Middletown transcript., 1917-01-06

on 25-mile front north and south OF
the SOmme river. July II, after ten
days and nights Of continuous fight
ing, the British claimed the capture
of the whole of the enemy's first lines
of defense on a front of 14,OOO yards.
During the remainder of the month the
British and French continued their ad-
vance, the British occupying the entire
village of Pozieres July 26 and the
French advancing close to Peronne, an
important railroad center.
During the month Of August the
Russians, after terrific fighting, pierced
the Teuton lines on the Lemberg and
| Kovel fronts and advanced in the Car
pathians. The Italians continued their
drive on Trieste. August 8. after days
Of terrific fighting, they captured Co.
ritz and pushed forward pursuing the
retreating Austrians.
Roumania Enters War.
| Roumania, after months Of wavering,
| entered the war on the side OF the en-
tente allies with a declaration of war
on Austria-Hungary. Roumania was
the fifteenth nation to enter the war.
On the same day Italy declared war on
Germany and the following day Ger
many declared war on ROumania. With
tlle declaration of war fighting began
between the Roumanians and Aus
trians on the Transylvanian frontier.
| August 80, the Roumanians occupied
Kronstadt and Hermannstadt, the two
chief cities of Pennsylvania. Field
I Marshal Won Hindenburg, whose sue
cesses had made him the idol of the
German people, succeeded General Won
Falkenhayn as chief of the general
staff Of the German army August %.
During the month of September the
Roumanians, cooperating with the
Russians, advanced in northern Tran-
sylvania and Bukowina. but suffered
severe reverses at the hands OF the
Bulgarians and Austrians in DObrudja.
The allied troops made decided gains
in the Somme sector, occupying
Combles and other important towns
on September o6.
Early in October the tide turned
against the Roumanians and Russians
in Pennsylvania and sthe latter were
forced to retire before strong AustrO-
German force under command Of Cen
eral Won Falkenhayn. On October II,
the Teutons began an invasion of Rou-
mania. On the Verdun front, the
French smashed the German lines Oc-
| ,nnf n6
village.
The struggle between the ROumanian
and Russian forces on the one side and
, the Teuton and Bulgarian armies on
the other held the center of attention
in November. Taking advantage OF
! on the Transylvanian front found
q themselves Won Mackensen held his
;. lines in DObrudja and, attacking the
, Danube line forced the river barrier
) at several points. Effecting a juncture
9 of their forces, the Teuton command
n Bucharest. The ROumanians retreat
ed rapidly toward the capital burning
villages and all stores Of grain an(
" munitions in the district through whicl
4 they passed. November 2S, the sea
a Of the Roumanian government wa
q moved from Bucharest to Jassy, nea
u the Russian frontier. The ROumanian
+ evacuated Bucharest December In or
r der to save their army.
?. The Serbians aided by French ant
e Italian troops, made start tOwar
" winning back their country during Nc
e vember Their big drive resulted il
" the capture of Monastir on Novembe
" 10. On the Somme front the battle Q
n the Ancre opened November 13 wit
d. the capture by the British of five mile
N of the German positions, together wit
10 three strong towns.
n An announcement of far-reachin
significance was made in the Russia
ID duma December by Premier TrepOf
It. who read a proclamation annOuncin
n. officially that an agreement conclude
In by Russia, France and Great Britai
On in 1915, and later approved by Ital
ng establishes In definite manner tf
ed rights Of Russia to the straits an
tn ConstantinOple."
ls- The fall of the British cabinet ear
n in December furnished one of the mo
ut. sensational features of the years WI
RI developments. Demands Of Dav
Ar- Lloyd George for the formation Of
3, smaller war council to obtain great
he efficiency forced the resignation of Pr
mier Asquith. Lloyd-George was maj
W. premier and selected a new cabint
la the prosecution Of the war bell
IN placed in the hands Of five men,
an Guiding the premier.
he The first direct overtures for pea
ng came on December 13, when German
sh Austria Hungary, Bulgaria and Turk
he sent identical notes to the entente
,ril lies through the United States, Spa
rit- and Switzerland, proposing that t
by belligerents arrange q conference
ere the discussion of peace terms. T
eff notes were transmitted to the alli
governments by President Wilson wit
out comment. The peace prOpos;
The were received cOldly. Premier Brial
md in the French house of deputies,
of sued q warning against prematr
rit- peace, and the Russian duma. accO
ers ing to announcement made Decent
one 16, passed a resolution favoring a
q fusal on the part Of the allied COVE
,rs. ments to enter into any peace me-
9th tiations whatever under present c.
ter ditiOnS.
ing December 10. Premier 1loyd-Geoi
np- replied to Germany's proposals. vir
sea ally refusing to consider them.
ish AS If In answer to the peace p
aff, posals, the French in the Verdun S
of tor delivered a crushing attack on