Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-29
FOURTH YEAR OF WAR
FINDS ALLIES LEAD
Central Powers Sustain Sew
eral Momentous Setbacks
During Last Three
Months.
Confined From Page One,

viii comprise tne great army CoHtIH-
gents which America is planning TO
send to Europe.
In cementing Americas association
with the nations now its allies, numer-
Gus exchanges of missions were ar
ranged. France, Great Britain, Italy,
pc Belgium, Russia and other entente
belligerents sent delegations to the
United States as a step toward unifi-
cation, military, financial and other
wise. The United States sent mis-
sions to Russia and other countries.
Six Phases Of War.
Fighting on the western front dur
ing the third year OF the war may
roughly be divided into six phases
two in the latter part of 1916 before
winter called a halt. and four after the
entente offensive was resumed in the
early spring.
All the close of the second year the
Germans were still unwilling to con-
cede failure in the operations center
ing on Verdun. After August 3, 1916,
the French gained the ascendancy,
eliminating in the retaking OF Douau,
Ihiaumont and Fort Vaux, with thou
sands of prisoners and many guns.
By November the French had once
Z more come into possession OF the
complete circle of the Verdun de-
lenses. Es
The second phase dates back TO the
commencement OF the Franco-British
offensive-the first battle of the
Somnie--in July of 1916. By mid
September this had reached such pro-
portions that the Germans were cred
tied with bringing up seven new di-
visions against the British and fve
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
opposed the British and French on this
twenty-mile front. In this battle the
British air supremacy became domi.
nant.s By November the British and
French had taken St. Pierre-Divion.
-Hamel and Beaueourt and
had penetrated German positions for
a depth Of six miles.
Germans in Retreat
In the spring the Germans, antici-
mating a resumption of the Somme
operations, began what has become
known as the "Hinderburg victorious
retreat" to newly established German
lines. In this second battle OF the
Somne, Bipaurhe, lrles,. Peronne,
Nesle, Fayette, Gricourt, Vaux, Rove,
Tergnier, Ham and hundreds OF other
positions were lost to the Germans.
In an evacuation which French critics
regard as memorable, the Germans
left i track OF widespread devastation
which aroused worldwide indigna-
ton. The British claimed capture OF
nearly 5000 prisoners in the three
months OF this German retirement Tor
4 depth of from five TO fifteen miles
along front OF about forty-six
miles.
Offensive Transferred.
In April the British transferred
their offensive northeast OF Arras,
forcing Won Hindenburg. to redis-
tribute his forces along fifteen-mile
front. Canadians playeda historic part
in this fighting. Monehy-le-Preux
was taken, and Vimy Ridge was cap
tured after one of the worlds blood
lest battles. Canadians held the
ridge against desperate counter at
tacks This success east OF Arras
turned Hindenburg's northern pivot,
and British critics regarded it as the
greatest in the history Of British arms
IN the present war. This offensive
continued, placed the British astride
the Hindenburg line, and the Germans
retired to positions a mile or two
west OF the Drocourt-Q Queant line.
These they held as the third year
closed.
Meanwhile the battles Of Cham
paigr and the Aisne had been carried
on by the French, who in April cap
tured Auberive. In the first. days OF
Champaign offensive. one OF the great.
est struggles of the war, the Germans
sustained an estimated loss OF l00.OO0
killed, wounded and taken prisoners
through their desperate defensive OPP
erations Fighting in these regions
continues after three months, during
which the French have advanced from
one to FIVE miles along : iifty-niile
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 an effort TO straighten out the
Ypres salient Again British flyers
dominated the air, The British had
spent an entire year mining the earth
for this offensive, which was begun
with an explosion 50 terrific that It
was heard in London. Beyond" Mes
sines for two miles east and north.
east the British won and consolidated
ground, captured more than 7,400 pris-
oners and great stores OF artillery.
Gaining every objective, they placed
themselves astride the Ypres-Com-
ines canal, having advanced three
miles on an eight-mile front. Portu-
pese and Belgian troops aided in this
offensive. In recent days the tight
ing there had been confined to raid.
ing operations. .,
Ii is estimated that during April
May and June the Germans suffered
$4,000 casualties on the western
front.
Russ Advance Begins,
The Russians, having in June ol
1916 begun an offensive from the
Pripet marshes TO the Rumanian from
tier, speedily captured Czernowitz and
the rest of Bukowina, together with
Brody, in Gaiicia, and in August they
entered Stanisiau for the third time
in the war. These operations forced
the Austro-Germans TO relinqulsf
lines they had held throughout tht
winter Of l9l5-l9l6.
The Halicz bridgehead fell in Sep
tember, but the subsequent advance
on Lemberg was not prosecuted be
cause the plight OF Rumania de
-..A "a a. . t~sn.f., of puxs;ao tyoon,