Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-30

as memorial the Germans IeII q .TdCh
OF widespread devastation which
aroused world wide indignation. The
British claimed capture Of nearly 5000
prisoners in the three months Of this
German retirement for a depth Of from
to Is miles along front Of about
As miles.
In April the British transferred their
offensive northeast Of Arras, forcing
Won Hindenberg to redistribute his
forces along a fifteen mile front Ca
nadians played a historic part in this
fighting. Monchy- le- Preux was taken;
and Viny Ridge was captured after
one of the worlds bloodiest battles.
Canadians held the ridge against des-
perate counter-attacks. This success
east Of Arras turned Hindenberg's
northern pivot, and British critics re-
garded 1t as the greatest in the history
of British arms in the present war.
This offensive, continued. placed the
British astride the Hindenberg line
and the Germans retired to positions
a 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
Aubernive. In the first days of Cham
paign offensive, one of the greatest
struggles of the war, the Germans sus-
tanned an estimated loss Of 100000
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 50-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
an effort to straighten out the Ypres
salient. Again British flyers dominated
the air. The British had spent an en-
tire year mining the earth for this Of
fensive, which was begun with an ex-
plosion so terrific that it was heard in
London. Beyond Messines, for two
miles east and northwest, the British
won and consolidated ground, captured
more than 1400 prisoners and great
stores Of artillery. Gaining every OBJ
jective. they placed themselves astride
the Ypres Confines Canal. having ad-
vanced 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
1t is estimated that during April. Nav
and June the Germans suffered $4,000
casualties on the Western front.
The Russians, having in June Of 1916
begun an offensive from the Pripet
Marshes to the Rumanian frontier,
speedily captured Czernowitz and the
rest Of Bukovina. together with Brody
in Galicia, and in August they entered
Stanlslau for the third time in the war.
These operations forced the Austro-
Germans to relinquish lines they had
held throughout the winter Of 1915-l916.
7 The Halicz bridgehead fell in Sep
tcmber, but the subsequent advance on
! Lemberg was not prosecuted because
the plight of Rumania demanded the
transfer of Russian troops to aid their
Balkan ally.
After the Russian Revolution, the
Russians made a feint to advance on
\ t1nsk, 10 cover the actual operations
resumed in July against Lemburg. This
latter front extended 1874 miles. known
/ as Reg ments July First" these troops.
reinvigorated by the consciousness Of
political liberty, COMPOUNDED German
military prophets by the magnitude and
extent of their offensive.
4 Led by Alexander kerensky Minister
( OF War, and observed by American
Army officers, the Regiments mi,
First forced the Teutons to evacuata
hrezany' and they captured many i'm
portant positions, including terrain
west and south of Halicz town and
strongly defended positions northwest
OF Stanislau, On. July II Halicz was
| taken. thus smashing the Austro- Ger
man front between Brzezany and the
Carpathians.
! rms Russian operation broadened hv
ma July, 50 that il extended from the
Gulf Of Riga to the Rumanian front
a distance of 500 miles, The Germans
were reported to be rushing troons
from the Italian and French fronts
Widespread enthusiasm vas created
throughout Russia. and the moral eff
feet on the other Entente powers was
tremendous.
italy, declaring war against Germany
on August IS, began a more vigorous
prosecution of her earlier offensive
against Austria
WITH dramatic suiftness the Third
Army, under the Duke of Aosta
stormed and captured Gorilla, hitherto
considered impregnable. By Jan. the
Italians had captured 1900 square
miles.
After winter Of artillery duels. Its,v
resumed her offensive on the Carso
front in the campaign toward Trieste
Within month the Austrian lines
were broken from Castagnavizza TO the
sea Italy inflicted losses of $1,000 on
the Austrians and lost heavily herself
Austria hurried re;nforcements from
the Russian front
IN the Trentino the Italians took the
offensive in June and after terrific
fighting captured the Austrian positions
or Monte Ortigara and Agnello pass.
These they were forced to relinouish
however. in the face of Austrian coun-
ter attacks
In the Balkans the years military
development saw the occupation Of Ru-
mania by the Teutons-a gain Of great
economic value because Of the oil and