Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-30

The third year of the world WA
closes with the fortunes of confiic
favoring the entente except for uncer'
.a!nty as to the ouacome OF the Rus
sian situation
The central powers sustained mo.
mentoue setbacks, both military anc
political, during the twelve months.
On the western front in Europe the
Teutons find themselves on the defen-
sive at the advent of the fourth year
They fight on lines newly established
after forced retirement from terrain
which they had won in earlier days at
q tremendous sacrifice.
Meanwhile, new enemy powers. not
ably the United States. have been
drawn In by the central empires and
progress toward the achievement OF
the ultimate aim of the entente and
it's allies has been furthered by politi-
cal disturbance which will remain
memorable in the history of all times
Chief among these are the fall OF
/ two crowned heads-Nicholas, Of Rus
| STA, and Constantine, of Greece. In
| Russia autocracy has given way to 4
Republic. In Greece kingdom re-
mains but not Teutonic one, en-
lente pressure having "oH cupiShAN>'
in this part of the Balkans.
Political events within the German
and Austrian empires, featured by the
fall of Chancellor Won Bethmann-H oil-
veg, have led to open discussions OF
peace IN the German reichstag as the
fourth year dawns.
In Great Britain. the third year
closed with Winston Spencer Churchill,
former first lord Of the admiralty, re-
turned to the cabinet with the portfolio
Of minister of munitions.
Portugal and Rumania threw in their
fortunes with the entente shortly after
the third year began. The United
States entered in April, followed by
Cuba and Liberia. Panama pledged
the United States her aid in defending
the Panama canal. Costa Rica put her
naval bases at our disposal. China.
Bolivia. Guatemala and Brazil severed
diplomatic relations with Germany
Uruguay expressed her sympathy for
the United States. Late In July, Siam
entered the war against the central
powers. seT
Three New Nations. Born.
Three new nations were born during
the year. Poland was created king
dom under German and Austrian d.
rection. In Mecca the Arabians over
threw Turkish rule and declared indie
pendence. In the Balkans, liberty was
restored to Albania, which was estab-
lished as a republic under Italian po-
litical protection and with French mill
tary aid.
An estimate made two months before
It'd
Arthur Henderson, of the British war
council-placed the number OF men
killed at 100000 since August. 1914.
French general headquarters recently
estimated 100000 Germans had been
killed up to March /. Mr.. Henderson
estimated the total casualties at more
than 100000.
The first and second American con-.
tingents of troops landed in France on
June 26 and 81.
Nearly 10, 900, 900 Americans OF mill
tary age registered on June under
the selective draft law. and from these
are being selected the men who VIII
comprise the great army contingents
which America is planning to send to
Europe.
3 In cementins Americas association
with the nations now her allies, num-
erous exchanges OF missions were ar
ranged. France.-Great Britain. Italy,
Belgium, Russia, and other entente bel
iigerents sent delegations to the United
States as step toward unlncatlon'
military, financial and Otherwise, The
United States sent missions to Russia
and other countries.
Six Phases Of Fighting.
Fighting on the western front during
the third year of the war may roughly
be divided into six phases-two in tis
latter part of 1915 before winter called
a halt; and four after the entente Of
fensive was resumed in the early
spring.
At the close Of the second year the
Germans were still unwilling to con-
cede failure in the operations centerins
on verdun. After Aug. 3, 1915, the
French gained the ascendancy. Gull
minating in the retaking Of Douau,
Thiaumont and Fort Vaux, with thou
sands Of prisoners and many guns. BY,
November the French had once more
come into possession Of the complete
circle Of the Verdun defenses.
The second phase dates back to the
commencement Of the Franco British
offensive-the first battle Of the Sonme
i'm July Of 1916. BY mid-September
this had reached such proportions that
the Germans were credited with bring
ing I'D seven new divisions against the
British and five against the French. 1t
was estimated that thirty-eight Ger
man 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 dominant. BY No
yember the British and French had
taken st. Pierre Divion, Beaumont
Hanel and Beaucourt land had pene-
trated German positions for depth OF
six miles.
In the spring, the Germans, antici-
patine a resumption OF the Somme OPP
erations, began what has become
known as the "Hindenburg victorious
retreat" to newly established German
lines. IN this second battle Of tho
somme, Bapaume, Irles. Peronne,
Nesle, Fayette, Gricourt. Vaux. Roye,
rerenier, Ham and hundreds Of other
positions were lost by the Germans. In
the evacuation which French critics
regard az memorial the Germans lett
a track Of widespread devastation
which aroused worldwide indignation.
The British claimed capture OF nearly
5000 prisoners in the three months o.
this German retirement for depth OF
from FIVE to fifteen miles along front
az about forty-six miles.
4>~sh>ak n>sk;nl, AuAnAR9.