{ tured more than 400 prisoners an
great stores OF artillery. Gainin
every objective they placed ,hemselve
aStrlde the NpreS Comines canal, hay
ing advanced three miles on an eight
mile front Portuguese and Pelgla
& troops aided IN this offensive In r.
" cent days the fighting there had bee
le confined 10 taldlng operations.
ID 1t is estimated that during Apr
{ MAY and June the Germans suffer,
" SSO,OO casualties ON the western iron
Russians Open Offensive.
le The Russians. having in June " 10.
begun an offensive from the prip
r Marshes 10 the R%umaniau %irontir
6, speedily captured Cternowit5 and II
J. rest OF BukQwina, together with Rro,
u, in Galicla, and IN August they enter,
a. StaniSlau for the third time in the wa
~ These operations forced the Nustr
re Germans to relinQul,h lines they h.
lie held throughout the winter ~ lQl
1910.
,e The Halicl brldeehcad fell IN Sc
h TENDER, but the subsequent advance
'e Lcmbcrg was not prosecuted becau
y the plight oi Rumanla demanded 1,
transfer OF Russian troop, to aid IN,
d Balkan ally.
After the Russian revolution, I