The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-08-17

the end OF three years Of war appears
less favorable than Ii did either one
year ago or two years ago.
She has TO her credit in the last
twelyemonth the crushing of ilipre-
pared Roumanta and the conquest Of
two-thirds Of that nations territory,
But in the principal theater ~ war,
the west, east and Italian fronts, the
entente allies have shown, on the
whole, decided superiority 10 the
central powers.
In the materials of war the nations
Sighting for democracy clearly have an
increasing advantage over the kaiser's
legions. They have dealt the enemy
blow after blow which have told heav-
lily In lives, II not In territory.
Germany More Desperate.
Germany's plight Is rendered more
desperate than II was on August |,
1916, by the accession Of the United
States and several minor peoples 10
the ranks of her enemies. Almost the
whole world is now lined UP against
that nation.
Every beiligerent breads another
winter of war, but Germany most of
all. She lacks many things Go face the
rigors Of a cold eampaign-not only
shells and guns, but wool for warm
clothing and sufficient coal 20 run her
rapidly det6Etnratlng railroads and
her factories and keep those at home
comfortably warm, not to speak OF the
| famine In Ehe food fats so necessary
| TO those fading zero weather.
Looking back on the long truce OF
the spring on the eastern front. II Is
hard to realize that the Russians just
splendid offensive much like that
which has surprised the world In the
| present month In The 1916 drive Brus-
siloff pushed far within Bukowina and
Galicia and crossed the borders Of
Hungary. He took about $4,000 pris-
oners, mostly Austrinns and forced the
enemy to concentrate masses Of relia.
Bile German troops, aided by a few
| Turks. 20 check him.
The real reason his drive came 20
halt, however. we know now was lack
Of ammunition, failure of transport.
treason within the cars armies amt
wretched bureaucratic ineiiiclency
These handicaps seem 10 have been re-
moved from the courageous Musco-
yites, perhaps for all time,
Unfortunate Roumanla.
Roumania declared war on the Teu-
tonic powers August q and immedi-
ately invaded Pennsylvania, where the
weak Austrian guards were easily
pushed back and the important cities
Of Hermannstadt and kronstadt were
| soon In the invaders hands.
The kaiser sent Won Falkenhayb. ii
splendid strategist just displaced by
Won Hindenburg, as chief of the great
| general stRn. 20 command on this
front, while Won Mackensen headed
the Germans Bulgarlans and Turks.
who threw themselves on Roumanla
from the south.
The Roumanians proved no match
for the combination OF foes. skinful
work by German spies, or the freach.
cry Of certain members Of their own
army, put the ROumanians' plans Of
campaign in the Teutons' hands. IL ia
now diyulged. Bucharest fell Decem-
Der 6, and ten days later all Walachia
vas lost On December IS Russian
troops took over the whole Rouuanlau
front, and few weeks later the Ten
ton advance was checked along the
Ire of the Sereth aud Danube rivers
sonme Battle Continues.
In the west. however, Germany was
facing far different problem from
the poorly QUILTED and trained Ron.
manlan peasants when the third year
~ the war opened the battle II The
Sonme was stiIl going ou vigorously.
aith the French and British showing a
constantly growing superiority over the
Zoe. BIZ by bit through the summer
snd autumn the ground was wrencbrtl
from the kaiser's men until The coming
n winter smo1herpd the offensive sln
mud and blood, and. according 10 the
British commander ST. Douglas HalE.
saved his opponents from 40 lmmedl-
ate great enforced retirement.
on September - II vas announced
hat the French and British had taken
$500 prisoners iH the saune battle
getween July ! and September IS This
Total was later considerably Increased.
French Win ~ veraun.
At Yerduu. too. the Germans suf-
cred The French IN battles II tho
sail and winter VOC back most u the
ground Iost in the offensive II the
spring Of 1915 and captured more than
5000 prisoners. with slight losses
themselves.
The spring campaign IN the west
1psned this wur with the Germans
falling back from the great salient
ssearroint directed at Psris-coufess.
nE thereby either their weakness or
heir aversion TO further offensive. al
though 81 the time German writer's
AlHted darkly that Won HiHdsnbHrg
had something Up his sleeve
The strategic retirement began
shout March II. and the Teutons tn
gmphantiy declared II would prevent
"a allied offensive this year But they
spoke too soon