Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-16
WAR REVIEW OF PAST YEAR
About the Military and Political
Changes of Great Magnitude.
New Beiiigerents Make Their Appear
ance-Creation Of Natsons-Esti-
mates Of observation-disclosures
Of the United states.

The third year Of the world war closes |
with the fortunes of conflict favoring the
entente except for uncertainty regarding |,
the outcome of the Russian situation |
says the Hartford Times.
The central powers sustained momen |
tous setbacks, both military and polit-
ical. during the IL 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
tremendous sacrifice.
Meanwhile new enemy powers. notably
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 political disturbance. which will re-
main memorable in tho history OF all
| times.
| Chief among these are the fall of two
crowned heads-Nicholas Of Russia and
Constantine of Greece. In Russia autoc-
racy has given way to a republic. In
Greece a kingdom remains, but not a
pro-Teutonic one, entente pressure hav-
| ing won supremacy in this part of the
| Balkans.
Political events within the German and
Austrian empires. featured by the fall of
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg. 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. returned to
the cabinet with the portfolio Of minister
of munitions.
NEW COMBATANTS, NEW NATIONS.
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.
Three new nations were born during
the year. Poland was created king
dom under German and Austrian direc-
/, ton. In Mecca the Arabians overthrow
Turkish rule and declared independence.
=, In the Balkans, liberty was restored to
Albania. which was established as a re-
I public under Italian political protection
and with French military aid.
} CASUALTIES ESTIMATED.
An estimate made two months before
the end of the third year-voiced by
Arthur Henderson of the British wal
councl-placed the number Of men killed
at 100000 since August, 1914. French
general headquarters recently estimated
100000 Germans had been killed up tc
March 1. Mr.. Henderson estimated the
. total casualties at more than 100000.
The first and second American contin.
. gents Of troops landed in France on June
! 26 and q.
Nearly 100000 Americans of military
n age registered on June under the Sc
t lective draft law. and from these are
= being selected the men who will com
v prise the great army contingents which
:. America is planning to send to Europe.
}. In cementing Americas association with
= the nations now her allies. numerous ex
changes Of missions were arranged
n France, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium
:. Russia and other entente belligerents SEN
k delegations to the United States as E
n step toward unification. military. fnan
I cial and otherwise. The United States
Q sent missions to Russia and other coun
= tries.
!, Fighting on the western front durinl
>. the third year Of the war may rough
g ly be divided into six phases-two in tn
It latter part Of 1915 before winter called
{. halt: and four after the entente offensv
q was resumed in the earaly spring.
a VERDUN AND SOMME OFFENSIVE
At the close OF the second year the Ger
mans were still unwilling to conced
% failure in the operations centering o.
- Verdun. After August 3. 1916. the Frencl
H.
the taking Of DOuau. ThiaumOnt an
10 Fort Vaux. with thousands Of prisoner
"a and many guns. BY November h
- French had once more come into pos
= session of the complete circle of tn
= Verdun defenses.
The second phase dates back to tn
, commencement of the Franco British OF
~ fensive-the first battle Of the Somme-
"a In July Of 1916 BY mid-September TIL
n had reached such proportions that tn
n Germans were credited with bringing u
seven new divisions against the BIRTHS
|, and Ave against the French. 1t was es
"a timated that 80 German divisions. Of
= based on the strength Of those Germa
- units at that period. about 100000 me
>, opposed the British and French on TIL
20-mile front. In this battle the Births
). air supremacy became dominant. B
~ November the British and French ha
taken St. Pierre-Divion. Beaumont Ham
ell and Beaucourt and had penetrate
German positions for depth Of 81
miles.
II. HINDENBURG'S RETREAT.
8, In the spring the Germans. anticipat
r ing a resumption Of the Somme opera
tn lions, began what has become known a
or the "Hindenburg victorious retreat"
ol newly-esta blished German lines. In thi
nj second battle of the Somme. Bapaumt
as Tries, Peronne. Nesle Fayette. Gricour
n. Vaux, Roye. Tergnier. Ham and hun
r. dreds of other positions were lost by tn
g. Germans. In an evacuation whic
, French critics regard as memorial tn
q Germans left track Of widespread de>
or astation which aroused worldwide ir
dignation. The British claimed captur
", Of nearly 5000 prisoners in the thre
n months of this German retirement for
al, depth Of from Ave to Is miles along
as front of about 46 miles.
mt BATTLE OF ARRAS.
n In April the British transferred the
81 offensive northeast of Arras. forcin
"A Won Hindenburg to redistribute his force
IN along a 15-mile front. Canadians playe
re a historic part in this fighting. Monchy
as le-Preux was taken; and Vimy Ridge wa
he captured after one of the worlds blood
ly lest battles Canadians held the rida
ny against desperate counter-attacks. Tn
on success east OF Arras turned Hinder
RI burg's northern pivot. and British critic
mt regarded II as the greatest In the histor
of Of British arms in the present war. Tn